When it comes to being in business, the goal is to thrive not just survive. As of 2025, I’m celebrating 16 years in business. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it. Over the past 16 years, I have learned lessons along the way that have helped me to not only survive but thrive. And I’d like to share 16 of those lessons with you. I’m even throwing in a bonus lesson at the end. Keep reading and I truly hope you are inspired to keep going in your business for as long as you want to and as long as it brings you joy.
1. Believe in God, the Supreme Source, and power who is higher than yourself to help you achieve your goals. For me, it is and has always been my faith in God that has sustained me through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Maintaining and growing a profitable business is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Lord only knows …entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. My trust in God has sustained me.
2. Never let fear stop you from anything whether it’s taking risks or trying something new. INNOVATION is VITAL. Look at obstacles as opportunities to learn, grow, and start over if necessary. There will be hard days, months, quarters, and maybe even years. Don’t quit. Just use every hardship as a learning lesson.
3. Value your time and spend it wisely because you can never get it back. Simple as that. Focus on revenue generating activities at least 50% of the time.
4. Build great relationships with people who can help you or those you can help by dividing them into three levels; the level where you aspire to be, the level where you are now, and the level that you grew from.
5. Be consistent with marketing yourself, your business, and your offers. Marketing should not be random, but strategic and intentional. If you’re not getting your messages out there, your competitors are likely taking your audience because you’re not showing up.
6. Remember that selling something every day is the goal and until you are doing that, you must keep going. Business is 80% sales. Unless you’re selling something regularly, you don’t have a business.
7. Hire professionals to do the things you’re not good at doing. Don’t waste time trying to overcompensate in areas where you’re weak, just get help.
8. Focus on progress not perfection. Done is better than perfect. You can always go back and fix or change something to make it better. But if you never finish anything, you won’t be in business for very long.
9. Set goals frequently and prioritize them. Don’t get caught up on the small stuff. Keep your eye on the big picture. Prioritize what’s really important.
10. Keep your customers and clients happy and always top of mind. Give the people what they want. Solve their biggest problems as it relates to your expertise and make sure they understand your value. This will keep them coming back to you for more.
11. Allow for work life balance in your business and with your employees. Mind your business but don’t forget to mind your health and have a life outside of work. Realize that although you must make family and friends a part of your schedule to balance your life, not everyone will understand the times when you can’t. So, prioritize what brings you joy and who brings you joy.
12. Develop new skills and keep learning. Growing as an entrepreneur means you’re never too successful to admit that someone out there knows more than you and is doing better than you. So be a perpetual student of success and stay hungry.
13. Maintain a positive mindset at all times. Be a growth-oriented person and believe the best is yet to come. See the lessons in everything. Ask yourself, “what should I be learning from this?”
14. Set various systems up so that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel for tasks that can be automated. Make productivity and efficiency a priority.
15. Get a coach/mentor to help you learn how to do the things you don’t know about a lot faster.
16. Keep good accounting and financial records. It’s a nightmare if or when you don’t and you have to hire someone to make sense of your dollars and cents after the fact.
BONUS TIP: Learn to celebrate your wins, big or small. You absolutely deserve it.
Now I’d like to hear from you.
Are you a business owner? What’s the #1 lesson you’ve learned along the way? Please share below.
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This article is written by Dr. Lori A. Manns. Want to use this article for your website, blog or newsletter? No problem. Here’s what you must include:
Dr. Lori A. Manns, CEO of Quality Media Consultant Group, a business consultancy firm specializing in advertising, media and sales solutions for your optimal success. Dr. Lori is the founder of Trailblazer Business Academy;™ where purpose-driven entrepreneurs go to learn next level strategies to grow their businesses as well as, the Sponsorship Sales Secrets System;™ that shows you how to get more sponsors and sales for your business, guaranteed. To book consulting services on marketing, advertising/media, or sales and learn how to increase your revenue and grow your business; please visit www.qualitymediaconsultants.com.