business mistakes

By Daniel C. Steenerson

Is your small business failing to live up to your expectations? Maybe it’s because you’re falling prey to one or more of these 10 “business busters.”


#10: Set ‘em and forget ‘em goals.
Successful people treat goals as “do or die” . . . not as “nice if it happens.”

#9: Complex communication. You can’t persuade people who don’t understand. Keep it super simple.

#8:  One-shot-wonder effort. If it’s worth trying once, it’s worth following up and persevering. Most achievements occur only after several rounds of followup.

#7: Treating others how YOU want to be treated. Instead, deploy Tony Alessandra’s Platinum Rule: Treat others how THEY want to be treated.

#6: Trying to make brilliant decisions instead of facing the hard decisions. Don’t procrastinate. If you make hard decisions now, it will lead to brilliant results later.

#5: Quitting during the middle mile. You can’t always see the finish line, but you must have faith that it’s just around the bend.

#4: Getting immobilized by big ideas. Lots of people have great ideas. Successful people know how to implement them with simple, no-fail systems.

#3: Falling pretty to fatal distractions. Focus time and budget into activities that lead to money. No, that probably does not include redecorating your office.

#2: Disappearing discipline. Successful people have the discipline to do the things that others don’t want to do (getting up early, making cold calls, creating systems for accountability.)

#1: Forgetting about what’s important to others. Whether you’re building a new business relationship, applying for a job or writing a marketing message, never forget that “what’s in it for them” is what matters.

Daniel C. Steenerson (@dansteenerson) imparts his success wisdom, principles and philosophies through his proprietary “Science of Visioneering” approach to help companies, entrepreneurs, executives and other professionals realize business greatness.   He may be reached online at www.DanSteenerson.com–an online community where business owners, executives and other career achievement-minded professionals go for no-nonsense, “tell-it-like-it-is” success advice.