Becoming an entrepreneur takes a lot of willpower, organization, grit, and dedication. It should be viewed as a marathon as opposed to a sprint, and just like a runner needs a training regimen and set of rules to follow in order to become successful in their sport- so does an entrepreneur. Here are some guidelines for you to follow as you pursue your career as an entrepreneur.

Don’t go for what’s trendy

You want to make sure that you are pursuing a facet of entrepreneurship you are truly passionate about- not what seems to be making the majority of entrepreneurs the most money at the moment. Those who are quick to hop on the bandwagon are quick to hop off and catch a ride on the next. This never ends up working in their favor. Take the time to build your craft and dedicate yourself to it and remember that true success doesn’t happen overnight.

Know the difference between building relationships and simply networking

People can tell when you have an agenda. When you focus on building real, quality relationships with others you will create a real support network for yourself.

Build your “A” Team

You can’t do it all on your own especially when things take off. Building a team of talented and dedicated individuals ensures that you are prepared for anything that gets thrown your way.

Remember to check your balance sheet

It doesn’t take any sort of background in finance to understand your balance sheet and it’s important that you take the time to become familiar with it and check it regularly. There is data contained in a balance sheet can be of major use in decisions being made for the company. To make smart decisions imperative in understanding your cash flow.

Know when to not take action

An entrepreneur is bound to have at least one new idea a day and while it’s a good quality to possess it can become his/her Achilles heel. Don’t get distracted! Stay the course and build the business you have started until it is smart to take on something else. One of the best tools you can have (and subsequently one of the hardest to maintain) is a self-editing tool

Stakeholders

The key stakeholder for most businesses are clients, employees, and investors. They all matter equally and should be treated as such. Take their feedback into consideration and adjust accordingly.

Follow the structure provided and make your way to entrepreneurial success!

This article was originally posted on alislutsky.com