Author: Jeet Banerjee

Jeet Banerjee is a 24 year old serial entrepreneur, author, digital marketing consultant, and public speaker. In his young career, Jeet has launched several different companies, written two books, and has helped many businesses make more money from the internet. He strives to create the next big tech company and give back to the world in the best way possible.

5 Negative Thoughts That Are Killing Your Dreams

More dreams are killed by negative thoughts than anything else. In this article, I share 5 negative thoughts that are killing your dreams along with tips to overcome them.

 

Dreams. Something we all have somewhere in our minds. However, not all of us end up pursuing our dreams. They start as thoughts and remain as thoughts in our mind.

 

 

There are many reasons why are dreams do not become goals. One of the biggest reasons why is because of the way we think. We all have negative thoughts from time to time, but many of these thoughts can truly kill your dreams forever.

 

 

In this blog article, I’m going to share 5 negative thoughts that are killing your dreams and how you can overcome them:

 

 

1. “Tomorrow will be easier…”

 

Growing up, I used the word tomorrow as much as I could. Clean my room? I can do it tomorrow. Finish my homework? I’ll do it tomorrow. Study for that big final? I’ll wait until tomorrow. I procrastinated everything that required a lot of work or wasn’t interesting to me.

 

 

These thoughts carry on with you for the rest of your life. We prolong our dreams day after day, but nothing changes. Our environments change but our circumstances stay the same. I thought life was tough when I was in elementary school but boy is it a lot harder today.

 

 

You’re not buying yourself time, you’re simply killing your dreams. The longer you wait on those dreams, the more distant they become. I overcame this negative thought pattern by simply putting my dreams into action. I put my foot down and decided that there was no better time to start than now.

 

 

If your negative thoughts are kicking in right now, perhaps my TED talk can help.

 

 

 

 

2. “It’s just too risky for me…” 

 

Every decision comes with a risk. No matter how much we try to minimize the risk, there is always a risk involved. As an entrepreneur, I have taken many gut-wrenching risks. Some have paid off while others have cost me dearly.

 

 

Chasing your dreams is a big risk. I do not say this to scare you, but rather to motivate you. The bigger the risk is, the bigger the reward is. Every day that you live life, you’re taking a risk. Why not take a risk towards something meaningful?

 

 

I knew quitting my job at 17 to become an entrepreneur was risky. However, I quickly began thinking of the rewards. I could control my own destiny, be my own boss and work on something that mattered. Before you weigh the risks, look at the rewards. Prove to yourself that the leap of faith can and will be worthwhile.

 

 

3. “I don’t want to be a failure…”

 

It is true that you may chase your dreams and fail. However, failure doesn’t define you or your dreams unless you allow it to. We as humans have a very negative perspective of what failure really is.

 

 

Throughout our lives, the idea of failing has been antagonized. As I have progressed an entrepreneur, I quickly learned that failure was my best friend. I fail all the time and I’m proud to say it. I’m even prouder to say that I may have failed, but I’m not a failure.

 

 

Let me explain. Failure is an event – something that happens on a given day at a certain time. If you quit without learning from it, you are truly a failure. However, I’m not a failure because I embrace it, get back up and try again. Remember: you can only be a failure if you allow yourself to give up.

 

 

4. “I’m not as talented as those other successful people.”

 

Negative thoughts really start to take over when you start comparing yourself to others. I quickly realized that the only person you should be in competition with is yourself. Use other successful individuals as motivation, not as dream-killers.

 

 

Stop focusing on all the negatives about yourself. If you really want to compare yourself with someone else, find the common ground. See what skills and assets they have that you possess as well.

 

 

To be a successful dream-chaser, you need to find the positive in every situation. Our minds are trained to seek the negative in every moment, but you must be the master of your own mind. Challenge yourself to think positively and believe in your own abilities.

 

 

5. “I don’t know what others will say….”

 

The worse thing in life is living a life that isn’t your own. What I mean by that is actually really simple. If you’re making life changing decisions based on how others may think or act, you’re not living your own life.

 

 

I am sick and tired of people wondering what their friends, families, co-workers, and other influences in their lives may say. It’s great to weigh their opinions from time to time, but don’t let them run your life.

 

 

Drake says it best, start doing you. Focus on yourself and do what makes you happy in life because that’s what really matters. Good friends and family stay with you no matter what decision you make in life.

 

 

Conclusion

 

What you believe is truly what you can achieve. When you constantly begin to manifest negative thoughts, they begin to run your life. This article features 5 negative thoughts that are killing your dreams along with tips to overcome them.

 

 

photo credit: Ed Callow [ torquespeak ] via photopin cc

 

 

My Christmas Gift From Verizon – The LG G2 Smartphone

The new LG G2 Smartphone was gifted to be my Verizon and it’s an amazing phone. Here’s my review on it!

 

This December has been a great one for me! I’m so excited to announce a partnership with Verizon. Through this partnership, I was rewarded with an early Christmas gift.

 

 

I was lucky enough to receive the amazing new LG G2 Smartphone. Being an iPhone user, you can imagine my reluctancy with any device that’s not made by Apple. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I began using this device.

 

 

Not only is the device extremely sleek, but the screen size is a thing of beauty. I am able to perform more business-related tasks on this phone compared to my iPhone simply because I’m not straining my eyes.

 

 

In addition to that, the battery life on this phone is a savior. I am able to go days without charging the phone with heavy use, which makes this a very practical choice for me. With a very user-friendly interface with easy to swipe features, this is a great phone!

 

 

Add this one to your Christmas list guys.

 

Note: I received this device as a member of the #VZWBuzz team by Verizon Wireless and all opinions shared in this article are of my own.

 

5 Things I Learned About Public Speaking From Delivering A TEDx Talk (Video Inside)

In this article, I share the 5 things I learned about public speaking from delivering a TEDx talk. Through this talk, my perception on speaking to audiences was changed forever and I want to take this time to share the lessons I learned.

 

Note: If you’re looking for the video to my TEDx talk, you can find it embedded at the bottom of this article.

 

 

In October of 2013, I had the amazing opportunity of delivering my first ever TEDx talk. From the months of preparation to the delivery of my speech, it was an unforgettable experience.

 

 

I had done many public speeches before, but speaking at TED was completely different. There was a lot of hype around the event and there was good reason for it. The process from preparing and delivering my talk taught me a lot about public speaking I didn’t know before.

 

 

In this article, I share 5 things I learned about public speaking from delivering a TEDx talk:

 

 

1. Do It For The Message, Not The Money

 

The world of public speaking has been tremendously saturated by individuals who want fat pay checks for a few hours of their time. I too was in this fairytale land and collected a few great checks for speaking to people.

 

 

I spent over 200 hours planning, practicing and perfecting my pitch before delivering my talk in October. Most normal speeches are too focused around you, which ends up causing people to preach to their audience.

 

 

After seeing a handful of individuals get cut from our lineup, I quickly realized that I couldn’t rely on my traditional speaking skills to get me through my TED talk. I had to quickly adapt. After spending 200 hours, I didn’t get a single dollar in return. The whole focus for my talk was my message, which is why I went out of my way to run focus groups to gather data to back up my ideas.

 

 

This lesson was really simple and I plan to implement this in all future speeches I deliver. Focus on your message and what people can take away from it. Only a few people get the opportunity to talk to an audience, give them something to remember.

 

 

2. Don’t Make Everything Serious

 

Throughout schooling and my first few public speaking gigs, I had always been taught to deliver a speech. The format of speeches were supposed to be serious and formal sessions where I could convey a message, idea or information to others.

 

 

The hardest adjustment I made for TED was figuring out a proper way to be conversational during my speech. If you’re constantly serious with your audience, they feel like they’re listening to a superhero and have a really tough time relating with you.

 

 

I quickly figured out that the best speeches are ones where the speaker keeps things informal and conversational. Make your audience feel relevant and help them relate to your story and message. That’s what truly makes a great speech.

 

 

3. Work The Crowd

 

At the end of the day, remember that your audience is investing money, time or sometimes a combination of the two. Teachers teach and preachers preach. However, a speech is all about getting your audience involved.

 

 

Make them laugh and engage with you during your speech. While TED isn’t fond of allowing your audience to answer questions or join you on stage, a great speech gets the crowd hyped up for what is to come. Understand who your audience is and what they’re looking for so you can better deliver on their expectations.

 

 

Before I delivered my speech, I made conversation with the attendees so they could get a better understanding of me. I wanted to introduce myself to everyone and chat with people to build a positive relationship with them long before I got on stage.

 

 

4. It’s Not All About You

 

Many speakers convert their speech into a self-interview session. What I mean by that is people often talk about themselves and their story without paying any attention to the needs of the audience.

 

 

While my TED talk does share a lot of experiences from my life, it’s not about that. My background helps to build up the story and the message to provide more of an impact on the idea I’m trying to share.

 

 

When you watch my video, you’ll clearly notice that my message has nothing to do with me. It’s all about showing people that there is no better time to chase their dreams than now.

 

 

5. Maximize Your Time

 

I went through all the major moments from my business career, shared data from my focus groups and showed people how I overcame the barriers others faced in less than 10 minutes. Before TED, this type of speech may have taken me around 45 minutes to deliver.

 

 

TED isn’t about wasting other peoples time and no speech should be like that. Just because you have 1 hour to deliver a speech doesn’t mean you should use all of it. Maximize your time on stage because you only have the attention of your audience for so long.

 

 

Focus on the main points and hit on them. Don’t beat around the bush and add a ton of pointless fluff to your story if it is irrelevant. I had a clear focus of what I wanted to achieve through my talk and I was able to do that!

 

 

Conclusion

 

If you are a public speaker or have dreams of becoming one someday, I hope you take these tips into consideration. Furthermore, I would love for you to watch my TED talk and share it with the world if it inspires you in any way (TEDx video from my speech can be found at the very bottom of this article).

 

 

9 Common Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs

In this article, guest author – Scott Simson shares 9 common traits of successful entrepreneurs from his own experiences and through his work with others.

 

Note: This is a guest post authored by Scott Simson that you are about to read. 

 

 

The entrepreneur mind is fascinating. I have been an entrepreneur my entire life and have worked with entrepreneurs for some time now, and am still amazed at how the entrepreneur mind solves problems, commits to solutions, and persists through pain and fatigue. I have seen entrepreneurs tread there way to success despite the immense pressure of having risked every thing they had to pursue their dreams.

 

 

I have seen entrepreneurs ignore the advice of every person surrounding them and persist on to accomplish what they set out to do. I have seen entrepreneurs accomplish remarkable things even when the odds were 100 to 1 against them. The entrepreneur is remarkable when it is given the opportunity and environment to operate at full capacity.

 

 

I have come to realize that while not every entrepreneur’s mind is the same, there are certain common thinking traits and habits that most entrepreneurs exhibit. It is also important to note that while these traits and habits occur naturally in most entrepreneurs they are all thought processes and habits that can be learned through practice and persistence.

 

 

Here are 9 common traits of successful entrepreneurs.

 

 

  1. Creative Problem Solvers

 

Maybe not a Leonardo da Vinci expert inventor or an Albert Einstein level genius, but when it comes to spotting and solving problems simply with limited tools, entrepreneurs will come up with a solution.

 

 

  1. Risk Takers

 

A comment that commonly surfaces in conversations that I have regarding entrepreneurship is that entrepreneurs are risk takers. The way that I respond most often is that the entrepreneur mind sees and responds to opportunity. Most successful entrepreneurs are likely to take risk when they see an opportunity, but rather than a gamble, it is most often an educated risk with favorable odds.

 

 

  1. May Not See Problems

 

One fascinating trait of the entrepreneur mind is that when most people see a circumstance as a problem, the entrepreneur is more likely to see it as a positive opportunity. Entrepreneurs are not limited by the thoughts others place on problems, they are motivated to create solutions.

 

 

  1. See Opportunity Everywhere

 

Entrepreneurs see opportunity multiple times throughout the day. Whether it is when they are sitting at lunch thinking about how to provide a restaurant with fresher fish, or creating a solution to the lack of storage space in their home, entrepreneurs have a problem solving mind and they are going to use it. This trait can also be a problem for some entrepreneurs, because they have what I call Entrepreneur ADD,when they try to jump on every opportunity that they see and fall short of seeing a solution through to the end.

 

 

  1. Rules Don’t Apply

 

The entrepreneur mind is a free mind that has a hard time conforming to rules and parameters. Entrepreneurs do what makes logical sense and what is conducive to completing a project. This may be apparent in an entrepreneur’s driving habits.

 

 

  1. Have a naysayer ‘off switch’

 

Entrepreneurs have a strong ability to ignore criticism and not be fazed by oppositions. The entrepreneur mind is fueled by the naysayer mentality and will work extra hard to prove that they were right.

 

 

  1. Persistent

 

The entrepreneur mind is a stubborn one. Entrepreneurs don’t see failure as an acceptable solution to a problem, so they persist until they reach their results. It is ‘win or die’ in the mind of the entrepreneur, and if they are forced into a failure, they see it as a learning experience.

 

 

  1. Don’t Acknowledge Authority

 

Entrepreneurs have their own way of working out problems and have a hard time when micromanaged or forced to work under close scrutiny. Entrepreneurs see solutions to problems and most entrepreneurs see authority as a problem that needs to be solved. This can be a problem when an entrepreneur is pulled over for their bad driving habits.

 

 

  1. Prefer the Pursuit of Freedom over Promised Comfort

 

Entrepreneurs would rather work every day for the rest of their life doing something they love at their own pace, than to work for someone else doing something they dislike, even if it means greater comfort and security.

 

 

These are 9 of the common traits of the entrepreneur share. It is important to note, that these traits are not necessarily what make a good entrepreneur. If you exhibit these characteristics and are a struggling entrepreneur, activate your mind persistence and keep drudging forward. If you are not an entrepreneur and exhibit these habits, you may want to rethink your career path, because you just might make a good entrepreneur.

 

 

Author Biography: Scott Simson is a best-selling author, entrepreneur and achievement coach that has transformed the lives of many through his work. You can read his blog and connect with him through his website at – www.ScottSimson.com/blog/.

 

photo credit: Tom Wolf | Photography via photopin cc

Why I Blog For Free And You Should Too

In this article, I share a few reasons why I blog for free and you should too. I have been in the blogging world for almost a year and a half, but I have experienced tremendous success because of my blog.

 

For almost a year and a half now, I have been blogging through my website for FREE. When I say I blog for free, I mean that I don’t run ads or try making money by promoting products of others in an affiliate manner.

 

 

When blogging was popularized in the mid 2000’s, everyone began writing content for the sake of making as much money as they possibly could. By not making any direct revenue from my blog, it has actually been very beneficial for me.

 

 

In this article, I’m going to share why I blog for free and you should too:

 

 

Your Learning is Stronger When You Teach It

 

I’ve always heard that if you really know something, you can easily teach someone else. If the other person doesn’t understand what you’re saying, then you might not know as much as you think.

 

 

From blogging, I was able to sharpen up my own skills by sharing the various things I learned. By doing this, I was able to get a better understanding of what my own strengths and weaknesses were so that I could improve upon them.

 

 

Help Others For Free 

 

You don’t always need to make money to help others. Instead of giving out all this information I put in my blog to only those who are willing to pay me, I dish it all out for absolutely FREE.

 

 

I have learned as an entrepreneur early on that if you give with true genuine intentions, you will be rewarded in return. I don’t write on my blog because I expect my audience to give me something, I do it because I love to help others.

 

 

Content Spreads Fast 

 

Through my blog, I have been able to grow my personal brand faster than I could have ever imagined. I quickly learned that great content spreads really fast. I’ve had certain posts that have had over 25,000 visitors just because people truly enjoyed what I had to say.

 

 

If you write good content, people will share it. From those shares, tons of new people will see what you have to say. After that, you’ll be able to grow your audience from the chain reaction of events.

 

 

Solidify Yourself As An Expert

 

When a 20 year old offers consulting for anything, people are a bit skeptical. My blog was a great way to showcase the knowledge I did have, which in return got me a lot of perks in my other businesses.

 

 

By creating a platform where I could share my knowledge, lessons, experiences and more, people had the opportunity to really get to know me. From my blog, I’ve been able to earn countless interviews, consulting gigs, speaking opportunities, and more.

 

 

It’s Free To Speak Your Mind

 

With so many platforms available to blog for free, you can truly get your own site up for very little cost. Once your blog is up, you don’t have to pay any money to speak your mind.

 

 

I love blogging because it gives me the opportunity to share many deep thoughts with the world. From there, my thoughts and experiences create conversations which are really fun to engage in.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Overall, entering the world of blogging without thinking of monetization has been extremely fun for me! I have enjoyed every minute of it and the value I have gained from it has been tremendous. In this article, I shared why I blog for free and you should too!

 

 

photo credit: Stuck in Customs via photopin cc

 

My Christmas Gift From Office Depot: The HP Chromebook

I recently received a brand new HP Chromebook from Office Depot as a gift. I was pleasantly surprised by the durability, sexy design and ease of use for this new laptop. In this article, I share a bit more about the Chromebook and why it’s a great gift for the holiday season!

 

I was lucky enough to be given the new HP Chromebook 14 inch laptops as a gift from Office Depot. These laptops use the new Android operating systems, which was quite the pleasant surprise from the others in the market.

 

 

Being primarily a MacBook user my whole life, I was worried about the experience I would have with the HP Chromebook. However, I was surprised at how great of a laptop it really was for the price.

 

 

The HP Chromebook is more than $800 cheaper than the MacBook Pro I had been using, but provides many of the same features as the Apple counterpart. The screen-sizes are identical, the design is sexy and the overall usability for someone like me is great!

 

 

The memory is solid with a decent sized chip allowing me to run numerous processes at a time. If you’re looking to add things to your Christmas list or simply trying to buy someone a thoughtful gift, you should really consider picking up the HP Chromebook for this holiday season!

 

 

Note: There is also a newer version of this Chromebook available!

6 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Don’t Do

Finding success as an entrepreneur is extremely tough. From coaching and mentoring other entrepreneurs, I quickly realized many people have some of the same characteristics that are detrimental to their success. In this article, I share 6 things successful entrepreneurs don’t do.

 

No matter how successful an entrepreneur is, they can quickly thing back to the beginning when they struggled. Entrepreneurship is very tough. It truly takes a lot to be successful with your own business.

 

 

From mentoring and coaching various entrepreneurs, I quickly started pin-pointing characteristics that were detrimental to their success. These qualities are very common and even I fell prey to some of these things when I had started.

 

 

In this article, I’m going to share the 6 things successful entrepreneurs don’t do:

 

 

1. They Don’t Do It For The Money

 

When I started my first business, I was seeking freedom from crappy minimum wage jobs by finding something I loved. I was happy with what I did, but the motivating factor for me was the money.

 

 

It took me almost two years to figure that out, which resulted in me selling my business and moving on to startups that had more purpose behind them. To be truly successful as an entrepreneur, money can’t be your primary motivator. You need to have a purpose that goes deeper than just the financial gains.

 

 

2. They Don’t Let Fear Run Their Lives

 

Doubt and fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. Successful entrepreneurs understand that taking action is the most crucial decision in their journey.

 

 

Many people prolong their dreams by making excuses, but successful entrepreneurs take massive action. The action they take doesn’t always immediately result in success, but by staying persistent, they eventually accomplish their goals.

 

 

3. They Don’t Allow Greed To Take Over

 

The toughest realization an entrepreneur has to make is that he himself can make his startup successful. Great teams behind good ideas result in success, but it can often be hard to share your prized possessions with others.

 

 

When starting my first business, I was the only one who held equity. My business did well, but it could have done a lot better if I had more resources and individuals behind it. When launching my next businesses, I’ve always been generous about giving out equity to those individuals who can create value for my company. The path to success is a lot easier if you have great people behind you and your ideas.

 

 

4. They Don’t Play It Safe

 

While successful entrepreneurs don’t play it safe, they sure don’t take stupid risks. There is a nice balance between the two that great entrepreneurs find. In order to be successful, you have to make sacrifices and take risks.

 

 

The art of making good decisions is to calculate the risks vs the rewards. If the rewards outweigh the risk, it’s a no-brainer to take a gamble. When taking risks, be sure that you’re taking calculated risks that always have a backup plan. Entrepreneurship is unpredictable, but you have to take a leap of faith sometimes.

 

 

5. They Don’t Lose Focus 

 

As an entrepreneur, it’s really easy to get distracted. A few small successes or a lucrative job offer can easy derail you from your journey. Great entrepreneurs understand that distractions will always exist, but they cannot lose focus of their dreams.

 

 

I am constantly distracted by outside influences and things going on in my life. Being an entrepreneur while all my friends attend college is a pretty tough thing to get accustomed to. However, I constantly remind myself of my long-term vision which keeps me grounded.

 

 

6. They Don’t Just Work 

 

Whatever it is you do in life, you need to find a proper balance. Work is the same way. You cannot be caught working 24/7 because it will exhaust you completely. As an entrepreneur, I’ve struggled with escaping my work.

 

 

It’s a tough challenge, but great entrepreneurs are able to find that balance. Make time for family, friends and going out. You don’t want to lose out on the important things in life. As Wiz Khalifa says, work hard and play hard.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Above all, remember that entrepreneurship isn’t easy. It takes a lot of patience and persistence to be successful. In this article, I shared 6 things successful entrepreneurs don’t do.

 

 

5 Signs You’re A Wantrepreneur

In this article, I share 5 signs you’re a wantrepreneur. There is nothing wrong with being a wantrepreneur, but you must change your ways to be successful with your ideas.

 

Wantrepreneurs are individuals that desire to be an entrepreneur, but aren’t one yet. Don’t be embarrassed if you are in the wantrepreneur stage because it’s a place where many individuals find themselves stuck at.

 

 

A terrible thing would be to a wantrepreneur without even knowing so. You must first figure out the problem before you can find the solution.

 

 

Here are 5 signs you’re a wantrepreneur instead of an entrepreneur:

 

 

1. You Talk, But Never Act

 

We all know that one person who tells us that they have the next million dollar idea, but they never do anything about it. Ideas are 1% while execution is 99% of the game. A billion dollar idea is worth nothing if it’s still an idea.

 

 

Work hard in silence and let success make the noise. Nobody will take you serious as an entrepreneur until you put your thoughts and ideas into action. If you’re going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.

 

 

How To Overcome: Stop talking about your ideas with people and start showing them. You’ll never know how great your ideas and thoughts are until you put them into action. 

 

 

2. You Make Excuses

 

I’ve got a bunch of friends that have big entrepreneurial dreams, but they never get started. I ask them why and they shoot out a variety of different excuses. It seems like they put more thought behind their excuses than they do their business ideas.

 

 

School, money, time, responsibilities, family, activities, and all other excuses are just obstacles. You can’t expect to find time, you have to make time if you really want to become an entrepreneur.

 

 

How To Overcome: Instead of making excuses, take action. You can prolong your business ideas as much as you want, but tomorrow will still have similar barriers. 

 

3. You Keep Asking People To Read Over Your Business Plan

 

I’m going to say this publicly, business plans don’t mean shit. They’re an overrated document hyped up by colleges so that they have something to teach you about at business school. I’ve never written a formal business plan in the last 4 years.

 

 

If you’re putting your ideas into writing hoping for someone to read over it, you’re a wantrepreneur. Your business plan just like your idea doesn’t mean shit until it’s put into action. See the common theme? You have to take action to be an entrepreneur.

 

 

How To Overcome: Stop pestering people about your business plan because it’s just a waste of paper. Certain parts of a business plan are good for organizing your thoughts, but they should be for your use only.

 

 

4. You Goal List Has Nothing Crossed Off

 

New Years resolutions are the funniest things. Most people make an amazing list of goals and resolutions only to forget about them by the middle of January. Just because you set goals doesn’t mean you’re an entrepreneur.

 

 

If you have a large list of goals that aren’t getting done, you aren’t progressing forward. You must be getting ahead in order to progress in life. Entrepreneurs make goals and crush them!

 

 

How To Overcome: Don’t set goals unless you plan to actually get them done. Get friends and family to hold you accountable with consequences if you don’t accomplish your goals.

 

 

5. You’ll Do Anything But Sell 

 

There is another type of wantrepreneur that actually innovates and builds things out, but refuses to get sales. We call this person the wantrepreneur because they’re purely an innovator and not an entrepreneur.

 

 

Entrepreneur’s make business decisions to fuel their innovations. Sales is tough, but it’s the foundation of your companies success. You cannot avoid doing sales if you truly want to become an entrepreneur.

 

 

How To Overcome: There is nothing wrong with not enjoying sales. If you don’t like it, you can find other smart people to take over the business side of your company and generate the sales that you need. 

 

 

Conclusion

 

This article isn’t about putting people down, but rather about to help them discover that they’re a wantrepreneur. You must know what’s holding you back before you can propel yourself forward.

 

 

 

photo credit: pierofix via photopin cc

 

How To Have Rock Star Confidence As An Entrepreneur

Confidence is extremely important to be successful as an entrepreneur. In this article, I share a variety of tips on how to have rock star confidence as an entrepreneur.

 

 

As an entrepreneur, having a high level of self-confidence is very important to your success. When I first started in high school, I wasn’t very confident and people knew it.

 

 

I was too worried about what others would think and didn’t really believe in myself. The lack of confidence was clearly seen through my results as I wasn’t doing as well as my competitors. After a few months, I finally realized I had to get over my fears and step up my game to really emerge as one of the best.

 

 

Having confidence as an entrepreneur is vital. If you believe in yourself, you can achieve whatever it is that you try.

 

 

However, you cannot gain confidence overnight. It’s a process and it will gradually happen for you as you continue trying. In this article, I’m going to share my tips on how to have rock star confidence as an entrepreneur:

 

 

F*ck Fear 

 

I lived a long part of my life just in fear of different things. I was mostly fearful of what others would say/think, which really limited my confidence. I realized the more nervous and scared I was, the less I was achieving.

 

 

I realized that we only live on this Earth once and our time is limited. You can live life being scared of the unknown or you can go out and conquer it. Next time you’re scared of doing something, look at both sides.

 

 

What’s the best thing that can happen compared to the worst thing that can happen? Is the reward worth the risk? If it is, forget about your fears. It’s okay to be fearful, but be confident in your abilities to overcome anything that is thrown your way.

 

 

Dress for Success

 

I don’t know what it is, but when I get a nice fitted suit on – I feel so good. 50% of confidence is what you believe and the other 50% of confidence is how you feel. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on fancy clothes to feel confident, but it helps to look good.

 

 

If you always feel good in the clothes you wear, your confidence level will automatically increase. It’s a subconscious thing that works every time! If you feel good about the way you look and dress, it will resonate through your confidence.

 

 

Be Prepared

 

The biggest reason why many people lack self-confidence is because they do not feel prepared. When I was in high school, I was not confident about any of the tests I took. My friends would ask me how I did on tests and I’d always reply with a negative response because I wasn’t prepared.

 

 

In order to be confident, you have to be prepared. Plan and prepare yourself to take on whatever challenge that may be in front of you. As soon as you feel mentally prepared, your confidence level will increase.

 

 

Believe It’s Done Before It Really Is

 

Some people might say I’m cocky, but I think I’m really confident. Before I do something, I tell myself and others that it’s already been accomplished. That pitch for an investor? I’m not worried, we’re going to walk away with an investment.

 

 

That’s the mentality I constantly have. Instead of wondering whether or not it will happen, I believe it has already happened once I’m mentally and physically prepared for it. My confidence comes from me telling myself I’ve already achieved it because I’m far more relaxed and ready to go!

 

 

Don’t Hesitate

 

The biggest skill I’ve been able to develop over the years is the ability to do things on the go. Growing up, I was a nervous wreck that would hesitate at everything. Upon transforming into an entrepreneur, I’m able to make big-time decisions without much hesitation.

 

 

When you hesitate, you show weakness in your own abilities. This causes others to think you lack self-confidence and gives them the upper hand. If you’re able to process things quickly and act without much hesitation, you will be perceived as being far more confident.

 

 

Kill The Negativity

 

Negative thoughts about you or your business can quickly drop your confidence level. If you’re having negative thoughts about anything, you need to find an exercise that allows you to quickly ditch them.

 

 

For me, I think of all the positives that are happening in my life if I ever start thinking negative thoughts. Negativity purely limits us from doing amazing things and having the confidence we need to be successful. Kill negativity as soon it arises.

 

 

Conclusion 

 

Over-confidence can be just as dangerous as a lack of confidence so it’s crucial to find a nice balance. In this article, I shared a few tips on how to develop rock star confidence as an entrepreneur.

 

 

photo credit: paul goyette via photopin cc

 

10 Important Lessons People Should Know Before They Turn 30

Our 20’s are an exciting time, but there’s a lot of lessons to be learned that can help us throughout our lives. In this article, I share 10 important lessons people should know before they turn 30.

 

I’m not even legally allowed to drink yet so you probably know that I haven’t lived much of my 20’s yet. However, I have learned a lot of lessons that most people don’t know until they graduate from college because of my experiences in the business world.

 

 

In this article, I’m going to share 10 important lessons people should know before they turn 30:

 

 

1. There’s More To Life Than Money

 

Coming out of college, most people can’t wait to get a job so they can start making a lot of money. Many people even pursue a specific college degree just because of the big salary they’ll make upon graduation. However, money isn’t everything. You have to do the things that make you happy and give you purpose to truly enjoy life.

 

 

2. You’ve Got To Grow Up Eventually

 

In our 20’s, we’re holding on to our childhoods as tightly as we possibly can. Eventually, we all have to grow up. You don’t want to spend the rest of your life acting like a child. It’s great to have fun, but you need to mature up as well.

 

 

3. You Can’t Make Everyone Happy

 

No matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to satisfy everyone. I’ve learned over the years that your happiness should come first. Don’t seek validation from others because your opinion is what really counts.

 

 

4. Don’t Be A Doormat

 

If you don’t want to do something, say NO. Do not be a doormat that feels like they are obligated to do things they don’t want to. Honesty is the best policy and the truth will prevail in every situation.

 

 

5. Set Goals

 

No matter what you do in life, it’s key that you set goals. If you want to achieve something, you need to set goals and take action. Nothing will fall in to your lap no matter how hard you wish for it. You have to get your hands dirty and take massive action to achieve great things.

 

 

6. Your Health Is Important

 

Okay, lets be realistic. Most people don’t care too much about their bodies during their 20’s. We smoke, drink alcohol and eat a bunch of junk food because we feel invincible to the world. As you get older, all those unhealthy habits catch up with you. Develop healthy habits at an early age so you are thankful later on.

 

 

7. Life Doesn’t Get Any Easier

 

If you have big dreams, the best time to pursue them are during your 20’s. You probably don’t have kids or a lot of responsibilities, which gives you the freedom to do what you want. As you get older, life won’t get any easier. The responsibilities will only continue to pile up so it’s recommended to do crazy shit during your 20’s.

 

 

8. Learn About Money

 

Unfortunately, colleges don’t make us as financially literate as it should. 20-somethings usually spend their money in the worst ways. Learning about investments and money management are crucial life skills that will carry on with you for the rest of your life.

 

 

9. Listen More Than You Talk

 

The younger we are, the less we know. I’ve been able to get this far in my life because I’ve taken the time to listen to what others have to say. If someone is speaking, you’ll be surprised at how much you can truly learn from them by listening.

 

 

10. Seize The Day

 

Our time in this world is limited. Make sure you use your time wisely so that you’re doing the things that you’re really passionate about. Follow your passions and chase your dreams!

 

 

Conclusion

 

These are just a few lessons I’ve been able to learn from others or through my own experiences. In this article, I shared 10 important lessons people should know before they turn 30.

 

 

photo credit: mksystem via photopin cc