15 Businesses You Only Need A Laptop To Start

In this article, I share 15 businesses you only need a laptop to start. From building my businesses using just the computer, I have learned a lot about businesses you can start from your laptop.

 

A few weeks ago, someone made a statement that completely blew my mind. They told me that all the success I have had and most everything I have created have all been done through the use of a computer or laptop.

 

 

I laughed and began reflecting back to the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey. My friend was absolutely correct. After probably going through billions of pixels and clicks, I have been able to build over 90% of what I have today just using my laptop.

 

 

The amazing thing is that I have come across numerous other people who are ‘click entrepreneurs’. They have started and successfully ran their businesses using just their laptops.

 

 

In this article, I share 15 businesses you only need a laptop to start:

 

 

#1 Mobile Development

 

You can create your own mobile development business pretty easily. You can either create mobile applications for other businesses or publish your own ideas through the various app stores using just your laptop.

 

 

#2 Web Development

 

Just like mobile development, you can create your own web development firm very easily. You can create web applications and sites for other businesses or choose to put your own ideas into action.

 

 

#3 Graphic Design

 

You can charge a very high premium in graphic design if you’re very skilled at it. UI and logo designs are a constant requirement of most businesses. If you have the creative talent necessary, you can be a freelancer working from anywhere.

 

 

#4 Author

 

With so many self-publishing platforms available in the internet, you can write a book of your own. Find a topic or space that you are an expert in and share your wisdom through text.

 

 

#5 Copywriter

 

There are hundreds of millions of websites that exist on the internet. Each of these websites have content and information that they convey to visitors. You can utilize this to your advantage by strategically writing content in specific niches.

 

 

#6 Blogging

 

If you enjoy writing and understand social media, you can create your own blog. There are tons of individuals who live all over the world that make a living just off of blogging.

 

 

#7 Affiliate Marketer

 

Believe it or not, people make a living just off of affiliate marketing. I have numerous friends who have made millions of dollars by simply promoting other people’s products and collecting a generous commission in exchange for their services.

 

 

#8 Social Media Manager

 

With the recent growth of social media in the last few years, many jobs in this space have opened up. Lots of businesses and companies outsource their social media management to other freelancers. You can make a good amount of money managing social media accounts for others.

 

 

#9 Search Engine Optimization 

 

You can earn a very generous premium if you learn how to optimize websites and rank specific keywords on the search engines. This is a service in huge demand that businesses are always looking for.

 

 

#10 Editing

 

There are tons of books in the market that get bad reviews every single day because it hasn’t been written properly. With some editing, these books could flourish in the market. Editors make a very good premium and usually do so without ever having to leave their house.

 

 

#11 Wealth Management 

 

I personally have looked for qualified individuals to manage and invest my money. If you understand investments very well, you can create your own wealth management firm.

 

 

#12 Translator 

 

Even though English is the universal language in business, many people conduct business in other languages. If you can help businesses find new clients by breaking the language barrier, you will be compensated very well.

 

 

#13 Web Maintenance 

 

Lots of websites that generate a lot of online traffic need someone to watch over their servers and maintain their website. If you have the skills necessary, people can hire you to be their long-term technical manager.

 

 

#14 Video Producer

 

More and more people are publishing videos to YouTube on a daily basis. However, many of these videos are poorly edited and not produced properly. You can start your own video production business online if you have the skills necessary.

 

 

#15 Tech Startup

 

If you happen to find a profitable niche or a problem that needs to be solved, you can create your own tech startup. Find a way to solve that problem and monetize that opportunity.

 

 

Conclusion 

 

In this article, we shared 15 businesses you only need a laptop to start. Are there any businesses we didn’t include that also require just a laptop? Feel free to share them below.

 

 

photo credit: Giorgio Montersino via photopin cc

 

5 Perspectives On Money The Wealthy Share

In this article, I share 5 perspectives on money the wealthy share. Being rich and successful takes a lot more than luck, this article discusses some of the mindsets you must have.

 

At some point, I think all kids have said, “I want to be rich and famous when I grow up.” We don’t really know about the baggages that come with being famous or how much money you really need to be rich.

 

 

Nevertheless, we are excited as ever to live out this dream. As we get older, we really understand how complex achieving either of the two things are. Most people are never able to become rich and famous.

 

 

Those that do become rich don’t get there by pure chance unless they win the lottery. Even those people don’t end up staying rich. From surrounding myself with super successful people, I quickly began learning about the mindsets successful people shared.

 

 

In specific, I got a chance to learn about the approach to money the wealthy people shared. In this article, I share 5 perspectives on money the wealthy share:

 

 

1. Diversify, Just In Case 

 

Average people tend to put all their eggs into one basket. They see some cash and some success, they become extremely comfortable. You have to remember that comfort is the enemy of achievement.

 

 

Wealthy people enjoy the fact that they have seen some success, but they refuse to get comfortable. They understand it can all be gone just as quickly as it came to them. They are constantly focused on diversifying their income sources so that they won’t be screwed if things go wrong.

 

 

2. Treat Yourself, Just Not Every Day

 

I would hate to be extremely wealthy and not spend any of that money on myself. If you work really hard to attain a large amount of wealth, it’s only right that you treat yourself. However, there is a big different between wealthy people and middle class individuals.

 

 

Wealthy people treat themselves to luxuries every now and then. Others, treat themselves all the time when they come across some cash. You should probably spend no more than 10% on treating yourself. The rest of the money will have a much better use when invested properly.

 

 

3. Don’t Work For Money, Make Money Work For You

 

A few months ago, I was talking to someone who really wanted to buy a new car. He kept telling me about how he had to work more hours each week in order to afford that car. The problem was, he was focused on increasing the number of hours he worked instead of increasing the amount of money he made for the same number of hours he was already working.

 

 

Many people tend to think this way. However, wealthy people don’t believe in this model. They want to work the same number of hours while making a lot more money. How do you do that? Simple. Find ways to get your money to work for you without taking up additional time.

 

 

4. Don’t Take On Debt

 

Wealthy people have either learned some valuable lessons from getting into debt or they refuse to get into debt. You cannot be wealthy if you are accumulating a large amount of debt. I always get people asking me why I only pay with debit when I can qualify for a credit card with a fairly high limit.

 

 

The answer is simple. I refuse to give myself the temptation to buy something that I may not have money for on the spot. I do not want to put myself in debt. I have learned from super successful people how challenging it truly is to get out of debt. Stay out of debt and you will automatically see your wealth grow.

 

 

5. Understand Where Money Comes From & Goes 

 

There are so many amazing financial tools out there in the market that can tell you exactly where you money is going each month. Not only that, but you also need to really understand where your money is coming from. Tools such as Wave Accounting or Mint can help you manage the metrics behind your finances.

 

 

Wealthy people can give you a complete analysis of what is happening with their money. Everyone should be able to do this. If you don’t know how you’re spending your money, you can’t ever really get rich.

 

 

Conclusion

 

In this article, I shared 5 perspectives on money the wealthy share. What perspectives do you share? Feel free to share them below!

 

 

photo credit: The Wolf via photopin cc

 

5 Amazing Resources College Students Have When Building A Startup

In this article, I discuss 5 amazing resources that college students have when building a startup. I discuss the various things college students have access to while they’re attending school.

 

If you are even just a bit curious about entrepreneurship, I recommend building a startup while you’re in college. I had started my first business towards the end of my high school career and I ended up launching another startup while I was in college.

 

 

It became evident to me quickly that there were a lot of advantages I had when attending college and building a startup. In this article, I share 5 amazing resources college students have when building a startup:

 

 

1. Other College Students

 

If you’re looking to validate your product through testing or surveying, college is the best place to be at. You have thousands of students who can test and provide valuable feedback for your project.

 

 

Not only that, but other college students can be a great addition to your startup team. Find people who have strengths where your weaknesses lie and use that to your advantage. With so many students roaming around, college gives your business an endless number of opportunities to grow.

 

 

2. Clubs and Classes

 

Another great thing about being on a college campus is that you’re constantly surrounded by people who are studying all kinds of different things. Not only that, but you can connect with club presidents if you need help with something in specific.

 

 

For example, if you’re looking for a developer for your app or website, you can try going to computer science classes or clubs to connect with others. College gives you a plethora of ways to get what you really need to make your business successful.

 

 

3. Local Incubators and Accelerators

 

I was let in on a little secret some time ago. I was told that most incubators or accelerators love having the chance to work with entrepreneurs that are younger. The reason being that feel they have a better chance of being successful since they are starting young and will probably try a couple different businesses.

 

 

If you’re going to college and have a local incubator or accelerator nearby, you should definitely apply. Some Universities even have their own incubators and accelerators for startup ideas on campus. This is a great opportunity to connect with very intelligent advisors and mentors.

 

 

4. Professors

 

You may sometimes even come across a professor or department head that may be able to add value in your startup. I’ve had quite a few friends who have ended up partnering up with their professors on a certain project.

 

 

It sounds crazy, but you’ll be surprised at the knowledge or connections some professors may have. If you have a special connection to a professor who you think can add value to your startup, do not hesitate to reach out to them. They usually love that kind of stuff!

 

 

5. Interns, Interns Everywhere

 

If your startup is established and now has a formal team, you may be looking for outside help to grow your business. Being that you’re a college student running a startup, it’s no surprise that you probably don’t have a lot of cash flow. Luckily for you, you’re surrounded by students who would potentially love to intern for your business.

 

 

Internships are great because you get to work with motivated individuals who are yearning to learn something. Being that you’re in a college, you can easily post flyers or talk to the career center about helping them recruit interns for your startup.

 

 

Conclusion

 

College is a great place to party, but you don’t want to forget about the other valuable amenities that are available to you. In this article, I shared 5 amazing resources college students have when building a startup.

 

5 Beautiful Truths About Starting Your Own Business

In this article, I discuss 5 beautiful truths about starting your own businesses. I use my own experiences to share some of the most rewarding parts of launching your own company.

 

Starting a business has become more and more popularized in recent times. I remember going to India a few years back and talking with people in the country who had big entrepreneurial dreams.

 

 

However, many of these individuals were terrified of creating their own business. After poking around, I found out that the idea of entrepreneurship was extremely frowned upon in India. It was looked at as a sophisticated way of saying that you were jobless.

 

 

Not many of us are us lucky those who live in the United States or England. In these countries,  entrepreneurship is highly promoted and looked at as a very good choice for many. I found all my success thanks to launching my own businesses.

 

 

If you are on the fence about starting your own business, here are 5 beautiful truths about starting your own business that may change your mind:

 

 

1. Freedom Is A Great Feeling

 

When I started my first business, I wasn’t looking for money more than I was looking for a way to escape the 9 to 5 life. Making money in my businesses was obviously a big goal since it gave me the freedom to stay away from jobs.

 

 

When you start your own business, you have complete freedom. This can be good or bad for many people. However, most people love having control on what they want to make, how they want to make it and who they decide to bring on their team.

 

 

2. You Have Endless Potential

 

When you work a job, you’re constricted by the salary and bonuses that your employer dictates. Even if you’re the top performing individual in a certain space, you will still never earn truly what your worth. If you do the math, the company will always be making a profit off of your work.

 

 

When you start your own business, things change. You finally get the opportunity to get compensated for everything you’re worth. It’s a much riskier path, but you aren’t constricted by a yearly salary. The harder you work and the better results you deliver, the more success you will achieve.

 

 

3. There Is No Substitute For Passion

 

Starting your own business is an amazing feeling. The rush and drive you feel when building your company is absolutely exhilarating. There is no greater substitution for career happiness than being passionate about the shit you’re doing.

 

 

It would be damn near foolish to start a business if you weren’t passionate about the ideas, products or sector. Thus, going under the assumption that you build a business that focuses around your passions, you won’t have any problems putting your heart and soul into the business.

 

 

4. Everything Is More Rewarding

 

Before becoming an entrepreneur at 17, nothing really got me truly excited. Everything was cool or sick to me, but it wasn’t something that got my adrenaline pumping. When I had to deal with various challenges in my business, everything changed.

 

 

Each time I overcame a big challenge or scored a juicy deal, I felt like a winner. It was like playing in game 7 of the NBA finals and hitting the game-winning shot. When you start your own business, the successes you have along the way feel a lot better and are far more rewarding.

 

 

5. Success Is In Your Hands

 

When you work a job, you can do the best damn job possible and still get fired. The greatest part about running your own business is knowing that you control your destiny/future.

 

 

The more successful your business is, the more successful you will be. You’re not relying on someone else to write you a paycheck at the end of the month and you sure as hell don’t have to kiss any asses. Being in charge is a great feeling!

 

 

Conclusion

 

For those of you who have been on the fence about starting your own business, I hope this article was some additional motivation to start now. In this post, I shared 5 beautiful truths about starting your own business.

 

 

photo credit: Stuck in Customs via photopin cc

My Words Of Commencement To Graduates

In this article, I share my words of commencement to graduates. Just 2 years ago, I was sitting in a classroom next to many of the individuals who are now graduating. I took a very different path than most my age did and I have some words of advice for you from what I have learned through my own journey.

 

I don’t usually do posts like this, but I thought I’d share one today. This is going to be a very personal and transparent post where I share my words of commencement to graduates. I haven’t delivered this to any University so these are just my thoughts assembled within a blog post.

 

 

Just 2 years ago, I was sitting in a classroom with many of you who have or are soon going to be graduating. A whirlwind of thoughts have been running through my mind the last few days. That could have been me standing next to you with a cap and gown waiting to pick up my diploma.

 

 

If I had stayed on that path, my parents would have been so proud. All they kept telling me was, “What will everyone in our family say when they find out that you didn’t get your degree?”

 

 

There are always what if’s in the world. Every day you are faced with hundreds if not thousands of different choices and paths you can take. I quickly snap back to reality and realize that I made the best decision ever in my life.

 

 

I decided to chase happiness over money, reputations and anything else that can be a motive for those seeking a degree. I’m not here today to say college is good or bad, but rather to share some words of wisdom with those who are moving forward in their lives.

 

 

Life as an entrepreneur has its ups and down. Just like anything else in the world, there are the good days and there are the bad days. One thing has never changed since the day I started.

 

 

I have never been happier in my life. You will be presented with so many options as you continue your journey and enter the workforce. I am here to tell you today that life is too short to be doing shit that doesn’t make you happy.

 

 

See, I could have listened to my parents and sacrificed another 2 years and tried graduating from college. However, I knew I wouldn’t be happy through the process and even after.

 

 

It doesn’t matter what you majored in and what your degree says you’re knowledgeable in, there is no greater driving force than passion. I woke up this morning at 4:30 AM excited as ever to start another day in my life.

 

 

We think we know what we really want, but then we quickly realize we were wrong all along. Most of us sacrifice our own beliefs and happiness to continue trudging along a path that we know is full of misery. My question to you is, why?

 

 

Just rewind back to 4 years ago when many of you were starting college, I knew nothing about the world that engulfs me today. I didn’t know what the word entrepreneur meant, I couldn’t tell you who Richard Branson was and I sure as hell didn’t think you could be successful without college.

 

 

After starting numerous businesses, delivering a TEDx talk, writing a best-selling book, speaking at conferences around the world, and so much more, I quickly realized that this was all possible because I had the balls to go after my passions. I encourage you all to do the same.

 

 

Try as many different things as you can. Find something that will stick and give you enjoyment. Pursue it with all your heart. I guarantee you that as long as you love what you do and give it a 110% every single day, the money will come.

 

 

Congratulations are definitely in order for you graduates. While you figure out where you’re headed next in your journey, just remember my small piece of advice. Don’t let your degree box in the possibilities that are available around you.

 

 

photo credit: m00by via photopin cc

 

Why I Follow Back And You Should Too

In this article, I discuss why I follow back and you should too on social media platforms. This post mainly highlights my success on Twitter through the use of this system.

 

For any of you who have connected with me through social media platforms such as Twitter, you probably have noticed that I follow back. Within 24-48 hours, I make sure to follow back everyone else who has made a genuine effort to connect with me.

 

 

The results are indicative through my followers and high engagement rate on Twitter. I have seen very good engagement with all of my tweets as well as having my Twitter following grow to 185K+ in about a year and a half.

 

 

Many people don’t believe in the idea of following back. They think it’s much cooler to follow 10 people and have 100,000 people following you back. Some don’t understand why they should follow back while others are simply too lazy for it.

 

 

In this post, I’m going to share with you why I follow back and you should too:

 

 

Be On The Same Level

 

The biggest reason why I follow back people is because I don’t want to put myself on an elevated platform. I don’t want to be that douche bag who never follows back because he thinks he is better than his followers.

 

 

Truth be told, I’m not better than my followers. I see my followers eye to eye. It doesn’t matter how much money they have in their bank account or how successful they are, I treat everyone the same. If you don’t look down upon people, a great way to show them that is by genuinely taking time out of your busy day to follow them back.

 

 

Engagement Shoots Through The Roof

 

As soon as I began following back everyone who followed me, I noticed the engagement on Twitter skyrocketing. I was getting more mentions, retweets and favorites instantly.

 

 

People love to feel some sort of connection with others. I’m not some kind of robot that is just going through the motions on Twitter. I give it a much more personal feel by following people back and taking time to care about who they are.

 

 

Followers Stick

 

One of my buddies was recently complaining to me about how he gets 500 followers but loses 300 of them the next day. I asked him if he was following back and he said no. I told him to run a test on my behalf.

 

 

I had him follow the individuals that unfollowed him to see how many of those individuals would follow him back. Within 3 days, 287 of those people had followed him back.

 

 

Call To Actions Convert Better

 

If you’re reading this blog, there’s a very good chance that you found out about it through my Twitter page. Let me break down some amazing statistics for you that I have to thank Twitter for:

 

 

Time Spent Blogging (Weekly): 5 Hours

 

Traffic Weekly (Uniques To My Blog): 10,000 to 15,000 Visitors

 

Traffic From Twitter: 65-80%

 

 

Okay, now lets put this math into perspective. My call to action on my Twitter profile is my personal website/blog. Before following people back, I was averaging hundreds of uniques a month. After changing up my strategy, I am now averaging around 40,000 to 60,000 unique visitors a month.

 

 

Why? The answer is simple. People are more likely to engage with your content and your posts if they have a deeper connection to you. I never did anything differently aside from following people back to achieve this success.

 

 

You Build Powerful Relationships

 

I have built thousands of amazing relationships just through Twitter. This has all happened because I made sure to follow people back and learn about others through their profiles. By doing so, I’ve opened up tons of opportunities for my businesses.

 

 

By adding a human touch to your social media profiles, you’ll be surprised as to how many people are willing to share cool opportunities with you. Not only do I receive dozens of emails from my followers, I’ve come across new clients, speaking opportunities and more all through Twitter.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Being successful on Twitter doesn’t correlate to just one thing. However, following people back had to be one of the primary factors to my massive success on Twitter. In this article, I share why I follow back and you should too.

 

 

photo credit: kdonovangaddy via photopin cc

 

Non-Traditional Investment Ideas

In this article, I share non-traditional investment ideas that don’t require a ton of capital or time to capitalize on. Find out some of the ways he has been investing his money.

 

As an entrepreneur, we all come to a point where we want to invest our money to create more income and more opportunities. I hit this point about 12 months ago and began looking for creative ways to invest my money.

 

 

When it came to investing, I had a specific motto that I followed. I wanted to invest money, find decent returns, minimize risk, and trade as little time as possible. That was a hard combination to find.

 

 

However, I was able to find a handful of investment opportunities that actually worked really well for me. In this article, I share non-traditional investment ideas:

 

 

Rental Properties

 

There are tons of amazing properties available in various areas. You have to hire a really good real estate agent who understands your motives and goals. From there, you look for properties that require very little capital to purchase, but have a huge upside for generating rent on a monthly basis.

 

 

You can put as little as 10% down on a property and rent it out to others. To cut your time investment even more, you can hire property managers that will be responsible for finding renters and maintaining the place. The best part of this investment is that someone else can help you build equity in your property by paying rent each month.

 

 

Startup Investments

 

I receive dozens of emails from individuals looking for investment capital to start up their own business. Typically, you’re going to find businesses that are pre-mvp. That’s a good thing because you’ll get the best deals and have to risk very little capital.

 

 

If you can find great teams and great ideas, you can invest small amounts of money. I have invested as little as $2,500 to help a team build a startup of its own. These types of investments carry a huge risk, but if you are able to successfully pick the right one, the potential is endless.

 

 

Peer To Peer Lending

 

Sites like Prosper.com make it easy for you to lend money to others in need. You make a nice return on your investment by charging interest. However, these types of investments can garner a huge risk because people can always run with your money.

 

 

However, if you have small amounts of money to invest, this can be a decent way to generate some capital each month. Look for opportunities on peer to peer lending sites and see what you can find!

 

 

Virtual Currencies

 

I put a good amount of money into Doge when the Bitcoin explosion happened a few months ago. While these investments are high-risk, you can obtain a really good reward if you are successful.

 

 

Best of all, these types of investments require very little up-front capital. I was able to get my hands on a lot of doge coin for just under $500. The risk was high, but the time commitment is very low.

 

 

Kiosks & Franchises

 

If you have a bit more capital to invest, you can find various franchises and kiosks that have high growth potential. Instead of investing into Subway’s or McDonald’s, you can look for new franchises that are gaining traction in your area.

 

 

Franchises can typically run you in the 6 figures while mall kiosks can be far cheaper. You can obtain a mall kiosk for $5,000 to $50,000. These can require some time in the beginning, but if you can find good managers, it can be a very passive investment.

 

 

Metals/Hot Commodities

 

There are tons of metals such as gold and silver that people make a lot of money off of each year. Not only that, but you can find other rare commodities to invest your money into.

 

 

The best part about these types of investments is that you can invest as much money or as little money as you wish. You need to spend quite a bit of time understanding the markets and what causes the prices of ores to increase or decrease.

 

 

Conclusion

 

In this article, I shared a variety of non-traditional investment ideas that don’t require a ton of capital or time. Do you have any investment ideas that have worked very well for you? Share them in the comments below.

 

 

photo credit: wonderwebby via photopin cc

 

7 Things People Don’t Understand About Entrepreneurs

In this article, I discuss 7 things people don’t understand about entrepreneurs. The media in recent years has put a spotlight on entrepreneurship causing a ton of myths to develop in the public.

 

Entrepreneurship has been portrayed through the media a lot more in the last few years. Shows such as Shark Tank and Silicon Valley have caught the eyes of many people who aren’t entrepreneurs.

 

 

Through these shows, many people think they have a very good idea about what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. However, most people are really wrong about their misconceptions of entrepreneurs.

 

 

In this article, I discuss 7 things people don’t understand about entrepreneurs:

 

 

1. It’s Not All About The Money

 

I’ve talked to many entrepreneurs over the years and I’ve learned that money is important, but it’s usually never the primary reason why people start their own business. More often than not, people start their own business to follow their passions or to gain more freedom in their lives.

 

 

Media and many successful entrepreneurs show off the multimillion dollar mansions and luxury sports cars, but that’s not what all entrepreneurs are about. If I was a multimillionaire, I’d probably treat myself to those luxuries too. However, I am an entrepreneur because I get to do something I love.

 

 

2. They Have A Job & It’s Probably Better Than Yours

 

Many people think ‘entrepreneur’ is a label that others use when they are unemployed. In fact, it’s probably the opposite of what they think. Not only do they have a job, but it’s probably better than the job that you have.

 

 

Entrepreneurs are anything but unemployed. Working for yourself and pursuing a vision that you can only see is probably one of the most rewarding jobs on the planet. Not only do you get self satisfaction, but you have the potential to disrupt an industry forever.

 

 

3. They Create Opportunity Instead of Finding It

 

Many people think that entrepreneurs just find an amazing opportunity and capitalize on it. However, entrepreneurs are doing much more than finding an opportunity. In fact, they are creating an opportunity for themselves.

 

 

Finding an opportunity would be equivalent to finding an amazing job that will increase your salary by 25% yearly. Creating an opportunity is finding a niche, building a product for it and launching it to the market.

 

 

4. They Are More Frugal Than You Think

 

Entrepreneur’s celebrate and blow their money when they have a reason to do so. Most of the other times, they are actually extremely frugal with their money. Most entrepreneurs understand the concept of bootstrapping their business early on and spend as conservatively as they can.

 

 

Most of the entrepreneurs that I have met are extremely conscious about how they spend their money. They believe in a truly frugal lifestyle with a strong focus on investing until they reach a certain financial milestone. After that, they are a lot more loose with their spending especially since they deserve it.

 

 

5. They Are Constantly Feeling A Wave of Emotions

 

Great entrepreneurs look calm, cool and collective on the outside. You wouldn’t know from the face of a great leader if things were ever horribly going wrong. They are well composed and control any situation that is before them.

 

 

Most entrepreneurs will tell you how much of an emotional roller coaster running a business is. One day, you’ll be on the top of the world while the next day you’ll be at the bottom of the emotional hill. Entrepreneurship is tough, it requires a lot of mental courage to survive.

 

 

6. They Worked Their Ass Off To Get Where They Are Today

 

Many people think it’s really easy to get funded. I once went to a networking event and this delusional guy thought that anyone with an idea would get funded. That’s hardly the truth about entrepreneurship.

 

 

Before anyone will cut you a check for a single dollar, you have to put in a lot of hard work. Most investors are extremely disciplined and will ask you to build a minimum viable product and gain traction before investing a penny into your business. Most entrepreneurs have to struggle, sweat and push their way through the first few years to get where they are today.

 

 

7. It’s Not Easy At All

 

Many people from the sidelines think it’s extremely easy to be an entrepreneur. They think that just because you get to make your own hours and be your own boss, it’s a walk in the park. That’s hardly the truth.

 

 

Every time we watch a basketball game on television and we see Kevin Durant miss that jumper, we think we can make it. Remember, it’s always easier said than done. Entrepreneurship is one of the toughest challenges anyone can take on. Only the brave and mentally strong survive.

 

 

Conclusion

 

In this article, I shared 7 things people don’t understand about entrepreneurs. What are some other things you have found that people don’t understand about entrepreneurship?

 

 

photo credit: plewicki via photopin cc

 

 

5 Beliefs of People Who Refuse To Quit

In this article, I share 5 beliefs of people who refuse to quit. From my own failures and roadblocks in my entrepreneurial journey, I have learned to stay persistent by focusing on some core beliefs.

 

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned to develop a thick skin with many different things. I wouldn’t be able to call myself an entrepreneur today if I didn’t develop a thick skin to failure.

 

 

Mistakes, obstacles and failures always come up. It’s part of the ups and downs every entrepreneur has to deal with at some point. Luckily for me, I became really good at dealing with failure.

 

 

The solution was really simple, far too simple actually. I just refused to quit. That’s easier said than done as many people know. I had to develop some really powerful beliefs that enabled me to stay persistent no matter what happened.

 

 

In this article, I share 5 beliefs of people who refuse to quit:

 

 

1. Next Time Will Be Better

 

Each time I failed, I used that experience to learn from it. I wrote down the things I thought I did really well and the negative things I thought caused the downfall. By doing this, I was able to openly reflect on the whole experience.

 

 

After that, I had two choices. I could give up or I could create a new plan that incorporated all this feedback. Successful people always choose the latter option. They create a new plan and have confidence that the next time around will be far better.

 

 

2. You Only Have To Be Right Once 

 

Here’s the beautiful part about being an entrepreneur, you ONLY need to be right once. You can find a thousand ways that don’t work and fail just as many times. People do not remember you for your failures, but for your successes.

 

 

As long as you’re able to get it right once, you can make a lot of money, change the world and disrupt a massive industry. People who refuse to quit understand this belief. They know that it’s nearly impossible to get everything perfect the first time around.

 

 

3. They Believe In Taking Risks

 

Ask any successful person and they’ll tell you that they did something that not many others were willing to do. Often times, this means taking a big risk. If you’re looking to limit risk, chances are you might end up failing.

 

 

Successful individuals understand risks, but they aren’t afraid to fearlessly push through these challenges. You have to take a risk and push yourself to the limits to be successful. It won’t be easy, but it will be worthwhile.

 

 

4. Mind Over Matter

 

This saying might be really cliche or overused, but I still think it is extremely powerful. Successful individuals need to master their minds. If you have the proper mindset, you can truly achieve anything.

 

 

In order to push past failures and stop yourself from quitting, you need to believe in yourself. It doesn’t matter if no one else in the world believes in you as long as you believe in your own dreams. Mental strength and self-confidence are keys to success.

 

 

5. Haters Don’t Phase Them

 

When you fail or stumble upon a nasty roadblock, people will always be there to laugh and criticize your actions. Many people let this outside influence stop them from continuing their dreams.

 

 

That’s a deadly mistake you want to avoid at all costs. Sometimes, you have to embark on a vision that only you can see. If others saw it too, they’d be creating a journey of their own. Always listen to what others have to say, but take it with a grain of salt. Make your own decisions and follow your own path in life.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Finding success in this world requires a lot of determination and grit. In this article, I shared 5 beliefs of people who refuse to quit.

 

 

photo credit: RGT3 Pics via photopin cc

 

10 Tips For Bringing Out The Winner In You

I share 10 tips for bringing out the winner in you in this article. Success in anything requires you to develop specific characteristics, which are shared in this post.

 

No matter what you do in life, you want to win. There is no better feeling in the world knowing that you worked hard and were able to win as a result of your actions.

 

 

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved winning. I’ve been competitive at everything I do with the goal of winning. It doesn’t always happen, but when it does, there is no better feeling in the world.

 

 

Many people lack certain characteristics that other winners embrace. In this article, I share 10 tips for bringing out the winner in you:

 

 

1. Conquer Yourself

 

Before you can win, you need to develop a winning mindset. Many people fail to win because they hold themselves back from achieving amazing results. You have to conquer your own thoughts or lack of thoughts. Stop focusing on all the negative outcomes mentally and encourage yourself to achieve.

 

 

2. Eliminate The Negative

 

If you have negative habits or surroundings that are holding you back from winning, you need to put your big boy/girl pants on and remove them from your life. Our surroundings influence our decisions, mindsets and income. By putting yourself around a positive environment, you better your chances of winning.

 

 

3. Play Fearlessly

 

If you have doubts or fears, you will stop yourself from succeeding. Whether you’re playing a sport or running a business, you have to be fearless with your decisions. Do not have regrets and do what is absolutely best for the situation at hand. Sometimes you have to take a risk to win it all.

 

 

4. Face The Fiercest Competition 

 

When I was growing up, I used to play a lot of competitive basketball. I didn’t look forward to playing the teams at the bottom of our divisions, but rather the ones who were at the top. I embrace the challenge of playing the best. To truly improve and consider yourself a winner, you need to take down the best competition.

 

 

5. Take Responsibility 

 

Winners are accountable for their own mistakes. You cannot play the blame game and expect to succeed in life. If you’re trying to be successful, take responsibility when things don’t go as planned. People will respect you and you will be looked at as a winner in the eyes of others.

 

 

6. Get Help

 

Kobe Bryant has won 5 NBA championships and he is one of the greatest examples of a winner I have ever seen. Given all the greatness that he has already achieved, he is always reaching out to other successful people asking for help. If you want to be a winner, keep improving your strengths and getting help from other individuals successful at their craft.

 

 

7. Keep Emotions Out of It 

 

Winners don’t let emotions affect their decisions. Emotions can get in the way and cause you to make rash decisions. To be a true winner, you have to separate your emotions from what is at hand. That is when you can truly achieve the results you desire even when times get tough.

 

 

8. They Don’t Give Up

 

You’ll always be losing if you give up. You have to learn from your mistakes and failures without giving up. Embrace failure, learn your lessons and get back up. Winners push through the bad times until they reach the good times. Life and success is all about persistence.

 

 

9. They Are Courageous

 

You have to be brave and willing to take on the world when nobody else believes in you. Winners are successful because they are extremely courageous. They are fearless and willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals. This is a mindset that takes years to develop, but this is a key to becoming a winner in the long run.

 

 

10. They Play The Game

 

You can’t expect to win or be successful unless you’re willing to play the game. You have to be a part of the action in order to earn or win. The world is filled with too many people who ‘want’ to do something, but very few people actually take the time to do it.

 

 

Conclusion

 

In this article, I shared 10 tips for bringing out the winner in you. What are some characteristics that have helped you become a winner?

 

 

photo credit: ShutterbugApis via photopin cc