10 Key Tips for Success as an Entrepreneur.
- Analia Del Roscio
- Apr 16
- 6 min read
Today I want to share with you 10 key success tips that have helped me tremendously in transitioning from Professional to Entrepreneur.
When we see what some "influencers" (with a few exceptions) try to sell us on social media about entrepreneurship or what it means to be an entrepreneur, they are generally aspirational.
They are generally images or videos of a person casually typing away in a café or on a paradise beach, holding a piña colada and a little umbrella, talking about the millions that have fallen from the sky.
There are very few times that you will see the reality of entrepreneurship on social media, and as they said in my office today, you literally spend hours in a "cave"
Most successful entrepreneurs' daily lives aren't so picture-postcard.
Those who really make it big are hands-deep in the day-to-day running of their businesses: reviewing numbers, adjusting strategies, answering emails at eleven at night.
And yet, they still find time to create new ideas, spend time with their family, unwind with friends, or sweat it out at the gym, padel tennis, or soccer.
How do they do it?
The answer lies in these 10 keys that have helped me enormously in my professional and personal life.
These keys are based on some of my favorite books.
These super books, written by the most inspiring authors in the world of entrepreneurship, have given me great insights into entrepreneurship and, above all, how and what to focus on.
If you want to discover how these 10 keys can help you build a business (and a life) worth living, stay until the end.
These are the 10 keys that are the foundation or DNA of an entrepreneur:
Focus on the Essential
The power of small steps
Discipline and Resilience
Build a team to free your mind (and your time)
Show your face and speak out
Create Your Own Blue Ocean
Choosing the Road Less Traveled
Learning from mistakes
Stand Out with Your Unique Approach
Master your mindset
Based on my favorite books, I'm going to tell you about each one of them in detail:
Focus on the Essential
Paul Jarvis, in his book Company of One , invites us to reconsider the idea that bigger is always better.
“Growth for growth's sake is a trap; true success lies in staying small, agile, and focused on what makes you unique,” Jarvis writes.
For an entrepreneur, this means identifying your core purpose and resisting the temptation to chase every brilliant idea that appears on the horizon. (especially for those who are scattered.)
Ask yourself:
What is it that only you can offer?
Focusing on that answer will allow you to build something sustainable and authentic.
The Power of Small Steps
Darren Hardy, author of The Compound Effect , reminds us that focus isn't always about grand gestures, but about consistency.
“It’s not the big actions that change your life, but the small, daily decisions that, over time, generate extraordinary results ,” Hardy says.
As an entrepreneur, this can mean spending time each day perfecting your product, learning a new skill, or connecting with your customers.
Sustained focus on these small actions creates a compound effect that propels your business forward.
Discipline and Resilience
Angela Duckworth, in Grit , emphasizes that focus is not just a matter of direction, but also of resilience.
“Passion and perseverance for long-term goals are what separates the achievers from the dreamers ,” says Duckworth.
Entrepreneurship is not a sprint, but a marathon full of obstacles.
Staying focused on your vision, even when things get tough, is what will get you across the finish line.
Build a team to free your mind (and your time)
As a solopreneur, it's easy to fall into the trap of wanting to do everything yourself: from answering messages to keeping accounts.
But here's a secret that successful entrepreneurs know well: building a team, even a small one, can be a game changer.
Michael E. Gerber, in The Myth of the Entrepreneur , explains it perfectly:
“Work on your business, not just in it,” says Michael E. Gerber.
Hiring the right people or delegating operational tasks to freelancers frees up your time for what really matters: analyzing trends, managing strategies, researching new opportunities, or even studying for further growth.
Show your face and speak out
Brené Brown, in The Power of Being Vulnerable , reminds us that focus also requires courage to be authentic.
“Daring is about stepping up on stage, putting your face forward, and revealing yourself, even if you have no guarantee that everything will turn out well,” Brown writes, evoking the image of someone who bravely puts themselves out there.
As an entrepreneur, this means committing to your vision and sharing it fearlessly, even if it means risking criticism or mistakes.
Showing your face isn't just about showing off your product; it's about showing who you are, connecting with your customers and team from a genuine place that reinforces your purpose.
There's a TED talk she did that I recommend you watch.
Create Your Own Blue Ocean
W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, in Blue Ocean Strategy , propose a radical approach to standing out: stop competing in saturated markets and create your own space.
“The best way to beat the competition is to stop trying to beat it ,” they write.
As an entrepreneur, this means focusing on innovation, on finding a niche where the rules haven't yet been written.
Instead of fighting over a piece of the pie, create a new pie that only you can offer , directing your energy to what truly transforms the game.
Choosing the Road Less Traveled
Sometimes focus is also about having the courage to follow your own path, as Robert Frost teaches us in his poem The Road Not Taken .
“I took the road less traveled, and that made all the difference,” Frost writes, capturing the essence of intentional choice.
For an entrepreneur, this means focusing on what sets you apart, even if it means breaking away from the conventional.
Choosing your path isn't easy, but it's what leads you to build something unique, aligned with your values and vision.
8. Learn from Mistakes
Fernando Trías de Bes, in The Black Book of the Entrepreneur , warns us about the traps of being out of focus.
“Failure doesn’t always come from a lack of ideas, but from not knowing how to prioritize them ,” writes Trías.
This book is a stark but necessary reminder:
Spreading yourself thin on too many fronts can be the end of your business.
Learning to say “no” to projects that don’t align with your vision is just as crucial as saying “yes” to the right ones.
Stand Out with Your Unique Approach
Seth Godin, in The Purple Cow , takes the concept of focus to a bold level: being noticeable in a cluttered world.
“In a market full of brown cows, you have to be a purple cow: extraordinary and memorable ,” writes Godin.
It is very similar to the concept of the Blue Ocean.
For an entrepreneur, this means focusing on what makes you different and amplifying that uniqueness.
It's not about covering everything, but rather being exceptional at something specific that captures attention and leaves a mark.
Master Your Mindset
Josh Kaufman, in Personal MBA , emphasizes internal focus as the foundation for success.
“Your greatest enemy is not competition, but your own lack of clarity,” sums up his philosophy.
A focused entrepreneur cultivates a mindset that filters out external noise and aligns with their deepest goals , whether it's strategizing or simply setting aside time to learn.
Conclusion
These authors remain relevant in my entrepreneurial life.
Personally, I continue trying to apply everything I've been reading and learning to my businesses.
And in my more than 30 years of entrepreneurship, I've learned that these 10 keys, like Focus, aren't always innate in each person, but rather are skills and tools that are trained and learned.
Adopt:
the simplicity of One's Company ,
the consistency of The Compound Effect ,
Grit 's resilience ,
The systems of The Myth of the Entrepreneur ,
the courage of The Power of Being Vulnerable ,
the innovation of the Blue Ocean Strategy ,
the bravery of The Way Less Traveled ,
the lessons of The Black Book of the Entrepreneur ,
The audacity of The Purple Cow
or the Personal MBA mentality ,
Every step you take toward greater clarity brings you closer to success.
As an entrepreneur, your time and energy are your most valuable resources.
Focus them wisely, surround yourself with a supportive team, dare to stand up and choose your own path: this is how your vision and your venture will come to life .
If you'd like to analyze your business's website, schedule a meeting and we'll discuss it.
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