Entrepreneurial success isn't for the faint of heart. Many people dream of becoming an entrepreneur, but question whether or not they have what it takes to be successful.

Not all entrepreneurs are the same. There isn't a magical blueprint for entrepreneurial success, but there is one thing that is consistent amongst all successful entrepreneurs – they share personality traits that set them up to win.  The good news is that any trait can be learned and mastered, with practice.

Through hard work, commitment, and persistence, you can become a successful entrepreneur. It all starts with you. In the words of Arthur Ashe, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” 

Are you ready to learn what it takes to achieve entrepreneurial success?

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Are you ready to achieve entrepreneurial success?

Successful entrepreneurs stand out from the rest. Think of some of the most successful names in business – Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Elon Musk. If you put a group of them in a room together you would find that they share similar traits with one another.

Luckily, the traits that successful entrepreneurs share are ones that can be developed, over time. Let's explore 4 traits of entrepreneurial success:

1. Grit

Successful entrepreneurs possess grit; otherwise known as the sheer determination to keep moving forward, no matter how many times you get knocked down.

In her book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth determines that grit is what separates those that are successful from those who fail. If you tend to be a dabbler and quit when things get tough, the business world will chew you up and spit you out.

It is fair to say that grit is a tool for entrepreneurial success. If you can learn how to transform failure into opportunities for growth, you will be able to conquer any challenge that comes your way.

2. Passion

Have you ever wondered why it is that people like Bill Gates continue to work an insane amount of hours, despite not having to ever work a day in their lives? It's called passion.

According to research conducted by Tony Tjan and co-authors Richard Harrington and Tsun-Yan Hsieh, 65% of founders have been identified as driven by “heart.”

Being an entrepreneur is hard work. If you don't love what you do, you won't succeed, which is why you need to be motivated by an intrinsic desire to achieve your goals.

3. Self-Confidence

As an entrepreneur, it is easy to feel frustrated, defeated, or doubtful from time to time. However, an essential quality of all successful entrepreneurs is that they have an unwavering confidence in their abilities. They do not question whether or not they are worthy of success. They know that they will achieve success, no matter what.

As a business owner, you are the face of your brand. If you aren't confident in your ideas and capabilities, how do you expect others to believe in you? In the words of Samuel Johnson, “Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.” 

4. Vision

If you don't have a roadmap for where you want to go, how do you expect to ever reach your destination? Successful entrepreneurs are motivated by a strong and clear vision that guides all of their decisions. They know who they are, what they want to do, and where they want to go.

What is your vision for your business and your life? If you have yet to write a vision statement, I encourage you to do so. When you have a strong sense of what it is that you want to achieve in life, it will become crystal clear what actions you will need to take in order to achieve your goals.

While not a guarantee for success, possessing these 4 traits will give you a competitive advantage in the business world.

Do you have what it takes to achieve entrepreneurial success?

The best way to figure it out is by taking action and committing to self-development. The path of an entrepreneur isn’t easy, but it brings with it amazing opportunities if you are prepared and develop the qualities that are necessary for success.

Richard Branson said it best – “Successful entrepreneurs don't wait for the perfect moment – they create it.” What are you waiting for? Entrepreneurial success is yours for the taking!

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I’m going to share with you 5 things mentally strong people won’t do. 

It may surprise you, but intelligence only accounts for a small percentage of your achievement. Research is starting to reveal that mental toughness, or “grit”, plays a more important role than anything else for achieving your goals in life.

Mentally strong people are committed to engaging in habits of success, and they are effectively able to manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

If you catch yourself engaging in these 5 things mentally strong people won’t do, don’t beat yourself up. I have solutions for how you can recognize and replace these unhealthy habits, so that you can become mentally strong.

In the words of John Schiefer, “Mental toughness can take you to the top, and mental weakness straight to the bottom.” Which path will you take?

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

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Do you want to learn how to create a morning ritual that will increase your mental strength? CLICK HERE to join my Morning Ritual Mastery course!

Mental strength is the foundation for success. Everyone has the ability to build it. Just like a muscle, you need to strengthen it.

Commit to learning how to identify the common pitfalls that you are prone to falling into, so that you can master your mind and become the best version of yourself.

Here are 5 things mentally strong people won’t do.

1. They will not indulge in past failures or mistakes.

Failure is a normal part of life. Whatever goal you are trying to achieve, you will make mistakes and you will fail.

A mentally strong person is able to learn from their mistakes and use them as fuel to propel them forward. They don’t view setbacks as failures, but rather, as opportunities to learn and become more.

Alternatively, a weak person is unable to bounce back from failure. They usually associate a lot of pain to their setbacks and tend to make a big deal out of things that are out of their control.

They are afraid to take a leap of faith and try something new, for fear that they will fail. As a result, they remain in their comfort zone.

If you failed in the past, it’s time to let it go. The past is history.

Your failures will not determine your future unless you allow them to. In the words of Tony Robbins, “The past does not equal the future.”

Shift your mindset and look for the positive in every experience. Don’t dwell on your problems in life. Focus on what you have control over and move on!

2. They will not feel sorry for themselves.

Mentally strong people take ownership and responsibility for their choices in life, whereas weak people create stories and play the role of victim. They blame others’ and external circumstances for their shortcomings in life.

As a result, these people end up holding onto their problems and carry this baggage with them into the future.

Alternatively, mentally strong people recognize that the sooner that you take responsibility for your life, the happier and healthier you become.

Research shows that positive emotions may actually make us healthier.

According to Dr. Laura Kubzansky, a professor of human health and development at Harvard School of Public Health, individuals with great emotional vitality have a much lower risk of developing heart disease, compared to the less emotionally expressive.

Don't be a victim of your circumstances. Pick yourself up, dispel negative emotions, and take responsibility for your life.

As Viktor Frankl famously said, “When we can't change the outcome, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

3. They don't surround themselves with negative people.

Negative people can suck the life out of you, draining your emotional and mental energy. This is why mentally strong people are conscious of who they surround themselves with.

The fact of the matter is, who you spend time with is who you become. Are your friends elevating you or bringing you down? If it’s the latter, it’s time to find new friends.

Weak people allow toxic energy to come into their lives because they are unable to develop healthy boundaries. Study after study shows that negativity has a drastic impact on your physical, mental, and financial well-being.

Alternatively, mentally strong people do not tolerate second class behaviour or negativity. They know when to put the line in the sand, and have the ability to say no when someone is not serving their highest self.

4. Mentally strong people don’t judge themselves or others.

Mentally strong people don't get caught up in drama. They refuse to indulge in the act of speaking less about themselves or others. They look for the good in everything and everybody.

Norman Vincent Peale said it best – “When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force in your mind which by a law of attraction tends to bring the best to you.”

If you are wondering why your life might be challenging right now, look at where you are focusing your thoughts. If you focus on the bad and constantly complain, you WILL attract more of that into your life.

Research from Stanford University has shown that complaining shrinks the hippocampus, an area of the brain that’s critical to problem solving and intelligent thought.

Be conscious of the words that you speak. They have the power to shape your reality.

5. Mentally strong people aren’t lazy.

Mentally strong people are disciplined and committed to everything that they do. They aren’t focused on instant gratification and pleasures. Rather, they are always looking forward and thinking long-term.

Alternatively, weak people struggle with discipline of any kind, because they haven't been able to master their mindset and emotions. They live in their comfort zones and, as a result, fail to grow.

Everything you desire in life is outside of your comfort zone. Studies show that stepping out of your comfort zone leads to greatly increased productivity, creativity, and the ability to cope with unexpected changes.

When there is a challenge or crisis in their lives, mentally strong people rise up and take action.

Being productive and disciplined is a habit, which is why I'm a big fan of morning rituals. When you start off the day doing things that are proactive it sets you up for success, which translates into every area of your life.

These are 5 things mentally strong people won’t do. Don’t be a dabbler. Condition your mind every day, develop healthy habits, and commit to mastery.

Do you want to learn how to create a morning ritual that will increase your mental strength? CLICK HERE to join my Morning Ritual Mastery course!

Here is the best entrepreneur advice for beginners.

At the beginning of an entrepreneurial journey it can feel like a roller coaster ride, filled with highs and lows. If you want to succeed in the startup world, you need to learn how to navigate this bumpy terrain so that you come out on top.

The reality is that 8 out of 10 businesses fail in the first year. How would it feel if you could avoid the mistakes that 80% of people make? If more entrepreneurs were armed with the right advice, I think that these numbers would be lower.

Starting a business requires a myriad of personality traits; like hard work, grit, patience, sacrifice, energy, and a passion to succeed. Only the strong survive. Are you one of them?

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

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In this book, The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster: Why Now Is the Time to #JoinTheRide, Darren Hardy says that people who make the jump into entrepreneurship just aren't ready, prepared, or equipped.

I want to share with you the best entrepreneur advice for beginners, comprised of 5 skills that every entrepreneur must master:

1. Believe in Yourself

Making the choice to become an entrepreneur takes courage, especially when family or friends don’t support your vision, which is why you need to believe in yourself.

The most successful people in this world didn’t get to where they are today by doubting themselves. Talk to yourself as if you are a winner.

If you don’t believe in yourself, who will believe in you? This is your life, your choices, and your destiny. Make it count. As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” 

2. Master Your Emotions

If you want to succeed at anything in life, it starts with going inward and learning how to master your emotions. Successful entrepreneurs don’t let their emotions drive their decisions. Rather, they remain calm and calculated under pressure.

A business that is based on reactive decisions will only result in failure. Yes, you will get triggered, but it is up to you to learn how to calm your ‘emotional storm’ so that you can master any challenge that stands in your way of success.

3. Enjoy The Process Of Success

If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to learn how to enjoy the process of success. If you only focus on external rewards from your efforts, you will always be in the rat race. Don’t be a slave to your external environment.

Even when you start making a certain amount of money and become financially free, it won’t be enough. You will always be looking for the next best thing.

The chase will never make you happy, which is why you need to become less attached to the final outcome and enjoy the process of success. That is where the real growth lies.

4. Focus on Contribution

Take a moment and think about how lucky you are to be able to do what you love. Having an appreciation for your accomplishments carries more meaning when you are able to give back and make a positive impact on the lives of others.

At the end of the day, contribution is the ultimate reward in life. I believe that we are all here to give and contribute something, beyond ourselves. Not only does it give you a sense of lasting fulfillment, but it also serves to accelerate your success at a much faster pace.

In the words of Zig Ziglar, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”

5. Don’t Be Afraid Of Failure

If you have experienced failure in the past, great! Failure is a normal part of the learning process of life. Thank your failures for the lessons and then let them go.

Accept and learn from your past, but don’t live there, because it doesn’t dictate your future in any way unless you allow it to. If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always gotten.

It’s easy to feel shitty when things don’t go your way, but if you want to truly succeed as an entrepreneur you have to use pain as motivation, and develop the mindset and the willpower to keep pushing despite the obstacles that stand in your way.

Use failure as a tool for growth and change. It has the ability to propel you forward and prepare you for what lies ahead.

Being a successful entrepreneur doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a long-term commitment, but the payoff is sweet. This is the best entrepreneur advice for beginners. I challenge you to start utilizing these skills in your business. The result? Business mastery.

Do you want to learn the 7 online business models that have made me an Internet millionaire? CLICK HERE for instant access to my free course!

I would like to share with you 4 ways to build your mental toughness. In today's fast paced and complex world, the ability to effectively adapt, remain calm under pressure, and change at a moment's notice is a necessity.

Your mental toughness, or “grit” as they call it, plays a very important role in achieving your goals in health, business, and life. Nobody in the business world needs mental toughness more than an entrepreneur.

Being your own boss and designing the life that you desire is great, but unfortunately not a lot of entrepreneurs possess the skills that are needed in order to weather the storms of the online business world.

The good news is that mental toughness is a skill that you can learn. Steve Siebold, mental toughness expert and author of 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class: The Thought Processes, Habits and Philosophies of the Great Ones, 3rd Edition, teaches that a person of modest means can become world class by implementing the thinking, habits, and philosophies associated with mental toughness.

Are you ready to learn 4 ways to build your mental toughness so that you can master your online business?

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You can have amazing organizational skills, be highly productive, and be passionate about your online business. But without mental toughness, you won't be able to stay on course when things get challenging.

Below are 4 ways to build your mental toughness in order to ensure that you stay one step ahead of the game:

1. Embrace Change

Mentally tough people are constantly adapting to changing circumstances. They strive to get outside of their comfort zone on a daily basis because they welcome challenges and see them as opportunities for growth.

Making it a daily habit to engage in activities that force you to step outside of your comfort zone, take risks, and embrace the unknown is a great way to expand your capacity for mental toughness.

If you want to become the best version of yourself in your business and in your life, you need to take risks and do things that make you feel uncomfortable.

2. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is all about staying present in the moment. Entrepreneurs often find themselves stretched in multiple different directions, which can effect their concentration.

This is why focusing on the here-and-now is such an important skill for online business owners to learn.

A University of Miami study showed that one of the best ways to build mental toughness is through practicing mindfulness on a consistent basis.

One of the greatest benefits of creating a mindfulness-based practice, like meditation, into your daily life is that it allows you to effectively manage the myriad of stressors that can come with running an online business.

3. Be Active

There is no doubt that a healthy body contributes to a healthy mind. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the higher one’s mental agility and stability, the more likely they are to achieve and maintain a healthy body.

If you run an online business, it is imperative that you commit to staying active. Hours in front of a computer can be taxing on your physical and mental state.

According to the Mayo Clinic’s Dr. James Levine, in the U.S. people spend more than half of their waking hours sitting down, which can result in a myriad of health problems.

I highly recommend investing in a LifeSpan treadmill desk. It has radically elevated my productivity, enhanced my business, and transformed my health. Getting your heart pumping in the morning is a great way to stimulate your brain for optimal performance and prime you for success.

4. Master Your Emotions

In order to become mentally tough, you need to master your emotions. Running an online business requires that you are able to make strategic decisions under pressure, which is why it is important that you are able to stay calm and objective, regardless of your emotional state.

It is impossible to be mentally tough if you are unable to fully understand and manage your emotions. This is where the power of emotional intelligence (EQ) comes into play. Research shows that 90% of top performers have high EQs.

Unlike IQ, the good news is that EQ is a skill that you can build and master over time. Research shows that 90% of top performers have high EQs. Robert Kiyosaki said it best, “The strength of character and emotional intelligence to face your failures and learn from them are at the core of success.”

Do you want to know the secret that will allow you to be mentally and physically tough?

The common thread amongst all of the most successful people in the world is that they implement habits into their daily routine.

John Maxwell once said, “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine”.

I believe that mastery is the path to living an extraordinary life.  Successful people operate at an optimal level of efficiency, every day.

As a result, they master every aspect of their life.

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

Do you want build new habits into your morning ritual? CLICK HERE to learn more about my Morning Ritual Mastery program.

How would it feel if you could be more productive, happy, and energetic on a daily basis?

The way that you care for yourself, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually will determine your success. You are what you repeatedly do.

There is a common misconception that business success means that you have to work 24/7 and burn yourself out. This is far from true.

If you don’t make time to nurture yourself, how can you show up for anyone else?

The trick is to work smarter, not harder. Successful people learn to enjoy the process, and stop worrying so much about the outcome. In doing so, they are better equipped to master challenges when they arise.

Life is composed of a series of challenges that test your ability to bounce back from adversity.

Have you ever wondered why some people bounce back from adversity while others fall apart? They are mentally and physically tough.

In her book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth reveals that your mental toughness plays a more important role than anything else for achieving your goals in health, business, and life.

Success requires that you are flexible and adaptable to change. In short, you need to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Your psychology and mindset are going to determine your success more than anything.  Focus on developing a mastery mentality.

Habits can change the direction of your life.  In the words of Brian Tracy, “Successful people are simply those with successful habits”.

I want to share with you how to develop grit, and integrate something called, ‘the hard thing rule' into your daily life.

Do you know someone who views challenges as opportunities for growth?  Do you know someone that always appears to be successful in the face of adversity?

Have you ever wondered why these people are the way they are? In her book, “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”, Angela Duckworth has a theory for why these people exist.  The answer is that they possess grit.

In her book, Angela shares her decade of research on the topic and determines that grit is what separates those that are successful from those who fail.

Watch the video below:

Click here to watch on YouTube)

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Do you want to learn more about how to develop grit? CLICK HERE to check out Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance on Amazon.

According to Angela, grit, as defined as a child’s “perseverance and passion for long-term goals,” is a better indicator of future earnings and happiness, than either IQ or talent. Angela is constantly asked by parents, “How do you build grit in kids?” In her research, she has found that unconditional love is important for children, but you cant overdo it.

A lot of parents try to protect their children from challenges and adversity, but that’s not how life works. She believes that children need to be challenged so that they learn how to adapt to change and bounce back from adversity. Angela explains that there are two different ways of building grit – there is an internal approach and an external approach.

The external approach is through role models, coaches, mentors, etc.  The internal approach is about developing your passion and by experimenting with a variety of different things. Her argument is, that if you are passionate about something, you are more likely to be able to cope with challenges in your daily life.

Your passion and perseverance towards your long-term goals help you move through difficult times with strength. In her book, Angela shares a great technique that can help you cultivate grit, and that you can incorporate into your daily routine. It’s something that she calls, “the hard thing rule”.  It’s a ritual, where, every single day, you have to do one hard thing.

Angela believes that this is how you develop grit.  The reality is that you don’t grow by doing comfortable things. You get stronger by stepping out of your comfort zone. “The hard thing rule” is something that everyone can and should incorporate into their daily lives.

In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Ask yourself, “What can you do today that is going to challenge you?” Every day is an opportunity to perform one small act of bravery that has the potential to change the course of your life.

Its time to take the plunge!

Video transcript

Hey everyone, Stefan here from projectlifemastery.com. In this video, I'm going to share with you guys how to develop, build, and cultivate grit. I recently read a great book calledGrit by Angela Duckworth. I shared a lot of the book on my Snapchat as I was reading the book. It's actually a book that you guys voted on on my Snapchat that you guys thought I should read it. I want to share with you guys how to develop grit.

It's a really great book by a psychologist, Angela Duckworth, that shares her study of success and determining what makes a difference between someone who's successful and someone that isn't. She goes and she studies the National Spelling Bee students and participants of that that win. Studying in a West Point, the Military Academy and professional athletes and all that sort of stuff, and she determines that grit is something that separates people that are successful from those that fail.

She talks about perseverance, and passion, and how it's more important than talent. A lot of people, they're so obsessed with talent and they don't realize that your perseverance and your passion is more powerful than that, because if you have that, you're going to bring out more the talent that you already have.

How do you build grit?

She basically explains, there are two different ways of going about it. There's the internal way, and then there's the external approach. The internal approach is developing your passion by experimenting with many different things, because if you're passionate about something, you're going to be grittier with that. If you're passionate about something, then you're going to be able to get past all the adversity and challenges just because the passion will pull you through.

There's a great technique that she shares that can help you cultivate the grit to improving yourself every day to a ritual that you can have. It's something that you can incorporate into your daily routine. What that ritual is, is something that she calls the hard thing rule. The hard thing rule. The hard thing rule is basically a ritual where every single day, you've got to do a hard thing.

Every day, you're going to do a hard thing, because that's how you build grit. You don't build grit by doing things that are easy, or convenient, or comfortable. That doesn't build your grit. It's like building a muscle. You don't build a muscle by lifting a lightweight that you can lift a hundred times. You build your muscle by pushing yourself beyond what your current comfort zone is, what's currently within your limitation. You push beyond that, and that's how you get stronger. That's how you grow.

The hard thing rule is basically the same premise; is that every day, you're going to do something that's hard. You're going to do something that's outside your comfort zone. That could be anything. It could be going to the gym and push yourself a little bit further. Actually making your workout a hard workout so that you grow and you develop that grit. You got to push yourself past it.

It could be when you meditate each day. Meditating a little bit longer. Pushing yourself. Meditating. Getting past 5 minutes, or 10 minutes, and trying to control your thoughts. That can help build up your grit. Maybe it's in your business and pushing yourself a little bit further. Doing something that you're scared to do. Maybe it's getting up in front of a camera and speaking. Maybe it's writing. Maybe writing is hard for you. Your English isn't as good, but you push yourself a little bit further. Every day, you're building your grit.

The hard thing rule

It can be many different things, but the point is to do something hard. In the book, Angela Duckworth is constantly asked by parents saying, “How do you raise your kids?” “How do you build gritty kids?” Because what she studied and determined is that unconditional love for kids is important, but you can't overdo it because a lot of kids if you just … A lot of parents, for example, they try to protect their kids. They don't want them to go through any adversity or challenges. They want everything just to be a smooth sailing life for them.

That's not how the real world works, because if you just shower your kids with unconditional love and then once they grow to become adults, they're going to get destroyed in real life. They're going to get destroyed because they're not going to know how to deal with adversity. They're not going to have the grit to be able to deal with it.

The hard thing rule is what she recommends for kids. You want to teach your kids, and every day, you got to do something hard to build grit. You want to give them that unconditional love, but also, you want to challenge them. You want them to go to adversity, and failure, and struggle, and to figure out the answers on their own so that they can develop their grit and be able to have more perseverance in their life.

The hard thing rule guys, it's what I want to share with you guy today. That's the internal way of building grit. The external way is through coaches, and mentors, and role models, and people that can push you. I believe in having that as well. I've had coaches for many years in my life, but the hard thing rule is a great standard to live by. It's something that you should incorporate to your life and ask yourself, “What is one thing I could do today that's going to be hard, that's going to be challenging?”

Make sure that you commit yourself to do it

It's all relative based on every human being, because what's hard for you might be easy for someone else. You can't compare yourself to others. You got to make sure that whatever it is that you're doing every day, that you're committing to, is a challenge for you. In doing so, you're going to build your muscle, you're going to build your grit, and your capacity to be able to do more.

That's it for this video guys. Thank you guys so much for watching. Make sure to hit the thumbs up. Make sure to like the video. Subscribe for more videos and leave a comment. Of course, if you guys want to follow me on social media or find out more about me, then go to projectlifemastery.com, or click the links that are below in the description of this video. Thanks for watching guys. See you in the next video.