Top 5 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

by Ben Cope

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

All of the greatest ideas in the world are worthless until they are acted upon!

Are you tired of letting life "happen" the way that it does? Are you tired of doing just enough to get by? Are you tired of merely talking about all the dreams and plans that you have, but not actually taking the necessary steps to walk those plans out, and live the life you have imagined?

It has been said that life is what happens while you're making other plans, but do you really want to settle for second best?

It's time to stop wasting your time in making plans, only to find yourself falling back into the same old patterns and habits that lead to frustration and disappointment.

It's time to reach for something better for your life.

NOW is the time to actually start living the life that you have imagined.

You should know that the road ahead will require you to do the small things that don't come easy, that require sacrifice, and most of all, that will demand discipline ...

Are you ready to take that road? If it were easy, then everyone would be doing it, but as you know, nothing worth having comes easy!

It takes fierce determination and commitment to bring discipline into every area of your life, but don't give up!

Choose to be the master of your own destiny! Choose to live the life of your dreams.

As William Jennings Bryan said, "Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice; not something to wish for, but to attain."

Here are the "secrets" that I have used to turn my life around, to build a successful business, and to live the life of my dreams:

Secret #1: DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE

The most important question you must answer if you want to be successful as an entrepreneur is this: what is my purpose?

I believe that anyone can achieve extraordinary success, in any area of his or her life. However, if you can't find purpose in what you're doing, then even if you are successful in your endeavors, you will not achieve true happiness.

Secret #2: MASTER YOUR TIME

Have you ever felt like you were working hard, but not getting anywhere? Spending a lot of time on something and putting a lot of effort into it, but not seeing any results? The secret to success is to stop wasting your time!

The difference between those who are truly successful and those who only manage to "just get by" is often in how their time is spent.

The fact is, we always make the time to do the things that are important to us. You can find the time to do anything if it becomes important enough to you.

Secret #3: CHOOSE YOUR MENTORS

No one ever achieves success all by themselves! Choosing the right people to mentor you on your journey can help you to maintain the fierce determination and perseverance that is required to succeed.

You should surround yourself with positive people ... those who can encourage, and challenge, and motivate you to reach a higher level.

Secret #4: BALANCE YOUR LIFE

It is important to find the right balance between work and family, and between learning time and leisure time! You must bring balance to every area of your life: physically, spiritually, mentally, and socially. Do not spend so much time focusing on your work that you neglect to spend time with your family!

Secret #5: MINIMIZE YOUR DISTRACTIONS

Before you start a new project, or begin working on something new, you should ask yourself this question: is this what I should be doing right now, or can it wait? Stay focused on the task at hand and do not allow phone calls, e-mail, or other distractions to get in the way of getting the job done.