18 mentorship lessons and tips from an entrepreneur – to an entrepreneur

Being successful often means learning from those who have already achieved their goals. Getting mentorship from a great mentor is an amazing blessing to an entrepreneur, but not everyone can find one in-person. Here are some quick takes from the horse’s mouth for the warrior’s road ahead:

1. One-up yourself

The biggest motivation is to keep on challenging and defeating yourself. Life is one long university education – there is just so much to learn from someone or the other, each and every day. Keeping yourself driven and always hungry for more is the key here.

2. Caring about what you are working on

There’s no doubt that running a business takes a lot of time and patience. Steve Jobs noted that the only way to be satisfied in your life is to do work that you truly believe in.

3. Take the leap!

We never know the outcome of our efforts unless we actually do it. Trying is half the problem achieved.

4. Believe in the work

Believe that you can succeed, and you’ll find ways through different obstacles. If you don’t, you’ll just find excuses.

5. Vision to create, and succeed

An entrepreneur is someone who has a vision for something and a desire to create it. Keep your vision clear at all times.

6. Find reliable people

Who you’re with is who you become. The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.

7. Chase down those obstacles

Overcoming fear isn’t easy, but it must be done. Fearlessness is like a muscle – the more we exercise it, the stronger we become.

8. Taking the decision

The world is full of great ideas, but success only comes through action. Walt Disney once said that the easiest way to get started is to quit talking and start doing. That’s true for your success as well.

9. Manage energy, not time

Your energy limits what you can do with your time, so manage it wisely.

10. Build a winning team

No one succeeds in business alone, and those who try will lose to a great team every time. Build your own great team to bolster your success.

11. Hire character

As you build your team, hire for character and values. You can always train someone on skills, but you can’t make someone’s values fit your company after the fact.

12. Know your goals

Having the end in mind every day ensures you’re working toward it. Set goals and remind yourself of them each day.

13. Learn from mistakes

Many entrepreneurs point to mistakes as being their best teacher. When you learn from your mistakes, you move closer to success – even though you initially failed.

14. Know the customer

Knowing your customer is one of the top keys to success. Know those you serve better than anyone else, and you’ll be able to deliver the solutions they need.

15. Learn from complaints

Bill Gates once said that your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. Let unhappy customers teach you about the holes in your service.

16. Ask for customers’ input

Assuming what customers want or need will never lead to success. You must ask them directly, and then carefully listen to what they say.

17. Spend wisely

When you spend money on your business, be careful to spend it wisely. It’s easy to spend too much on foolish things and run out of capital too soon.

18. Deliver more than expected

It’s a great way to get noticed in your industry and build a loyal following of advocates.

Being a successful entrepreneur takes a lot of work, a lot of vision, and a lot of perseverance. But like everything, it just needs a push. Good luck!

Ketan Kapoor is Co-founder and CEO of Mettl.

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)