Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When you get on the road to starting a business, there are several cliches that you hear. Which ones are valid and false. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Business Success Cliches That Are Absolutely True (And 5 That Definitely Aren’t).
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When it comes to business success, there are many tired cringeworthy cliches that get thrown around. It’s hard to take these cliches seriously – however, in many cases there is truth behind these phrases.
Of course, some cliches are a load of nonsense. It’s important to distinguish the good from the bad – which is what this post does. Below are just 5 business cliches that are absolutely true, and 5 that definitely aren’t.
Cliches that are absolutely true…
Honesty is the best policy
Nowadays, consumers are much more adept at detecting the truth. Once people see through the lies, they’ll lose trust. You could end up facing bad reviews and even lawsuits. On top of this, you’ll be battling feelings of guilt and imposter syndrome for lying. Be transparent and truthful whenever you can.
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know
Having knowledge is important in many industries, however having the right connections is the true key to success. With the right people around you to guide you and help you, you can achieve practically anything. The likes of this article about Fundamental Global explain the power of networking. Don’t try to run a business alone.
Teamwork makes the dream work
This relates to the previous cliche. When you have lots of people working together on an idea, you’re more likely to achieve results. A strong team is able to more effectively solve problems and each team member can contribute their own unique strengths. If you’ve got a team of employees, make sure that they’re working together.
Think outside the box
Thinking outside the box is key to good marketing – every company needs a USP to stand out. If you’re just following trends and trying to imitate other businesses, you’re likely to blend in with the surrounding landscape. Only by doing something different will you get consumers to notice you. This post from The Muse offers some inspiration when it comes to thinking outside the box.
Time is money
Being able to do tasks quicker allows you to get more done each day. This in turn allows you to take on more customers and make more money. Always take the time to explore different ways of speeding up tasks whether it be automating them or outsourcing them. This guide explains more about making more money in less time.
Cliches that are absolutely not true…
Fake it until you make it
As mentioned above, ‘honesty is the best policy’. There are times when we all have to blag a little to get results, but you should never have to flat-out lie to succeed.
The early bird catches the worm
Some people do feel more productive in the mornings and there are some industries where getting up early is a necessity (i.e. farming). But in most cases there’s no practical advantage to getting up at the crack of dawn – you’ll just start the day more tired. So long as you’re not sleeping the business day away, it doesn’t matter what time you get up.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it
Waiting for things to break encourages laziness and leads to downtime. It’s better to pre-empt problems and replace equipment and ideas before they become broken.
Do what you love and you’ll never work another day in your life
While it’s recommended that you do a job that you have a passion for, there will always be business admin and small chores to carry out – you’ll still have to do some ‘work’ to succeed.
If you want something done right, do it yourself
There are some tasks that you definitely shouldn’t do yourself. Know your area of expertise and outsource tasks that aren’t within your skillset.
