The question I get asked the most is “What makes a good businessperson”? To be honest, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Certain traits are required, but if I had to pick two that all business owners should develop, then it must be Consistency, and Persistence.

Recently I was watching a Sci-Fi TV show that used time travel, bear with me… the premise was mess with the past and the universe fights back, resisting attempts to alter the timeline and preserve the future. Examples: car crashes, crowds of people blocking you, and being framed for the murder of JFK.

Presidential assassinations aside, that is exactly like running your own business, whatever your goals, it can seem like the universe is fighting back, thwarting your dreams. Of course, that’s a ridiculous notion, the universe is, at best, indifferent to the plans of humans, but it doesn’t keep individual tabs on us.

Don’t expect the red-carpet treatment just because you have a plan.

You require constant thought, focus, resources and tenacity; however you can have all those great traits and opportunities but if your business doesn’t deliver a consistent message, product, or service and stick at it persistently, you’ll go nowhere.

Some days I leave the office and barely know what a difference I actually made to my businesses, but I turned up and “churned the milk”. Do that enough times and eventually you’ll end up with a bucket full of butter! That’s persistence, sticking at it and improving your processes. Building a feedback system that helps you remain consistent, and you can measure and improve your process and persistently improve.

So, 2023 may be challenging but stick at it, tweak, measure and improve your business consistently and let’s try to smash our goals in 2023.

Have a healthy and prosperous New Year. HUZZAH!

First published Jan 2023 Herald Group Newspapers

Photo Credit: KoolShooters