Mentorship Round Three: Does success only revolve around luck?

Throughout the course of this year, I have had the privilege of meeting with some fellow classmates and a successful retired former employee for Sears, Dan Laughlin. Dan taught me many valuable lessons that a successful business man must have if he is going to make it. While some people think that big business success stories have just gotten lucky with an idea that works, success depends on a variety of other factors including drive, leadership, teamwork, and most importantly, passion.

Most people see an entrepreneur on Shark Tank or the Internet and think to themselves, "Wow. Such a simple idea. Why didn't I think of that? He is so lucky." I was guilty of it before I started talking with Dan. I would watch these people's lives be changed for the better while jealously wishing it was me shaking hands with a shark. While it may take a little luck for an entrepreneur to get his idea or product into the market, it is not essential to success. It is not even necessary for success. When entrepreneurs say they got unlucky, it is just an excuse that is the only thing blocking them from reaching their goal.

Throughout my mentor ships, Dan always stressed how the qualities listed in my opening paragraph were in running an effective business. These traits do not have to be for a business either. One can apply drive, leadership, teamwork, and passion into their every day lives for a variety of activities,

When starting and running a business it is important to have the drive to carry out goals. With determination, one can accomplish anything. With strong determination skills comes a strong work ethic. To be successful, one must have a sense of urgency. Every second one wastes time and resources, a competitor is gaining ground hoping to overpass you. Entrepreneurs must constantly be aware that someone is working towards becoming better then them. When an entrepreneur can put himself in this mindset, his drive will kick in and he will be determined to become better than he was the day before. The motivation he has in his work will push him into success, not luck.

Another important quality to have when running a business that is to be successful is leadership. Dan would tell my group stories that showed the importance of leadership when becoming successful. The stories taught a few important lessons that sums up the significance of leadership in a triumphant business. The first of these lessons is that a leader has to be willing to surround himself with people who think differently then they do. It is important for a leader to be open minded and hear all suggestions or ideas when tackling an issue. A leader who is afraid of seeing things in a new perspective will never have sustain success if any success at all. Another lesson I learned from Dan about leadership is that a leader cannot be afraid to act like a leader. They must take charge! Some people get nervous when addressing people who may be slacking on work, or goofing around. As a leader, it is one's duty to stand for themselves, their business, and their fellow employees who are doing stuff the right way. Finally, it is important for a leader, and honestly everyone working together to admit when they make a mistake. No one will respect you as a leader if you do not own up to when you mess up. In fact, people are more inclined to respect and follow you when you admit to a mistake, learn from the mistake, and move on. A strong set of leadership skills is important to have when running a business, and leadership skills can be attained thorough hard work and dedication.

Teamwork requires everyone to trust one another that they "have your back" so to speak. Dan mentioned an acronym for team: Together Everyone Achieves More. While this acronym was not new to me, I always get a sense of goosebumps and inspiration when I hear it. Communication, confidence in another, and friendship are all attributes that can make or break a team. When running a business, it is important to have faith that your peers will work their absolute hardest because without this faith, then nothing will get accomplished. Maintaining a sustainably successful business is a Herculean task in itself, but trying to maintain high standards alone is impossible. When collaborating with a team, everyone should be entitled to float ideas, hopes, goals, etc... Everyone deserves to speak their mind without fear of being ostracized from the group. With strong teamwork, friendships will be built. Everyone will work their absolute hardest because they do not want to let one another down; failure will not be an option. Teamwork is absolutely essential for entrepreneurs hoping to strike greatness and stay there.

Finally, we come to our last point. Dan chiseled this word deep into my memory from how often he stressed its momentous impact on careers-passion. Without passion, why do anything? Without love for your work, why try? Passion is the most important trait anyone can have when running a business. For any career, passion and love for what you do is going to define whether or not you truly make it. When you find something you love to do, do it for the rest of your life. If you are happiness, you are successful. Perhaps not in the financial sense, but in the life sense. If you are happy with your work, you can honestly say to yourself: I made it. Money will come and go, but you only have one life. Why work in a career or a business where you hate what you do. If you are going to be successful, you must be happy.

These points that I raised for what it takes to make a successful business reflect my main point: successful entrepreneurs are not just lucky that they came across an idea. While they may have had some luck on their side, the true reasons for their success are hidden in their character. The drive, leadership, teamwork, and passion are the cement on which their success stands.