17 CEO Founders reveal the Habits responsible for their Success
“Having a successful business involves using good Routines & Tactics daily – to meet your mission & vision”
Topics for Founders: Priorities, 80/20 Rule, Trends, Imaging, Ask, Cust Feedback, Encourage Questions, Networking & more.
Look at any CEO running a profitable company and you’ll find someone who has figured a few things out from the time they were a Founder. One trait most of these Founders have in common is “consistency”. Check out these quotes from 30 successful CEOs regarding the daily habits that help them get ahead in business & life.
1. Make “priority To-Do lists.
In addition to making a list of the top three things I must get done each day, I make a list of the three things that must be achieved each month and each week to ensure the company is staying on track.
2. Surround yourself with people whose skills “complete” yours.
As a Founder, it’s easy to feel like you need to know or do it all, but you will never be the best at everything. Focus on your strengths and team up with talented people for the rest.
3. Apply the 80/20 Rule to decisions.
Be comfortable making decisions with 20 % of the data if you see a trend or 3 sources that agree This approach forces you to weigh what is really important and to understand the rest of the data isn’t worth the time it takes to collect or review it. Over time, you will make more good. Target being right 80% of the time with everything you do. Any extra time you spend on being perfect means you will miss opportunities, both personally & professionally.”
4. Stay Informed about what’s Trending.
. . . an hour or so every day keeping up with Tech news. It’s not good to obsess over what other companies are doing, but staying informed will keep you current and you may get some new ideas.
5. Use Images to help people “see” the Vision.
As a Founder – when sharing the Vision of your company – you can’t just use cold facts & figures. To convincingly reach your audience, you must unlock their imaginations, helping them envision a different world. We all know, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ So it shouldn’t be a surprise that images (ie, graphics & visual language such as metaphors and analogies, are of vital importance in bridging the gap between logic & the imaginative.
6. Never ask somebody to do something you wouldn’t do yourself.
No matter how exciting your company or the problems that you are solving are, there will always be day-to-day tasks that are simply boring. Showing that you are willing to roll up your sleeves when the going gets tough, will be a positive example for your team. You will be amazed at how this motivates.
7. Never be afraid to Ask someone who is “too big.”
Most people are accommodating and open – as long as you are clear about your needs and what you want. Most will try to help you.
8. Talk to your top Customers at least every month.
Once you’ve built up a good reputation, it’s by far the best way to gather feedback on your products or services and to understand their needs more deeply. Pick one or more of your middle or minor customers to also contact monthly. You may find why they’re not ordering more. Feedback from both will help you determine your future strategy.
9. Start each day with a (+) Attitude.
I wake up and start every day with one initial thought: being thankful for the abundance in my life–family, friends, company, and more. Nothing good ever comes easy. Hard work & dedication always pays off. Starting every day with a strong, positive thought is the best way to kickoff each day. I believe that a positive mindset is key to overcoming all obstacles, and I share this with my team – which motivates them.
10. Don’t Panic; Don’t Run !!!
Teams look to their founders / leaders to set the tone for how the business is operated. Establish and create a sense of urgency, while balancing it with control of key situations. Make time to speak with frustrated customers and meet with unhappy employees to stay close to the issues my team navigates on a daily basis. From these inter-changes, you’re able to learn more about the real environment.
11. Encourage Questions.
It is very important to make employees feel like no question is out of limits. Q&A sessions on a regular basis make it easy for anyone in the organization to ask me questions. It is often these sessions that help get the pulse of the company. It also becomes a forum for sharing ideas and discovering new ways of thinking or solving problems. It’s extremely important that these opportunities to ask questions are presented in all sorts of settings–large groups, small groups, one-on-ones, and a mix of formal and casual settings.”
12. Max Networking (as your time permits)
Accept invitations to as many meetings and events as possible. You can always abort at the last minute. You never know who you will meet or the advice you’ll receive.
13. Try 1 New Thing each day.
Every day, force yourself to do something that is out of your comfort zone.
14. Experiment Constantly.
Always be trying new things & changing how you work. As we’ve grown our Startup from 4 to 40, my Founder role has changed pretty significantly. By experimenting with new habits and processes regularly, I am always discovering better ways to run my Startup that make sense as we grow.”
15. Make the most of your Drive Time.
I like to schedule some of my most important calls during my morning drive to the office. While it can be frustrating at times to have a long commute, not to mention often getting stuck in traffic, I find this time very useful for scheduling calls that are un-interrupted. It also allows me to accomplish a lot more for the day when I get into the office, knowing these important conversations have already taken place and I can focus on other matters.
16. Listen to Audio books on your commute.
Over the last 2 1/2 years, I have listened to nearly 40 Audio Books. These books have given me incredible insight into how to run my business and sharpen my skills. I can listen to a new book in a few days vs reading, which would take me at least a month or two.
17. Make time in your life for Science Fiction.
It emboldens your imagination, gives your mind respite, and arms you with tactics on creating motivating, inspiring messaging.
18. Don’t do Bad Days.
Running a company is really hard, and every day is different, but having a “bad day” is a choice. Look for what you can learn from it and use.
Comments: Would you recommend any other good Daily Habit to assure success.
from Inc Zine 15 Sept 15 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4biz
For more Info, click on Founders, Leadership.