I have been fortunate to get around a lot of high level and experienced entrepreneurs. To a certain extent, we’re all entrepreneurs in our respective fields or careers. As an example, we have to carve out our own personal brands, how we stand out, and the services we provide.

Here are a few things I’ve learned from being around qualified entrepreneurs based on their results as well as reading and listening to podcasts.

1. Have an outcome - I think you need to know where you’re going and stay outcome-focused. Choose the path, no matter the type of business, that will create the outcome you love and time, and then go do what you love.
2. Get a mentor - High level executives and most people who win have mentors. You need a mentor to provide perspective and help you navigate.
3. Develop a system - I learned a lot reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. Success is won or lost based on our daily habits and those habits make up a system that creates your outcome. Follow the system that produces the outcome you want.
4. Pay attention to your association - It’s been said you become an average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Choose your association wisely. Get around people who live the way you want to live and who build you up.
5. Be gritty - Failure is good. Fail until successful. Grittiness pushes past failure and keeps going until you achieve the outcome you desire.

I know there are many more keys to entrepreneurial success, but these are the first 5 that came to mind for me. I think they are success principles that are simple in concept (not always in application) that can be applied to all areas of life.