The 5Cs To Business Success

It’s the start of a brand new year. Welcome 2016!

 

Back during school days, I remember teachers mentioning about the great American dream which struck a chord in me where “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” 

Yes, I fully agree we all want a better life!
 

Closer home and while growing up, I observed Singaporeans pursuing our own Singapore dream in the form of the 5Cs – cash, car, credit card, condominium and country club. 
 

While materialism is largely good as it means we have a comfortable life, let us not forget there will always be other non-material related Cs we can pursue.
 

I’ve often been asked what the key ingredients to a successful business are. If you ask me, there are 5Cs that I always employ in both my businesses and daily life. Here’s sharing my 5Cs to business success.

 

#1: C Is For Courage
 

Courage is doing what is right, even if it is not a popular decision.
 

An example would be learning to say no to certain groups of people who come your way. Well, not everyone is going to be your client. Those who haggle over price and cannot see the value will definitely not be mine.
 

Rather than be a small fish in a big ocean, I would rather you be a big fish in a small pond instead. You dominate the field and become the industry leader. In other words, it is better to go niche.

 

#2: C Is For Confidence
 

Confidence is what separates the lions from the lambs. You may be good at your craft but unless you exude it, others will not know how good you are. 
 

Being confident is simply knowing your stuff so well that you become a walking repository of information. When asked or quizzed, you are able to handle all questions skillfully and leave your audience or client impressed. 
 

Confidence is innate but it is a valuable skill that can be mastered over time. All you need is practice, lots of practice.
 

Personally, confidence comes from the way you carry yourself and how you communicate with others. In short, it is equivalent to your brand.
 

If you are confident, you can even melt the coldest person on earth.

 

We all have strengths that we are proud of. Rather than harping on our weaknesses and the need to improve upon them, I would rather you focus on your strengths and display them to the fullest. 
 

Successful business owners do not do everything themselves. They find others who are able to complement them. So if you know you are not so good in a particular area, then you should find someone who is an expert in that area so he/she will be a good fit for you.
 

Learn to play up your strengths and do what you are good at. I’m 100% positive you will be a much happier person too.

 

#4: C Is For Commitment
 

Never give up until you succeed. Always remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. The main reason why most people never make it is because they give up too easily. Yes the going may be tough, but the tough gets going too.
 

This applies to all spheres of life – whether it is in business, personal relationships or working out in the gym.
 

There is a thin line between commitment and stubbornness though. Being stubborn means doing the same thing over and over again despite knowing the end result will still be disappointment.

Being committed on the other hand is different. It entails remaining passionate and aligning (and constant re-aligning) both systems and processes to meet the end goal.

 

#5: C Is For Creativity
 

I am creative because I do things differently from others. This gives me the comparative advantage. You can also call it my Unique Value Proposition (UVP). 
 

Imagine if you are competing in a particular industry and replicating exactly what your competitors are doing, I will worry for you.
 

Creativity is not just reserved for musicians, actors or designers. As business owners, it is imperative for all of us to be creative.
 

The good news is we all have creative genes in us. The onus is on you whether you want to activate those genes. Start by undergoing a brainstorming session and before your self-righteous genes jump up and start telling you those new ideas will not work, keep going and tell yourself there are no bad nor stupid ideas. 

 

Thanks for reading. Do share if you like 🙂