Have you ever wondered how those really successful people do it? Although there is no formula to follow (if there was we would all be doing it!), there does seem to be some sage advice from those success stories that we can pay heed to:

1. 1. Stay two steps ahead: never be complacent and always look for new opportunities. A common mistake is to wait for obstacles or challenges to arise before you look for other opportunities. If you wait, you will be on the ‘back foot’ rather than leading the way.
   2. Surround yourself with experts: many business people think that they have to be the smartest person in their business and have the most knowledge about every aspect of your business. This is not only impossible, it drains your energy away from the areas where your strengths lie, and leads to burnout.
   3. Be prepared to build relationships: you cannot always expect to hear ‘yes’ the first time you sell an idea to someone. Ensure that you speak to the ‘right’ people (that is, go to the decision maker wherever possible) and work on finding the angle that resonates with them.
   4. Embrace the unknown: as business owners, many of us feel we need to have all the answers before we can move ahead. But who can really predict the future? Make sure you have done your research, bring on board people who can best assist you and then commit to making the best decision you can with the information you have. The best learning and the best results come from ‘leaping out in faith’ and using the gut instinct that you should learn to listen to.

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender

I've been realising more and more that business relationships have many comparisons to personal relationships - and are often as complicated! I've come up with a list of "relationship questions" to work out if your business is a "good catch":

• what first impression does my business make? Does it catch the eye of potential clients or does it blend in with the crowd?
• is my business attractive to potential clients? Is it "well dressed"/well presented?
• what values does my business project to potential clients? Are those values consistent across all my business activities? Does my business express those values clearly from the outset in all it does?
• how well does my business "woo" potential clients? Does it give an impression of confidence and trust?
• how does my business foster ongoing relationships? Does my business communicate regularly?
• are all my clients treated with respect? Does this show in all the ways my business interacts with clients?
• how are "relationship problems" dealt with (i.e. complaints)? Am I committed to solving issues in a timely and sensitive manner?
• are “anniversaries”/milestones celebrated with clients?

Just like in personal relationships, it can be difficult to objectively answer these questions, because we can have an impression of ourselves (good or bad!) that may not be entirely accurate. What we THINK we are projecting might be very different to how people perceive us.

A savvy woman would ask her girlfriends to give her honest feedback about how she "comes across" - not always an easy thing to do but for anyone who really wants to improve their chances of "relationship success", it can be a fruitful exercise. So too in business, asking for objective opinions about your business is extremely valuable, even if it may be hard to hear!

My suggestion: ask a range of people the above questions about your business. Choose people who know your business well and some who have little knowledge of your business. Although not everyone can answer all the questions, you'll get some really interesting and valuable feedback.

And in the words of Zig Ziglar: “You cannot perform in a manner inconsistent with the way you see yourself.”

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender