If there is one thing that highly successful people have in common, it is discipline. They rarely waste time, they see every moment as an opportunity and they make plans (even if those plans are flexible). So here are some tips for becoming more like them:

1. Look for smarter ways to work. It is easy to get stuck in the same methods and processes: we are generally all creatures of habit! Be efficient in your procedures and ensure that you are not getting distracted by unimportant tasks that can wait. Prioritise your day and stick to a plan.
2. Watch your finances. Particularly if you are more on the creative side of business, it can be intimidating and daunting to keep on top of your finances. But ‘knowing your numbers’ will give you a great deal of useful information about how your business is performing and which direction to focus on. Make analysing your financial reports a part of your weekly tasks.
3. Find new business. Some of us are really great at networking and building relationships with prospective and current customers. Many of us need to work at this, which takes a disciplined and planned approach. Schedule in regular face to face meetings with like-minded business people, keep in contact with your customers (and thank them for referrals) and always be on the lookout for opportunities to connect.
4. Manage yourself. We all have times of procrastination and less productive days. However, being disciplined with our health (including sleeping and eating well) can have a great impact on our ability to be decisive or push through hard work.
5. Sell yourself. Train yourself to see every interaction, whether it is face to face, online or via more formal marketing, as an opportunity to ‘sell’ your brand. You and your staff are the face of the business. Have a disciplined approach to consistently projecting an image that encourages customers to interact with you. As Jim Rohn summarises for us, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment."

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

Many businesses, whether they are new or been established for a number of years, are committing mistakes that can easily be avoided. Sometimes we are so used to getting the job done that we don’t stop to realise that some aspects need to be evaluated.

One of the top mistakes is not having a niche. So many of us think that if we are ‘all things to all people’ or if we say “yes” to anything our customers ask of us, that we will create more wealth. After all, the wider our target, surely the larger our profit, right? Wrong. It’s been said that if everyone can use your product, no one will. You need to find a niche and focus on doing that one thing exceptionally well. Become a specialist and stay focused.

Another common mistake is expecting a short term gain. The first few months (and sometimes years) can bring pressure to earn money, which in turn can make you come across as desperate (“I really need this sale!”). But your focus should be on building long term relationships with your customers which will sustain your business in the long term.

And finally, many business owners are guilty of not knowing their numbers. You must keep regular tabs on profit, know your costs, how much money it costs you to run your business each month and so on. You also need to generate regular reports on your numbers, so that you can make sensible and realistic decisions about the next steps for your business. This is not to say that you shouldn’t take some risks, but these should be calculated risks based on research of your own financial situation.

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