Want to know the real secret behind a successful business? The truth is, there isn’t one. A lot of people believe it’s about working all the time and burning yourself out. Others think they need to listen to hours of motivational speakers for success. Both scenarios couldn’t be further from the truth. The real way entrepreneurs succeeded is by trial and error.

Fortunately, some of the top successful businesses leaders have shared the secrets to their success, preventing you from making those same ones. Read on, so you too learn these secrets.

Dream Big

Many people say big dreams set you up for failure. Successful leaders know that’s not the case. Do you think when Steve Jobs started, he thought, “well, if I make enough to pay my rent, that will suffice?” No, he didn’t, and it’s pretty safe to say he had no idea Apple would be where it is today. So, the question is, would you rather be like Steve Jobs and dream big or settle for just getting by?

Here are some of the reasons having dreams are essential

• You’ll overcome limiting beliefs
• Failure will become a learning experience
• You will feel you have a purpose
• You’ll be passionate about what you’re doing
• You’ll refuse to give up
• You’ll accomplish your goals

Be Passionate

If you want to be a business leader, find what your passion is. You will be spending most of your waking areas coming up with ways to ensure your success. Passion will help you to stay motivated and inspire your employees. A great example is when Tesla was failing and about to go out of business. Elon Musk put all of his money into it and sold off a lot of his personal belongings. Until he could recoup his losses, he was borrowing money from friends to make it month to month. If that isn’t an example of passion, what is? This doesn’t mean selling everything you own and putting yourself in the poor house; instead, use it to inspire you.

Hire the Right Team

If you have been listening so far, you have found what you are most passionate about and are ready to hire your team. One way to find the right team is to focus on people whose strengths are your weaknesses. Your employees should also have similar goals as you. They should be able to understand your business and what you want to accomplish. The best way you can do this is by making sure your career website is up to date and effectively tells your story.

Refuse to Fail

Ever heard the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” The same principle applies to business leaders. The best way to stand back up after encountering a setback is to remember your goals and have faith in yourself and your team. There is not a single business owner out there that didn’t stumble a time or two. The difference between them and others is they refused to fail and instead learned from their mistake. You must believe above all else that you can achieve your goals.

On the flip side of this, you also need to learn how to assess the risks and not take the ones destined to fail. Being able to do this does not always come naturally. Instead, a lot of entrepreneurs have the habit of not looking before they leap.

Here are a few tips on how to take calculated risks

• Break down decisions
• Make sure you can afford to lose money
• Collect information and decide the possible outcomes
• Learn to say no and be okay with it
• Set checkpoints and know when it’s time to move on

Create A Business Plan and Stick to It

A lot of businesses just starting don’t realize how essential a business plan is. Some will decide creating them is a waste of time and neglect creating one. If you try to get a loan, want to attract investors, or attract partners, you’re going to have to have one. Most people aren’t going to want to invest time or money in your business if you have no clear plan on how you’re going to succeed.

One of the main areas in business plans is creating a budget showing where your money goes and areas where you can cut costs. You will find that not only is the budget plan important for funding, but it is also essential for operating within your means. When creating a budget, you want to consider your monthly expenses and any unexpected costs that may come along. Expect the unexpected and err on the side of caution.

Benefits of Creating a Budget

• Determining where you are vs. where you need to be
• Cutting down unnecessary costs
• Attracting investors
• Making decisions
• Tax preparation

True success is not how much money you make but instead how much you love what you do. Dare to dream while still keeping your feet on the ground. Business success will take many years to achieve. Remember to enjoy the journey.