…you answer the door with a smile, of course. The life of a visionary is filled with a whirlwind of tasks, duties and surprising adventures. Whatever is sent your way, be prepared by having these resources in your arsenal.

Written by Estrellita S. Sibila for Brickell Magazine

Task Complete
Staying organized is one of the hardest tasks in business. With so many emails, texts, IMs, tweets, posts, snaps and calls coming at you 24 hours a day, it’s easy to lose track of who said what, when and where. What sets the successful entrepreneurs apart is a solid system to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, set aside some time to come up with a fail-proof strategy for follow-through and stick to it. Whether that means scheduling time in your agenda to prepare your weekly routine, creating reminders on your calendar or using task-based apps to keep control of the chaos, find the method that works best for you and implement it.

Elevator Pitch
“So, what do you do?” You’d be surprised by how many people respond to this question with a blank, puzzled look. As an entrepreneur, you often only have a few short minutes to convey your message to the world and help others understand your vision, your mission and any opportunities for business that are currently available or will open up in the near future. Don’t blow it by failing to prepare a brief, compelling story that references the issues that your business is looking to solve and how you’re approaching the matter. While preparing and delivering a great story is an absolute must, don’t forget to listen just as much as you talk.

Picture Perfect
An image is a powerful way to convey a message. Do you have the perfect, print-ready photo that showcases who you are in a professional manner? When your latest selfie spree isn’t up to par, work with a professional photographer to create a few options that represent who you are and what you do. Sure, you’d love your picture included with an expert column you wrote, on a blog quoting you as an expert or to accompany your bio online. Remember to let your personality shine and pick wardrobe options that are industry appropriate.

Renewal Break
One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is assuming that they have to work 24/7, 365 days a week in order to be successful. Well, if that sounds like you, rest assured that you’re in the fast-lane to burnout. We’re all human and we can only sustain being “on” for so long. Your mind, body and spirit need a break from your daily grind to recalibrate and reopen blocked creative channels. Set aside some vacation time in a setting that allows you to relax and push out the noise in your mind. When you return, you’ll have a fresh brain and a new perspective to solve problems and take your business to the next level.

Referral Ready
The best entrepreneurs are the ones who “know people” and are great connectors. You need a good corporate lawyer to keep your agreements on point, a life coach to help you through the lows of business ownership and the best masseuse to break down those stress knots in your neck. Entrepreneurs understand that having a solid network to tap into when the need arises is a useful tool for success. They keep an ear out for opportunities for themselves and others. All great entrepreneurs know that it takes much more than a lonely drop of water to create a wave, and they are always ready to make a splash.

Read more at Brickell Magazine