The myth most business owners believe: The really successful business owners are born with some great talent and skill that allows them to prosper.
Why this myth causes a problem: Believing that you are born with entrepreneurial skills allows the business owner to have an excuse for their failures. “I’m not successful in business because I’m just not a born salesperson, I don’t have the knack to be a good employee manager, I’m not good at writing, and I’m not good at ____________."
The truth successful business owners learn the hard way! Successful business owners have learned the basic skills required to be successful. I cover these essential skills in my blog called, “What is the Secret of Business Success?” (http://bit.ly/M4tTVU).
Michael Gerber, in his book The E-Myth Revisited, states this point as follows:
“Contrary to popular belief, my experience has shown me that the people who are exceptionally good in business aren’t so because of what they know but because of the insatiable need to know more.
The problem with most failing businesses I’ve encountered is not that their owners don’t know enough about finance, marketing, management, and operations—they don’t, but those things are easy enough to learn—but that they spend their time and energy defending what they think they know. The greatest business people I’ve met are determined to get it right no matter what the cost.”
Lesson learned: Really successful owners are made, not born. They have taken the time and put in the effort to become good at all the essential skills of growing a successful business.