PEORIA MAGAZINE October 2022

W e can’t blame people who choose to live an ordinary life. The average person will gravitate towards what’s comfortable, familiar, and doesn’t require extra effort. But if you want to succeed at the highest level, you can’t live an ordinary life – you need to add that “extra” touch to make your actions extraordinary. Entrepreneurs and business owners strive to be different and set themselves apart from the competition. They know that to achieve success, they can’t do things the conventional way. So how do they add that “extra” touch? And why is it so vital to success? Here are some tips on how to add the “extra” touch to your ordinary life and achieve success at the highest level: HAVE A VISION If you don’t have a vision, you won’t knowwhere you’re going. It’s crucial to be clear about what you hope to achieve and to put in the effort necessary to make it a reality. Think of what youwant to accomplish – both short-term and long-term– and then put a plan in place to make it happen. The planning may take a little time, but it is well worth it in the end. BE CREATIVE You need to develop new and innovative ideas to set yourself apart from the competition. This must be an ongoing process. If there is no consistency, then you fall back into the average population. You can get inspired by others, but always put your own unique spin on things to make them truly your own. Get creative and think outside the box. Open yourself to new ideas. BE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO You need to have a genuine interest in what you’re doing and be excited

about it. When you are passionate about something, it shows in your work, and people can see that you truly care about what you do. STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD Today, thousands of people are competing to get attention. You can’t be like everyone else and expect tomake a name for yourself. Find your own voice and be willing to share it with the world. What makes you unique? Why should someone choose your services over someone else’s? TAKE RISKS You can’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Whether it’s starting your own business, moving to a new city or country, trying a new skill, taking another job, or changing careers, risk-taking is essential for growth and progress. If you’re uncomfortable with taking risks, start small and work your way up. But remember, if you never take any chances, you’ll never achieve anything great. BE PERSISTENT Most people give up quickly when they don’t see results immediately. Hard work and dedication are required to achieve success. When things get challenging, you can’t just stop because obstacles are in your way. You must remain steadfast in your pursuit of success. Failure is a part of success. People who have obtained great success have all had some significant failures. The key is to take the failure and examine what went wrong. From there, you will be armed with a very powerful tool. BE RESOURCEFUL Resourcefulness means f inding solutions to problems and using whatever resources are available to you. It also means being creative and not

giving up easily. You need to find ways to get the most out of what you have. If you’re not sure how to do something, don’t be afraid to ask for help. With a little bit of effort, you can learn anything. SET HIGH STANDARDS FOR YOURSELF Holding yourself to a high standard is essential, and you should never settle for less than what you want in life. When you strive for excellence and constantly push yourself to reach new heights, you’ll find that success comes easier than expected. You can’t expect to achieve anything significant without putting in the effort, and you must be willing to do whatever it takes. You need to be passionate, creative, and persistent if you want to make a name for yourself. You must also do things differently to stand out. If you want to be highly successful, you can’t afford to live an ordinary life. Get ahead of your competition by adding the “extra” touch to your ordinary actions. CONCLUSION: DO THE WORK

Dee Brown is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, philanthropist and host of the WTVP program “Self-Made with Dee Brown CEO.” A member of the Forbes Business Council, he is president and CEO of The P3 Group Inc. in Memphis, the nation’s largest minority owned development and construction firm

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