Running any business can be a turbulent ride, whether you are a one man show or have 1,000 employees, there will always be some rough air just ahead. As a business owner or manager you are not only tasked with the challenge of executing those well laid plans, you also must deal with putting out the fires that spring up every day. For many owners the challenge of balancing these two things often prevents them from getting to the next level.

There is certainly not a shortage of resources out there that people can turn to when they need management advice or guidance running their small business. There are millions of voices telling you what you must do to be successful, I am but one of those voices. Each of these experts will lay claim to the idea that they know the secret. They will tell you they have the answer to business success, and they can teach you one trick that will allow you to take your business to the next level.

The truth is that there is no secret! There is no easy answer to building a successful business, and you most certainly will not find it in anyone’s book, not even mine! Success in business is rarely about one big event, it is usually a compounding of small victories that eventually leads to a positive outcome. We often referred to our family business as a “40-year overnight success!”

I believe most entrepreneurs and managers understand what it takes to be successful in their efforts, but we all seem to be looking for the path of least resistance. We scramble for the quick answer and instant solution when we should be preparing for the long-haul! Although getting there will be different for everyone, here a few things I believe can help you build a successful organization.

1. Plan – I don’t care if you create a one-page-plan, or a detailed business plan you can take to the bank, every organization needs direction. Yes this will take time, and it is not easy to do, but if you don’t create a plan you will just be swinging blindly hoping to hit something.
2. Measure – It makes no sense to create a plan unless you have a method for measuring execution. Keep your measurements simple, but make sure they help you understand if your plan is taking your business down the right path, or down a dead-end road. How can you determine success if you don’t measure?
3. Lead by Example – As a manager or business owner you must set the expectation, once it is set you must live that expectation. Don’t ask your team to give 110 percent if you are only willing to give 80 percent. Too many organizational leaders expect more from their people than they do themselves!
4. Treat People Well – Whether it is your employees, your customers, or your business partners, take the time to treat everyone well. I am not suggesting you should be a pushover, but you will catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Taking the time to applaud and reward victories will cost you very little, and will go a long way towards building great relationships.
5. Be Frugal – People always say that you must spend money to make money. I believe you have to show a profit before you can make money. Don’t try to spend what you don’t have in hopes that throwing money at the problem will result in something great. Take the time to understand your cost, and what you can afford. Make sure your business lives within its means!
6. Be Honest – Many times in business the first time you get caught lying to someone is the last time they believe you. Building trust with everyone you work with, suppliers, customers, and employees is a key to building a successful business. This means sometimes you will have to share the bad news without sugarcoating it! If you build a reputation for honesty, people will believe in your vision!
7. Understand your Investment – Any time I look at a business opportunity, whether it is a piece of real estate, an acquisition, or equipment for our plant I always measure my expected return against other investments. If you are going to invest your capital and time into a venture, make sure you have a clear picture of what you will get in return. Also, know when to say when. Every entrepreneur and manager will make bad investment decisions, if things are not going well pull the plug. It is better to live to fight another day than to keep dumping cash into a lost cause!
8. Never Stop Selling – I am not talking about the high-pressure, sign on the dotted line sales pitch. I suggest you never stop talking about what your business can do for others. You should always be prepared with that 30-second elevator speech that says this is what we do and how we can help you!
9. Have Fun – Life is way too short to be involved in a venture that you do not enjoy. I always advise people that if you face each work day with dread, then you need to ask yourself if you are doing what you really should be doing. Folks who are not happy with their work are rarely successful at it!

I am relatively certain that to some my suggestions will seem too simplistic. They believe that to be successful in business you need some complex formula that few understand. To others these nine suggestions may seem too difficult, they will see them as too many courses to digest.

Most of the successful people I know in business got there because they did the simple stuff really well. They left the complex formulas and theories to the management gurus, and focused on things we can all understand!