9 Steps Every Muslim Should Consider Before launching a Start-up

Although there is no simple success formula for setting up and running a business, you can take productive steps when starting out, that can lessen the hardships of starting a business. Here are 9 tips for starting up a business that can lead you to success whilst building a strong connection with Allah.

#1. Sincere Intention

Consider your business an act of worship, so every action is done sincerely for Allah’s sake and according to the shari’ah.

“The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention…” [Sahih Bukhari & Muslim]

Ask yourself, why am I really doing this, Is it purely for Allah’s pleasure, or Is it to gain popularity or conform to societal pressures?

#2. Seek Expert Advice (Shura)

Another important step to Seek the opinion of knowledgeable people, experts and mentors regarding the knowledge required. Shura is the process of making decisions by consultation and deliberation among those who have an interest in the matter on which a decision is to be taken, or others who can help them to reach such a decision.

The quran says: “And those…whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves” [Qur’an: Chapter 42, Verse 38].

 #3. Keep Learning

Study the Islamic principles of running a business and then familiarize yourself with the state laws, as well as specific guidelines of the industry you are going into. Register with a library and set up a personal one at home. Subscribe to journals, magazines and expert blogs, such as Islamic investment network.

Research and attend reputable business trainings.

#4. Consider Your Finances

Seek ways of securing personal or halal loans rather than riba-based loans. Most Islamic loans are partnerships or joint ventures, but are called loans because they accomplish pretty much the same thing conventional loans do.

Whether you have a big or small budget, invest wisely and avoid wastage, debt and interest (riba). The general rule is that all financial arrangements that the contracting parties agree to follow are lawful, as long as they do not include an element of riba. Explore all buying options and search for good deals before hiring people or making purchases. Also work on becoming financially sound and seek expert financial advice when you need it.

#5. Explore New Ideas and Opportunities

Another basic step is to be on the lookout for different opportunities. Ask and listen out for what people around you need and conduct surveys. Fuse your passion and interests with your knowledge and existing skills and abilities and try to utilize this in providing value in the form of unique products and services to others.

#6. Find Balance

You should also ensure that each action intentional and directed towards your vision and goals. Take care of your body, mind and soul. Find time for your spiritual nourishment, physical well-being, social relations as well as emotional fulfillment.

#7. Commit to Excellent Standards

Another important step to take is to seek ways to add value, more value, and yet more value to your business. Take account of your general character and strive to work on your weaknesses. Read how the Prophet lived his life as a tradesman and about his first wife Khadijah was a successful business owner. Focus on your character and the great value you can provide through  your business by aiming for excellence.

#8. Purify Your Wealth

Beyond spending on basic livelihood, you are obliged to pay zakat if applicable to your level of wealth, charity, discounts, freebies, scholarships and mentoring opportunities. It purifies your wealth and gives you the opportunity to empower other Muslims. Just as seeking wealth is important, so is giving from your wealth. Doing so frees you from the greed of simply accumulating money for your worldly desires.

 #9. Embrace Failure

Nobody’s perfect. Nothing will ever go exactly as planned, so do your best and learn from each mistake. Our world, and especially the business world, is never all about positive experiences; rather it has some glittery aspects and many rusty ones.

Follow these important steps mentioned above as they will help you in conducting a Halal and successful business venture.

Four Important Business Skills They Don’t Teach You In School

Of course, a formal education plays a great role in the business world and life in general, but the fact is formal education offers all the necessarily skills required for your chosen field, business especially.

However, some may contradict and call it a hypothesis, but far as I can tell, most of these expensive books offered in colleges wouldn’t give you the necessary details to succeed in the world of business.

Don’t get me wrong; they might give you some facts, but not all you need.

So what are the best skills that will help you in the real world instead of the unnecessary jibber-jabber taught in schools? Here’s a sneak peek…

#1. How to set goals and manage time

Setting goals is a powerful and important aspect of life.

The formal education institutes don’t feel obliged to teach students the importance of planning and managing time, which by the way should be taken as a big deal by the ministry.

Quite a number of college graduates feel as if they are adrift in the world. These individuals worked hard to get the best results, but they don’t seem to get anywhere worthwhile. The main reason for this predicament is that they haven’t been taught the basic planning and life managing skill during their years in college; as a result, they haven’t set goals for themselves.

By having a precise understanding of what you want to achieve, you’ll know where to allocate your resources and efforts. In addition, you’ll also be able to spot any distractions that might lead you astray.

#2. How to save and invest

Another important prospect failed to be taught in business schools is how to accumulate wealth, which as is why people constantly battle with a financial crisis. Students are never taught the power of passive income streams and how to avoid getting stuck with a 9-to-5 job.

#3. Communicating

As far as I can tell, most institutions fail to emphasize on the importance of communication in the business world.

As an entrepreneur, your ability to communicate sets you apart from the group. Communication skills are required in every aspect of the business. The word of mouth is very powerful. Do make sure you’ve mastered all the communication skills to inspire folks with your words.

You can do some research online or hire a coach to do just that.

#4. Multitasking

Multitasking (the ability to do things simultaneously) is another important skill vital in the business world which has failed to be taught in business schools.

You can participate in international internships and training programs to take full advantage of the opportunity and improve your multitasking skills in the office, as it will help you in the future.

Conclusion

The decision is yours to make. Exploring various ways, e.g. finding mentors, reading, attending conferences to help you acquire the necessary skills are of great use.

If you realized you missed any of these recommendations in business school it’s never too late to work on them.

5 Essential Skills All Entrepreneurs Must Master

Some of you may still be stuck in your 9-to-5 jobs thinking of ways to locate a greener pasture, but finding it difficult to be free from such a predicament.

Most successful entrepreneurs started with day jobs and managed to find something worth their while; something they were proud of and most importantly, something that gave them the power to control their time.

Some of you might ask, “What is he talking about?” Well, I’m talking about the power of entrepreneurship.

Individuals like Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and others who managed to make a mark in the entrepreneur world all share similar qualities which lead to their ultimate success; attributes which if you happen to possess might make you successful just like them, or even more.

Sales, finance, vision, patience, strategy, branding and much more are just some of many crucial attributes that will help you make an impact in the business world.

5 Essential Skills All Entrepreneurs Must Master

With that being said, let’s look at the key attributes every entrepreneur must master.

Here are 5 unexpected recommendations:

#1. Communication

Nowadays, the internet has made it so easy for us to conduct most of our business activities right from our computers, as an alternative to face to face interaction.

As a result, a number of people have made speculations that it’s no longer useful to be a charismatic entrepreneur, and we all can just leave the work to our computers.

However, this is absolutely wrong. On the contrary, communication skills are now more important than ever.

The phones, computers and social media platforms do help in saving time, but they all don’t really deliver the tone that you really want.

The smart entrepreneurs realize the power of face-to-face communication and have managed to use social media platforms or emails to establish relationships which would make it easier for them to have an effect on clients when they finally meet them in person.

Communications skills are not just vital in the business world, but in our day-to-day affairs as well.

If one is unable to express themselves and their expectations clearly, it will definitely affect their ability to acquire their desired goals.

Every entrepreneur needs to be able to deliver messages and instructions effectively, and most importantly build relationships using increasingly distant communication channels.

#2. Curiosity

Learning is an important aspect of acquiring success in the business world. It is quite impossible to succeed as a modern-day entrepreneur if you’re not interested in learning.

Great enthusiasts, like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, have admitted to reading articles, newspapers, and audio books daily, as they made genuine efforts to discover new technologies and ways to keep their business afloat.

As an entrepreneur, you need the skill of curiosity which will make you eager to acquire more knowledge and adapt as the playing field changes.

#3. The Ability to Inspire Others

No one can argue that most entrepreneurs are very passionate about their work. However, it’s capability to spark that inspiration in others that distinguishes the great from the rest.

As I mentioned earlier, your ability to explain to others what really matters in an understandable way will eventually strengthen the bond with your teammates, which in turn will help you to serve as an inspiration to them. This should be a major driving force behind your business.

#4. Stress Management

An entrepreneur is not just the boss. They have an active hand in a lot of areas of business, to keep things running smoothly and cope with potential setbacks and failures along the way.

However, if you fail to take a break once in a while or overwork yourself, you’re most likely to suffer from burnout, if not sooner than later.

Studies have indicated that entrepreneurs are more likely to suffer from mental health than the general population.

So make sure you find various ways to cope with stress and recharge yourself.

#5. Vision

As an entrepreneur, your ability to detect and forecast certain scenarios will only lead to the growth of your business. You can do this by having a clear understanding of the market niches, but sadly most entrepreneurs fail to do this.

The more you have an understanding of the market, the more you’ll be able to turn your business into a successful enterprise.

Follow these recommendations and I guarantee that you’ll be able to acquire that much-needed success you truly deserve.

Are You An Entrepreneur? Pop Quiz

The urge to surrender and and give up on your dreams taunts most entrepreneurs, especially new ones. You probably have invested all time and efforts but ends aren’t meeting.

But to avoid that stage of regret, one should ask themselves, “Am I An Entrepreneur?”

Are you?

On top of that, one risks their reputation and livelihood on the bet that the business will be successful. If it works out, great. But if it doesn’t, it could, quite literally, bankrupt you.

The best way to know is to consider what it takes to start and run a business and see if these traits fit you, your psyche, and your lifestyle. Answer these questions honestly:

.Frequently, establishing a trade is just not an low cost pastime. On top of that, one risks their popularity and livelihood hoping hat business will yield. In the event it doesn’t work out, the results will be devastating.

The only way to be certain is to consider be aware and recollect what it takes to begin a business, and see if you possess these traits.

Ask yourself these questions:

#1. How do you face rejection?

Facing rejection is a problem most entrepreneurs are battling with. You’ll be rejected by buyers, investors, funders, you name it. You’ll be rejected by people who you want to have work with you — be it co founders, people you want to hire, men and women you need to work with, and more. You’ll be able to hear “no” a lot more than you’ll hear “yes.”

#2. How do you spend your downtime?

In the event you’re an entrepreneur, this is definitely a trick query due to the fact you don’t have any downtime. There’s no such thing as “work-lifestyles stability”; everything bleeds together due to the fact that your whole lifestyles revolves around both what you are promoting and your industry.

#3. Can you live with uncertainty?

Nothing is for certain when you start your own business. It may succeed, or it may fail. You may get those big customers, and you will likely lose them too. You will not get a paycheck every two weeks. Uncertainty is also part of the game.

After launching your own business, you can’t be certain about anything. There are ups and downs along so ask your self this question. It’ll succeed, or it may fail. At times you might be lucky and get customers, an suddenly loose them.  You’re going to no longer get a paycheck each two weeks. It’s just part of the business and sooner or later, you’ll have to face it.

#4. Are you willing to work hard?

Hard work along with great skills shall help you win one success after another. Success can only be achieved through hard work. There are no shortcuts. You should have the strength of mind and body to struggle and work hard to reach your fullest capabilities. You want the proper angle, willpower and the capacity to place your goal before your possess needs, in case you are particularly pushed closer to attaining success.

#5. Are you creative?

Figuring out how to get investors and customers, how to market your business, where to advertise, what to advertise, how to grow, and all other ways of expanding are crucial in the business world. Will you be able to execute all these concepts? Failure to do so will cause chaos, so try as much as possible o explore your weaknesses and work on them.

#6. How good can you Execute the suggestion?

How good can you perform tasks? Even as it’s nice to have a great business inspiration, how well can you execute your concept. How will you manufacture the product? Will it work? And not to mention, how do you market and provide the product?

remember that there are no short cuts to success. Hard work, complimented with an intense desire to struggle and to achieve success is the only sure shot way of reaching success that you have always wanted.

Keep in mind that there are no short cuts to success. Working hard and the desire to overcome all obstacles is the only only way of achieving the success you’ve always aspired for.

6 Differences Between Entrepreneurs And Employees

Are you an entrepreneur?

If you answered “no” because you don’t personally own a commercial enterprise, recognize this: Being an entrepreneur doesn’t require proudly owning a business any more than being an accountant calls for running for an accounting company.

So what attributes sincerely distinguishes entrepreneurs from employees?

#1. Entrepreneurs train themselves more than they entertain themselves

Judging from experience, entrepreneurs choose what they need to learn about, and query everything they pick , without worrying about being reprimanded or disciplined. Successful entrepreneurs ask themselves what they would really like to do with their lives, after which ask others the questions that deliver them the answers on how to be successful at their selected field.

#2. Entrepreneurs have an empowering perspective of failure

The most successful entrepreneurs perceive failure as a lesson. We perceive failure as a wake up call which tell us to try harder. It shows us the place there needs to be correction. By no means take failure personally. We’ve all failed in lots of occasions and we will be able to fail once more. It’s a part of life. However, failure is the possibility to start all over again in a brand new and better manner.

#3. Entrepreneurs are problem solvers

If a problem arises, employees don’t accept it as their responsibility to restore it. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand comprehend that when a trouble arises, it’s their responsibility to discover a solution in order to not waste time and cash. Victorious entrepreneurs regularly get to the bottom of a situation permanently.

#4. Entrepreneurs have the ability to balance work and life

Balancing work and life is each and every employee’s highest coveted dream, probably the most sought-after treasure.

However entrepreneurs know that stability is not constantly possibly. Aiming to browse for balance, they trust that to excel in a single vicinity in their lives, others will undergo pressure.

In position of fighting for an achievable stability, they apprehend that one thing will more often than not ought to take priority over the others.

#5. Employees are threatened by smarter people; entrepreneurs hire them

Within the corporate jungle, it’s survival of the fittest. If you’re not the neatest, most accurately-linked or hardest-operating person in your division, you’re caught at that bottom rung of the ladder.

Workers, accordingly, are threatened by utilizing individuals who are smarter than they are. They view the smarter guys as opposition.

Entrepreneurs hire those people. They have an understanding that without an outstanding crew, their business will fail; in order to avoid that, they hire up.

#6. Entrepreneurs appreciate the value of vision

Entrepreneurs investigate the past. Few of us folks appreciate the force of vision, and that’s the main reason why most of the people are work nine-to-five jobs, and longer entrepreneurs. Imagination and persistence makes things show up. All first-rate entrepreneurs have vision. It’s what attracts wisdom. It publicizes your existence, and taking every day as a movement towards your vision is the finest and quickest solution to making it occur. You have got to create an imaginative prescient of your destiny if you are to experience achievement and fulfillment.

7 Ways To Bounce Back From Failure

Like a saying that goes, “It’s not the dog in the fight that matters; rather it’s the fight in the dog”. Thus, do not give up on your dreams, aspirations or plans because of a roadblock. Believe you can make it and push hard.

Below are a few tips that will aid in getting you back on track after a failure.

#1. Deal with your emotions

There is nothing wrong with shedding a tear over the failure you experienced. Let the way you feel not be tucked away inside as that will worsen matters and lead to insecurity, lack of self-confidence and bitterness.

Ensure that you think about the failure and express your feelings regarding it in whatsoever you can.

#2. What lesson did you learn?

Failure is meaningless if no lesson was learnt. The initial step in recovering from failure is to accept the failure and to learn a few things from it.

Probably you did something wrong that led to the failure or you omitted something. Next time, when embarking on that same trip, you will be sure to not commit the same mistakes you did the previous time. Hence, look through the sadness and disappointment and ask yourself some few questions: “How did I contribute to this failure? What could I have done differently?”

#3. Conquer the negativity

At this point in time, your closest neighbor will be negative thoughts. Since you just had a failure, your mind will try to discourage you from picking yourself back up again.

Fight those thoughts. Tell and give yourself all the good reasons you could possibly think of to pick yourself up again and run. Remain confident and determined despite all odds.

#4. Draw inspiration from others

You may not think this is so during your dark times, but you are definitely not the first that has gone through failure and you will surely not be the last.

Take time to read or listen to inspirational stories of those who failed at one point or the other in their lives yet still reached their peak. This will surely help in getting you motivated and encouraged. Stories of people like Oprah Winfrey and Steve Jobs should serve as a comfort to you during this time.

#5. Reminisce on your previous successes

One other way to get your confidence back is to recall the times that you actually succeeded at doing something. Don’t think that you have never had a good moment, no matter how trivial. Sit back and remember the times you did things perfectly and were congratulated for it.

Reminisce on the lessons you’ve learned, the times you completed a task on time or did well on

All those are moments that you should hang on to and that you should use to kick yourself back up.

#6. Change your approach

A mistake is not one if you keep repeating it. Maybe one of the reasons for the failure was that you made a mistake. That is fine. Everyone does make mistakes. However, be careful not to repeat it when trying again.

Apply a totally different approach to achieving what you want to achieve. Have ideas and backup plans to implement should anything not go accordingly. Remember the key is to making it big and being able to be proud of what you’ve done and how far you have come; so there is nothing wrong with using Route B to get to your destination.

#7. Patience

With every decision you make, one thing to bear in mind is that everything takes time. You cannot be who you want to be in a day. It demands confidence, resilience, courage and most importantly patience. Stop thinking that you will fail again just because it is taking longer than normal to reach your destination or achieve what you want to achieve.

Thus, remember to master patience and believe that everything will work out eventually.

7 Major Things Women Entrepreneurs Must Have at Their Fingertips

It is hard to feel encouraged when surrounded by men in the same career field as you are. As you walk down the corridor, you wonder what they must be thinking of you, mingling with the lions; so to speak.

Of course women have been notorious for their anxiety over the perceptions others have of them; not wanting to fail publicly or let anybody down. This and many more form part of the reason women are hesitant to play the game in a man’s world.

Well no need to fret. And yes ill bring up the cliche “Whatsoever a man can do, a woman do better”. There, I said it, the world did not stop. In the meantime, here are a few tips on how to become the best woman entrepreneur you will ever meet and grow your business at the same time.

#1. Confidence

There is no way you can make it in a ‘man’s world’ without any confidence. If you do not believe in yourself, who else would you expect to believe in you?

Therefore, be strong and believe in whatever decision you make. Do not underestimate yourself and put yourself in a shell. There will definitely be others that will make you feel less important, be it intentionally or otherwise; however, be your own mentor and push towards your goals.

#2. Find your band of thieves

This does not mean breaking the law. Hold your horses!

It just advices you to find a conducive environment where you could learn and also contribute for a just cause. Do not surround yourself around people who constantly discriminate you. Rather, make sure you are surrounded by creativity and efficiency and a people that are ready to treat everyone indiscriminately.

#3. Flexibility & Balance

Life as a woman and an entrepreneur could be said to be harder and more demanding compared to that of a guy.  Women have to maintain a balance between work and personal life which is not as easy for most men.

They tend to want to please everyone and have everyone’s approval. They go above and beyond to prove their worth, even with the knowledge that they are at that breaking point.

However, this should not be so. You ought to know that not everyone will approve of you. As a result, you must remain true to yourself.

Be bold enough voice out your opinions and perceptions and do not take it too personally if they are rebutted.

#4. Listen to your inner voice

Many a times, you may hear your inner voice, telling you to carry out or not carry out a particular action. It is also usual for women to resist that voice and go with their head because they want to prove a point.

Nonetheless, try to listen to your inner voice and see what it is telling you is plausible or not, beneficial or not. Stop trying to shun away your instincts.

#5. Accept that mistakes are bound to happen

One thing women seem to struggle with is handling the fact that they made a mistake, that they were wrong. You do not have to have things as perfect as watching a good and edited movie.

Accept that you will let people down at some point. Being too hard on yourself will kill your confidence. Business success is directly tied to our ability to believe in yourself, a 100%.

#6. Do not jump into decisions

You may be faced with a tough decision and may feel obliged to make a decision as soon as possible. Take your time to evaluate the situation. Sleep on it and give it some real thought.

You do not have to prove a point by jumping into quick decisions which may lead to a lot of damage. It is better to have some time to think through- take a week if you must, and then give a decision which will more likely work out.

Also, ensure that you do not make assumptions regarding anything related to your business. Seek out information and ask questions instead of making assumptions.

#7. Hire your ‘best’ team

A supportive team at work will champion your success. They are all the guidance you need and the additional voice that will help in ensuring your business breakout.

Find a team that will challenge you, input ideas and work hard to complete tasks and responsibilities assigned to them.

Build your “team” in both the workplace and beyond. Make you also surround yourself with positive people who will build your confidence. Recognize when you are not being valued and when others may be trying to make you feel inferior. The key is to make sure you are in an environment where you can succeed.

How To Build Confidence: A Must Read

Confidence is one quality to have at every point in time. Without it, you will be second-guessing every move you make and second-guessing yourself. Not really a good life to live.

confidence

However, most people tend to struggle in the area of gaining self-confidence. It is actually easier than done. They allow the thoughts and opinions of others to determine the way they feel, the decisions they make, including the thoughts they have and follow. It is basically letting others to live your life for you.

Nonetheless, building confidence can be done in a few, simple yet demanding ways. Take a look.

#1. Avoid negativity. Remember positivity.

A major contributor to lack of confidence in individuals is the surroundings they find themselves in. If you are surrounded by a lot of positive energy, you will be filled with confidence.

On the other hand, negativity can suck confidence away. This could come through the thoughts you harbor in your mind and the opinions or words others.

This is the time to really evaluate your inner circle, including friends and family. This is a tough one, but it’s time to seriously consider getting away from those individuals who put you down and shred your confidence. Even a temporary break from Debbie Downer can make a huge difference and help you make strides toward more self-confidence.

Be positive, even if you’re not feeling it quite yet. Put some positive excitement into your interactions with others. Stop focusing on the problems in your life and instead begin to focus on solutions and making positive changes.

#2. Refuse failure

Never give up. Never accept failure. There is a solution to everything, so do not give up on yourself or what you want to achieve. Succeeding through great adversity is a huge confidence booster.

Low self-confidence is often caused by the negative thoughts. If you are constantly bashing yourself and saying you’re not good enough, aren’t attractive enough, aren’t smart enough or athletic enough etc, you are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. You are becoming what you are telling yourself inside your head. The next time you hear that negativity in your head, switch it immediately to a positive affirmation and keep it up.

#3. Dwell on your talents

Discover the thing that you are good at, even if it is just cooking or babysitting and focus on it.

Give yourself permission to take pride in them. Express yourself, whether it’s through art, music, writing, or dance. Find something you enjoy and cultivate a talent to go with your interest.

Finding and doing your hobbies increases your chance of making new positive friends. It also helps make you feel accomplished and self-confident, once you know how great you are at a certain thing.

#4. Deal with your emotions and mistakes

At times, the things holding us back are the feelings of fear and imperfection that we may have. Some are good at comparing themselves to others and have a mixture of emotions tucked away within them.

It is time to let all of these go. Find someone to talk to about this- be it your family, friends or even a therapist.

Also, accept the mistakes you have made as a person and learn from them. Let it be your confidence boost and not the opposite. Remember that everything cannot be perfect and one way or the other, everyone makes mistakes. You are no different.

#5. Be prepared

Being confident requires that you are ready for anything at any given point in time. Once the unexpected occurs, you will be able to handle it without breaking a sweat. That is what confidence does. Thus, if you are seeking for a job or going for a presentation, prepare to do the best that you possibly can. Learn as much as you can.

However, be mentally ready to face anything that happens otherwise.

#6. Image

Nothing could better help in building confidence than your looks.

Go the extra mile and style your hair; give yourself a clean shave, and dress nicely. Others are more likely to perceive you as successful and self-confident as well.

Probably that new look and a change in your wardrobe is all the confidence boost that you need.

#7. Body language

Another tip to adhere by is to change your attitude towards others. Smile more and make eye contact with people when talking. Talk slowly and ensure that your posture does not drive people away.

Just the simple act of pulling your shoulders back gives others the impression that you are a confident person. Smiling will not only make you feel better, but will make others feel more comfortable around you. Look at the person you are speaking to. Keeping eye contact shows confidence.

Those who take the time to speak slowly and clearly feel more self-confidence and appear more self-confident to others.

#8. Create a list

Life is full of challenges and there are countless times when it’s hard to maintain your self-confidence.

During those times, make a list of all the things in your life that you are thankful for, and another list of all the things you are proud of accomplishing.

Once done with the list, paste it somewhere it can easily and frequently be seen so that you will be reminded of what a wonderful life you’ve got and what an amazing person you really are. If you feel your self-confidence dropping, take a look at those lists and let yourself feel and be inspired all over again by you.

5 Habits of Highly Confident People That Are Vital In Entrepreneurship

5 Habits of Highly Confident People That Are Vital In Entrepreneurship

No one is confident all the time, but some people seem to exude a healthy level of self-assurance. That confidence look can leave others wondering “what’s the secret?” Here are some of my observations about the habits of highly confident people and may be vital to success in your business field.

#1. Meditate

Self-confidence is one of those byproducts of meditation that few people talk about. Yet, this kind of self-confidence can make a big impact on a mediator’s life. Schools who’ve implemented meditation programs have noticed this in their kids. Adult mediators have found that meditation can help them build confidence both at work and at home – as well as a deep, pervading sense of self-confidence that’s independent of context.

It turns out that this is one of the best ways for peering into the inner workings of the human mind. A lot of our unconscious mental and emotional habits stay unconscious because they’re difficult to see in our hectic day to day lives. It’s only when we sit down, be still and observe ourselves in this non-judgmental manner that we can start to unravel who we are.

#2. Think inside the box

The capacity to create a business idea and get someone else to understand that idea is a fascinating human trait. Ideas can only come from humans. There is not an app for generating unique ideas.

I believe business ideas come in two major forms: “inside the box” and “outside the box.”

Have you ever asked someone or a group of people to think outside the box? This question usually comes up with something isn’t going quite right or needs to be improved upon. The response is usually, “Sure, I’ll think outside the box with you.” These sessions are usually filled with a storm of ideas.

#3. Exercise

Self-confidence is a product of what we believe in and what we actively set out to achieve. In modern day living, this can mean many things – physical confidence being one of them. Exercise is an important tool that helps us achieve this physical confidence. Beyond the postural imbalances, muscle tensions and day-to-day energy demands, the ability to be physically available to your day’s requirements is crucial. Today, we’re looking at some important benefits of exercise with respect to physical confidence and how it can go a much longer way than any retail therapy your heart can desire.

#4. Get enough sleep

This is your wake-up call – literally. Running on too little sleep can have detrimental effects on your mind, body, and brain. For years we have known that sleep deprivation was bad for our mental and physical health and now more alarming research has linked lack of sleep to higher stress, low self-esteem, physical health issues, and even brain damage.

Sleep deprivation wears down our normal capacity to deal with daily aggravations and challenges, causing the cycle of stress to wear us down. One night of disrupted sleep lowers the threshold for “stress perception.” When you’re dead tired, or have had weeks of restless nights, just running an errand or responding to another email is overwhelming. Frustration and feeling frazzled makes you less capable and less effective in your day to day groove.

#5. Socialize

Socializing can be a difficult one for introverts. Socializing, or finding your tribe, doesn’t always have to happen in person. Joining an online community of like-minded people can enhance your self-worth.

Most social situations with clients include a meal. The traditional ‘business lunch’ is a way to develop relationships, win future contracts, and gain referrals. But it takes strategy and planning for your meeting to be successful.

It’s also important for your clients to feel at ease from the beginning, so make sure they know who’s paying the bill. If you’re the host and you issued the invitation, then you should pay. To avoid confusion, tell your clients up front that they’re your guests.

#6. Be curious

Curiosity is an important trait of a genius. I don’t think you can find an intellectual giant who is not a curious person. Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, they are all curious characters. Richard Feynman was especially known for his adventures which came from his curiosity.

Seek people who are more experienced than you. Learning from them will instill a powerful calm of knowing. Chances are, the lessons they share will be invaluable.

Most “overnight success” stories have experienced the trials and tribulations that you may also be experiencing. They have all survived and may be able to help you.