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7 Bad Habits Every Entrepreneur Should Fix Right Now

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You came here just to make sure you don’t have any of those bad habits. Didn’t you?

But, to be honest with you, it doesn’t matter whether you have them or not. Most entrepreneurs do have them. But the good news is they’re extremely easy to fix.

Here are 7 bad habits that need to be fixed if you’re an Entrepreneur:

1. Not being patient

A lot of bad things can happen from being impatient. Here are a few examples:

  • Miss something important because you don’t have time to double check
  • Make stupid mistakes because you’re always in a hurry
  • Make bad decisions because you want to get it over with
  • Ruin your relationships with people because you speak without thinking

Those are just a few consequences. Hopefully I won’t need to mention anymore to convince you being impatient is bad.

Solution: Slow down, take a deep breath, think, then act. Remember that working too fast is actually counterproductive and will waste more time in the long run.

“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” – Napoleon Hill

2. Not listening

You’ll get more value from listening than talking. If you want to stay on top of your game you need to keep learning. And a great way to keep learning is to start listening. Not listening to what others say can cause you to miss out on a lot of important ideas and lessons.

Another advantage of listening is being able to solve customers problems. You can’t solve customers problems and create good products if you don’t listen to what your customers are saying. Most of the time they won’t tell you what they want. You’ll have to figure that out based on their deeper desires. And you can’t figure out anything if you don’t listen.

Solution: Listen to what people have to say. You never know, the next big idea could come from an 8 year old kid.

 

3. Lack of sleep because you’re busy

Sleeping is one of those things that you have to have time for. You can’t choose not to sleep. Personally, whenever I get my 8 hours of sleep, I perform much better than a night I sleep 7 hours on. In reality, staying awake that extra hour is a total waste of time.

Solution: Go to sleep. Sleep 8 hours. Schedule an 8 hour sleep slot in your calendar.

 

4. Thinking short term

This one results from impatience too. You want to make a quick buck. You just can’t wait. You want everything to happen now. So you work for now and forget the future. Instead of investing into something that pays you x100 in 10 years. You’re satisfied with the quick x2 ROI.

But here’s the thing, if you think short term, you’ll be in business for a really short term. Because while your competitors are working towards the future and with a potential of making millions or even billions of dollars, you’re sitting there worrying about a few thousand dollars that won’t last you another year.

Solution: Always look at things in the long term. Look ahead. What would the future look like?

 

5. Working without a direction

Working without a goal and plan is like shooting then aiming. You need to know your target, aim, then shoot. That means you need to know your goal, have a plan, then execute. There’s no need to write a massive 30 page plan. 1 page is enough, sometimes even less. When you work with no direction, you get nowhere. Eventually you’ll run out of fuel because you ended up in the middle of the desert with no map.

Solution: Identify your goal, create a plan, execute the plan. What do you want to achieve in the next 3 months? What steps will you take to achieve your goal? Now go and execute your plan in that time frame.

 

6. Taking unnecessary risks

Taking risks is good. It’s essential. Starting a business is full of risks. So you have no choice but to go through risks. However, taking risks that you don’t need to at all is plain stupid. I remember back in the day when I thought taking crazy risks was cool and everybody else were just cowards. Result? I failed badly, they didn’t.

While they spent a few days on research and setting things up. I’d just jump right in. Is that really what successful entrepreneurs do? No, all of them launch an MVP, test the market, do their homework, and are careful. The “go and take risks” advice is for people who are really scared to take risks. People scared to leave the 5-9 job. Not for adrenaline junkies. Adrenaline junkies will just translate that advice into “go and make a few suicidal moves.”

Solution: Take calculated risks. Test the market bit by bit.

 

7. Not Creating a Scalable System

Are you really an entrepreneur or a freelancer?

The difference is, entrepreneurs build businesses that can thrive without them physically being present. On the other hand, freelancers build businesses that can’t survive without them. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being a freelancer. But, if you really want to call yourself an entrepreneur you need to build something that doesn’t need you.

Solution: Create a system that doesn’t depend on you. You can present yourself as the founder & CEO of a brand, but never become the brand itself. Unless you want to be a freelancer of course, then that’s fine. But, if you don’t then please separate your personal brand and your business brand – don’t mix them up.

“The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.” – Peter Drucker

Don’t just hit the back button now. It’s time to take action. You’ve already shown interest in improving yourself. Now go do it. Get your notepad out and create a plan for change. It’s either now or never.

Do you remember the blog post you read last week? Did you act upon what it taught you? If you’re going to do the same thing with this one, then don’t expect your life to change either.

Which bad habit is destroying you? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Zak Mustapha is a High-Ticket Closer who helps businesses multiply their sales and achieve arithmetic growth. Join his "100 Business Knockout Lessons" to get one lesson every Monday at 6 AM that you can put to action immediately to dominate your niche & K.O. your competitors.

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
Image Credit: Midjourney

In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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Building a Business Empire: Lessons from the World’s Boldest Entrepreneurs

Learn essential lessons, success strategies, and mindset shifts every aspiring entrepreneur needs to overcome challenges and build a thriving business.

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Back in July 2017, I attended a business seminar on entrepreneurship in India. With my appetite for learning and meeting new people, I wanted to explore the latest developments in the entrepreneurial world. (more…)

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Change Your Mindset

Why Ideas Are More Valuable Than Resources for Entrepreneurial Success

Discover why ideas, not resources, are the true driving force behind entrepreneurial success, innovation, and lasting growth.

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History shows us that the greatest minds, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Walt Disney, Stephen King, and countless others, faced failure early on. Yet, instead of seeing failure as the end, they treated it as a comma in their story, not a full stop. (more…)

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