Many people work a 9-to-5 job, despite dreams of becoming an independent entrepreneur, because they aren’t sure they have what it takes to achieve lasting success.

The reality is, you aren’t born successful, nor are you born with the qualities it takes to succeed.

If you want to create a profitable business, you need to develop the qualities that multi-millionaire entrepreneurs have developed before you, that have proved essential to their success.

Last week, I discussed the importance of becoming a master of self-discipline and integrity.

Read on to learn the three other paramount qualities you need to develop in order to achieve success and build a legacy business!

3) Master of Persistence.

In business and in life, there are times when things don’t go according to plan. It can feel as though the forces of nature are working against you, willing you to fail.

At these difficult times, many people lose confidence, get tired of pushing, and give up. But if you quit every time you struggle or experience failure, you will never stick with something of real significance long enough to achieve the success you seek.

Successful entrepreneurs aren’t short-sighted. They understand that failure and struggle are normal, expected parts of the journey to success. With this clarity, they shift their focus and energy toward reflection and creative problem-solving. By mastering persistence in the face of adversity, you multiply the likelihood of achieving great results.

Don’t wait until you face adversity to work on your determination and persistence. Program yourself to persevere well in advance of the disappointments you – and indeed every entrepreneur – will inevitably face on your quest for success. Resolve never to give up, regardless of what happens.

4) Master of Direction.

If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you have limited time and resources. Operating in the competitive new world economy where others are vying for your target market’s attention, you don’t have the luxury of being short-sighted.

Successful entrepreneurs make it a priority to identify their short and long-term targets. Without goals, you are like a drifting ship, moving whichever way the wind blows you. Goals enable you to be purposeful, to plan and gain momentum in a meaningful direction. Once you have clear and measurable daily, weekly, monthly and annual goals, you can ensure that every action step you take will bring you closer to achieving incredible results.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I empower entrepreneurs and sales teams to develop business plans and create the daily habits necessary to execute them. One of my many roles is to serve as their accountability partner, providing support and holding their feet to the fire, to ensure that they do what they intentionally set out to do every day. With a clear vision, a well thought-out plan, and a healthy dose of accountability, entrepreneurs can “Double Plus” their income. I am passionate about helping my clients do just that.

5) Master of Action.

Successful entrepreneurs don’t just talk the talk; they take decisive action. In a rapidly evolving market, it’s critical that you learn to be agile, think on your feet and make decisions in real time as the need arises.

Successful entrepreneurs also carry out the decisions they’ve made as efficiently and effectively as possible. They determine what responsibilities they should personally tackle, and which can be delegated to team members.

Another trademark of a successful entrepreneur is the ability to move quickly and then gage market feedback. Moving quickly may mean implementing a new marketing strategy or developing a new or enhanced product. If the action isn’t yielding the desired outcomes, these entrepreneurs make adjustments or implement an alternative strategy or solution.

You have to possess the courage and presence of mind to act quickly and make difficult decisions if you want to stay competitive in the new economy. Remember: indecision is also a decision. Don’t let indecision be your downfall. Rather, try new things, get tons of feedback, and you will find your way.

Don’t settle for mediocrity; strive for self-mastery, and your business will prosper.

If you’d like to gain more clarity on what concrete action steps you can and should be taking to overcome obstacles and “Double Plus” your income this year, contact me today at celeste@celestegiordano.com.