What makes a successful (happy) entrepreneur?

Words SHAUNA TEAKEN

For the past three years I have travelled almost constantly with my business – including Europe twice a year, Tahiti (absolute paradise!), Russia (challenging), USA (different!), Brazil (wow), Corsica (wonderful), Mexico (OMG) and Japan (love it) a few times.

Before that, the farthest I’d been from my home in Australia was New Zealand. 10 years ago I could not have imagined my business expanding in this way! My income has multiplied many times over while I travelled.

I’ve been self-employed for over 40 years. I’ve learned along the way, and at 61 I’m still learning. People buy you and your energy pretty much no matter what you are doing. So it’s important to be happy and enthusiastic and these are choices you make day to day. I’m certainly not an expert in many things! But I can always find someone who is!

1. Take a course in social media and learn how to use it. Having a basic knowledge of Facebook and Instagram really helps. Get over any resistance you have!

2. Be the best you can be at all times – get a makeover with a personal stylist so you know your best colours and dress styles and wear them – look a million dollars in your photos (professionally done shots that reflect your personality) and if you are presenting live to a group, a class or at an event, dress up! It matters!

3. The one thing I have found most challenging with travel or when I’m at home juggling multiple time zones – is to keep moving. Don’t give up on walking, swimming, dancing, whatever, every day.

4. Find your ‘cheerleaders’ – that is, people who love what you do and who talk and post about you, and reward them. Enthusiasm is infectious.

5. Enthusiasm – vital – sometimes you have to create it – immerse yourself in what you love, read about it, research it, choose to be enthusiastic about your business, what you do, your life.

6. Do the most uncomfortable things. A few years ago someone suggested that if I wanted my business to grow, I had to make videos. I got very angry – I was super comfortable doing voice-only telecalls and presenting to groups live, but something about being on camera terrified me. I cried before my first attempt. Anyone who knows me now, knows you can’t keep me away from recording videos! I absolutely adore it! Actually, I have such ease with it, that I recorded live every day for 365 days last year to a private Facebook group. It’s been the biggest factor in my success so far.

SHAUNA presents on-line classes and travels to teach ‘Happy Mouth’ energetic dentistry. www.yourhappymouth.com