One of the hardest aspects of running a business is to stand out from the crowd. Do you follow the trends of your industry in order to be recognised by your target market? Or do you work that bit harder to forge a new path and create a different and memorable business?

Here are some tips if you want to be one of the exceptional ones:

-       Surround yourself with success. People who ‘bring you down’ are not good for you in general, but particularly toxic for the affect they have on your business success. Make wise choices that will positively affect your motivation and inspiration.

-       Be obsessed about your service or product. If you don’t love it, how do you expect your customers to rave about it?

-       Stretch yourself. Always be prepared to do things you logically think you are not ready for. Push yourself to learn and move outside your comfort zone.

-       Hire great talent and train them well. As amazing as you are, you are not the best at everything! So invest in your staff and do your utmost to retain the best people.

-       It’s OK to make mistakes. Dwell on your mistakes only for as long as you need to draw out the learning experiences. Adjust what you need to, don’t repeat the mistake and move on.

-       Continuous personal growth is key to long-term business success. If you don’t grow, your business won’t either.

-       Be persistent. It is without a doubt the most essential quality of an exceptional business owner and the only way to see great success. Don’t give up!

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender