After over 20 years of working with hundreds of business owners, we have noticed a number of key characteristics that stand out in those Academy Members who are the happiest with their results, their practices, and general balance in their lives.

Keeping an Open Mind – Starting with the big picture, those who continue to grow and stay ahead of the curve are open to change and continuously seeking new ways to improve. They are not stuck in their old ways of doing things, nor do they believe their way is the only way. They tend to be more open to ideas from others, and are happy to implement changes to improve their business. They are able to extricate themselves from working “in” their practices and take a step outside to observe their businesses objectively and realistically.

Inspiring Leadership – Many great business owners are also great leaders. They hire thoughtfully, and are able to continuously maintain a quality team and positive work environment . The magic is in the way they build a cohesive team, all of who share the same vision and strive for excellence; how they encourage and inspire their team members to look for ways to improve their skills, be more efficient, be decision makers, believe in their abilities and to grow personally and professionally beyond what they are often hired to do initially.

Militant Time Management – Another key success factor is the ability to plan and manage time. Those who do this well guard and manage each hour of the day like an army general with precision and commitment. They are great at blocking time on their daily calendar to account for each and every hour of the day. They also train their staff to adhere to the calendar, schedule time each day for questions and meetings, as well as block time for planning and working “on” their businesses.

Follow-Thru – In order to have results, not only is being open-minded important, but creating a plan for action and accepting no excuses. Often, this means confronting our default mindset and having the courage required for disciplined action and follow-thru, which are essential qualities for success.

In our experience, all of these strengths combined make for a well-rounded, successful business owner. What key characteristics do you believe lead to success?

Susan Russel
Director of Member Services
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (800) 846-1555
www.aaepa.com