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Omar Zenhom
Success leaves clues, but so does failure. If you want to build a thriving business, it's not just about adopting the right habits. It's about avoiding the wrong ones. Today we're going to break down the seven habits of highly unsuccessful entrepreneurs. These habits don't just hold you back, they sabotage your business growth. The good news? Once you recognize them, you can take steps to eliminate them and turn things around. Let's get into it. Welcome back to the Hundred Dollar MBA Show. I'm your host Omar Zenholm where I give you practical business lessons three days a week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday to help you start, grow and scale your business. Today we're going to be talking about the seven habits of highly unsuccessful entrepreneurs. The behaviors, the mindsets, and what keeps so many businesses from reaching their full potential.
Co-host
I know these seven habits so well.
Omar Zenhom
Because I've experienced them. I had to break through these seven really bad habits. So I'm going to share with you those seven habits. How to avoid them if you can, or how to break through them. Starting with Habit number one, letting fear call the shots. Fear is one of the biggest obstacles to entrepreneur success, full stop.
Co-host
Why is this a problem?
Omar Zenhom
Well, fear of failure, rejection, uncertainty.
Co-host
This all leads to indecision and missed opportunities.
Omar Zenhom
In my experience, business is all about making a decision, taking action, and capitalizing on the opportunities that come to you. Opportunities are not so frequent. You have to capitalize when there is an opportunity. Can't just waste time and think about it and worry if, what if this doesn't work? Playing it too safe often means you're.
Co-host
Not taking those bold steps you need to grow. Fear is this voice in your head.
Omar Zenhom
That tells you you're not good enough, that this won't work, that you are not the authority, you're not an expert. So how do you break through? Let me tell you two things. Number one, you gotta reframe fear. You have to understand that fear is.
Co-host
A part of the process.
Omar Zenhom
Taking small, calculated risks are what business is all about. You have to learn from those setbacks. It's okay to make a mistake, don't worry about it.
Co-host
You will fail, guaranteed.
Omar Zenhom
If you're starting out with a business right now, I can guarantee there will be failure along the way.
Co-host
It's just a rite of passage, so.
Omar Zenhom
Just accept it and move forward.
Co-host
Number two, when you hear those voices, all that fear, all that doubt, you.
Omar Zenhom
Need to shut them up with data and research and information. You got to go out there and prove your business is right. Figure out, get some feedback from customers.
Co-host
Validate your idea, get the data to.
Omar Zenhom
Prove those thoughts are wrong.
Co-host
Fear is a terrible business partner.
Omar Zenhom
Don't let it make the decisions. Habit number two, overthinking analysis. Paralysis keeps so many entrepreneurs stuck in the planning stage, or what I call being stuck in playing business.
Co-host
So many entrepreneurs, when they get started.
Omar Zenhom
They want to get all the answers.
Co-host
Before they take one step. They want to have all the information before they even take action.
Omar Zenhom
And that's the problem. That's not how it works. You get the answers when you take action.
Co-host
You won't know for sure until you.
Omar Zenhom
Try, until you do it. And the reason why I call playing business is because a lot of people.
Co-host
Don'T take action because of that number.
Omar Zenhom
One problem, which is fear. They want to play around and do research and gather some data, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Co-host
But at some point you have to take action.
Omar Zenhom
And when you don't take action, you just stay in that playing business mode. And the reason why they stay in this mode is because they're afraid to try and fail.
Co-host
But even those who break through and.
Omar Zenhom
Take action that overthink it causes them so many problems down the line. Overthinking delays action and your progress.
Co-host
You'll never have all the answers before you start.
Omar Zenhom
Progress comes from doing and perfecting. Get this, you're never gonna have all the answers, period. Right?
Co-host
Even after years and years and decades of doing business, I still don't have all the answers.
Omar Zenhom
I know enough to do what I need to do.
Co-host
So how do you avoid it?
Omar Zenhom
Well, the first thing I recommend is.
Co-host
Setting deadlines for decisions and sticking to the deadline.
Omar Zenhom
Like say you have to make a decision on choosing a website builder. Understand that you can't take action and.
Co-host
Start building your website until you make that decision.
Omar Zenhom
So set it in line. By 6pm today, I will have chosen a website builder and signed up.
Co-host
Focus on taking action, then iterate based on results. Guess what? It's not the right one.
Omar Zenhom
You can cancel.
Co-host
Usually there's a trial or a money.
Omar Zenhom
Back guarantee and try another one tomorrow.
Co-host
For example, when I launched my software.
Omar Zenhom
Company, Webinar Ninja, the first version wasn't perfect, but it allowed us to get.
Co-host
Enough feedback from real life customers using.
Omar Zenhom
The product so that we can improve quickly and change the product. The beta version of Webinar Ninja looks.
Co-host
Nothing like today, right? With the version it is today, it's totally different.
Omar Zenhom
Different because we just put it out there, got feedback, iterated, changed. If you need another piece of information to get you to stop overthinking. I know a lot of entrepreneurs. I've met so many successful ones, millionaires.
Co-host
That have done incredibly well.
Omar Zenhom
And the ones that do exceptionally well.
Co-host
They'Re not that bright.
Omar Zenhom
They're not the sharpest knife in the drawer that serves them because they're not thinking about things so much.
Co-host
They're just trying and iterating.
Omar Zenhom
Okay? They're not overthinking, trying to get the perfect answer. Habit number three, not delegating, trying to do everything yourself. This is a recipe for burnout and stagnation and limited growth in your business. This is a big problem because your.
Co-host
Time is your most valuable asset.
Omar Zenhom
And if you're buried in low value tasks, you're not going to grow your business. You're going to still be trading time for money. And that's not entrepreneurship, that's self employment. That's you still being on the clock and not using your business as an asset. That helps you build wealth. You got to let your business work for you, not the other way around. How to avoid it?
Co-host
Just start small. Hire a virtual Assistant, a freelancer to take routine admin tasks off your plate.
Omar Zenhom
Delegate anything that doesn't require your unique expertise. I know if you say, I'm a control freak, I like things in a particular way. Train this person. If you still feel like, no, no, I need to do everything myself, then.
Co-host
Entrepreneurship, real entrepreneurship that scales and grows.
Omar Zenhom
Is just not for you. You either change. You accept the fact that you will be working for the rest of your life and trading time for money. That's really what you have to just accept. Do you want to trade time for money?
Co-host
Fore.
Omar Zenhom
Do you want to change, grow and start delegating?
Co-host
Sorry for the tough love, but that's something I had to learn the hard way. Great entrepreneurs know that asking who instead.
Omar Zenhom
Of how is key to scaling. Who can do this instead of how.
Co-host
Can I do this?
Omar Zenhom
Habit number four, treating their business as a job.
Co-host
This kind of builds upon the other.
Omar Zenhom
One not being able to delegate.
Co-host
But this is more in the mind.
Omar Zenhom
Many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of.
Co-host
Treating their business like a job instead of an investment. When you start a business, you're not starting a job. You're building an asset.
Omar Zenhom
You're building something that is going to create value for the world in exchange for value for you, which is going to earn you income. It's a machine that creates that for you.
Co-host
It works for you.
Omar Zenhom
So how do you create that machine?
Co-host
Well, you have to build that asset and you have to start seeing your.
Omar Zenhom
Business as an investment, right? Not a job.
Co-host
This means after your initial stage of.
Omar Zenhom
Building your business and you have idea validation and you have product market fit, you have some customers you made, like we say, $10,000 is kind of that threshold, okay? You have established that this business has some legs and you're creating a product or service that customers want. At that point, you now have a viable business.
Co-host
You need to start saying to yourself.
Omar Zenhom
Okay, I can't just keep working harder and harder to try to grow this.
Co-host
You got to start working smarter. You got to be more strategic.
Omar Zenhom
You got to say, what other piece do I need in this business so that it can continue to make more money. So, for example, you're making $15,000 a year right now. You just got some traction now. You haven't hit the 100,000 DOL market. I haven't hit a million or anything like that. But you're like, okay, I'm making some profit.
Co-host
What do I do with that profit?
Omar Zenhom
Pocket it? No, I need to invest in my.
Co-host
Machine that makes me money.
Omar Zenhom
So I gotta go ahead and say, let me throw some money into marketing.
Co-host
And do it wisely.
Omar Zenhom
Maybe I should spend that on a copywriter to write me better copy for my sales pages so I can convert.
Co-host
At a higher percentage.
Omar Zenhom
Maybe I gotta hire that VA that Omar told me about. The free up my time that's, you know, doing admin tasks and now I can focus on, you know, big revenue.
Co-host
Tasks that bring in the money.
Omar Zenhom
You start seeing it as an investment. How can I invest more into this company so it can make me more.
Co-host
Build systems, delegate and focus on scaling this business. Don't get stuck.
Omar Zenhom
Don't just stop at one point and say, okay, this is all I can do with the time I have. That's a job, not a business. A good way to look at it is that you gotta go from being the star player of the team to.
Co-host
Being the coach to being the team owner. As the owner of the team, you.
Omar Zenhom
Don'T dribble the basketball, you don't pass the ball, you don't kick any goals in, but you still win because you have this incredible asset that brings all this joy to so many people and makes you money. Way more money than what the star player gets paid.
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Omar Zenhom
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Omar Zenhom
Dogtopia is the only pet services franchise.
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Omar Zenhom
Dogtopia offers safe, open play, daycare, boarding.
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Co-host
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Omar Zenhom
Go to dogtopia.com to learn more. That's dogtopia.com shake up dinner time at.
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Omar Zenhom
Habit number five, thinking small and acting big.
Co-host
Some entrepreneurs are stretching themselves way too thin. They try to appear bigger than they are. Instead of focusing on real growth. Growth. What does this look like?
Omar Zenhom
It looks like spending money on superficial things like a fancy office or expensive branding that they can't afford yet. Maybe a fancy car. So then people show up, you know, to a meeting, they're like, oh wow, nice car. And they think they're successful, but their.
Co-host
Actual business is not strong and they're.
Omar Zenhom
Not building a big business. What you want to do is the opposite. You want to think big and act small. Be scrappy, spend less than you're making.
Co-host
Always live within your means, within your business.
Omar Zenhom
I'm not talking about your personal life right now. I'm talking about within your business.
Co-host
Be frugal in the beginning until, until you are making money hand over fist and then you can start spending a.
Omar Zenhom
Little bit money on a nice fancy.
Co-host
Couch in the office.
Omar Zenhom
Focus on being successful, really successful.
Co-host
Being small. Focus on the foundation, focus on the fundamentals. Prioritize delivering value to your customer.
Omar Zenhom
Big success comes from mastering the small.
Co-host
Details, not pretending you already made it.
Omar Zenhom
That is a really, really a short lived kind of charade you're going to be doing because you just can't do that forever. It's not sustainable.
Co-host
And that leads into habit number six.
Omar Zenhom
That you want to avoid poor cash flow management. Three out of four companies go out of business because of cash flow management, because of money, because of the numbers. Without clear cash flow management, your risk of overspending, running out of funds, missing growth opportunities, not knowing where your money is at all times is a recipe for disaster. And it will catch up with you if you're not on top of your money, on top of your cash flow. This is why one of the number one things I teach is making sure.
Co-host
You know your numbers. You know your revenue, you know your.
Omar Zenhom
Expenses, you know your profit margins, you know your growth, you know your cost per acquisition for customer, you know your net versus gross profit margin.
Co-host
And this is not complicated.
Omar Zenhom
I've actually created a spreadsheet, a P.
Co-host
And L sheet that you can use.
Omar Zenhom
To track all these numbers month over month. And if you want to download it, it's free. Just go to 100mba.net templates and you can download my own P and L template. This is the one I use to run all my business.
Co-host
Knowing your numbers is not optional.
Omar Zenhom
Don't say I'm not a math person, I don't know. No, it's not optional.
Co-host
It's survival.
Omar Zenhom
Okay?
Co-host
You need to know your numbers and it's very simple, it's very easy, it's not quantum Physics, you can do this.
Omar Zenhom
And it's just basic math and there's.
Co-host
No arithmetic you need to know. All the formulas are in my sheet. It's the difference between struggling and then.
Omar Zenhom
Eventually going out of business. Being at statistic three out of four companies or thriving, knowing your numbers, being confident, not being stressed out. Finally, habit number seven that you want to avoid.
Co-host
Not changing, not growing.
Omar Zenhom
And I'm talking about you. Your business will only grow as much as you do.
Co-host
If you stay stagnant, so will your business. Entrepreneurs that don't evolve, that don't grow, they'll invest in themselves. They become the bottleneck of the growth of the business. The business will only grow as much as you will grow. If you want to build a billion.
Omar Zenhom
Dollar company, you gotta become a billion dollar thinker, A billion dollar entrepreneur.
Co-host
What are the skills you need to.
Omar Zenhom
Have that a billion dollar entrepreneur has?
Co-host
What books you have to read, what.
Omar Zenhom
Courses you have to take?
Co-host
Who do you need to be around?
Omar Zenhom
What conferences you have to go to?
Co-host
If you haven't grown in the last.
Omar Zenhom
Year, last two years, last three years, I can almost guarantee your business didn't grow. Because no matter what market you're in.
Co-host
If you're not growing, you better believe.
Omar Zenhom
Your competition is growing and they will overtake you.
Co-host
So how to avoid it?
Omar Zenhom
Invest in yourself. It's the best investment you can make. And I know that you know this.
Co-host
Because you're consuming this po.
Omar Zenhom
But I want you to go another step further. Get a reading habit. 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes at night.
Co-host
Take some courses, seek mentors.
Omar Zenhom
Get around people that are doing and growing.
Co-host
Learn new skills. Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Growth comes from discomfort. Just like in the gym.
Omar Zenhom
When I transitioned from being a solopreneur to leading a team, whether it was here at the hundred MBA or my software company, webinar Ninja.
Co-host
I had to learn how to manage.
Omar Zenhom
People, how to build systems, how to think strategically. That personal growth unlocked new levels of success for our business.
Co-host
Because ask yourself, where is this success.
Omar Zenhom
Going to come from?
Co-host
It's going to come from decisions it's going to take from actions.
Omar Zenhom
Who's making those decisions?
Co-host
Who's taking those actions? You are right?
Omar Zenhom
Who is the one that's telling your.
Co-host
Team, hey, we need to do X, Y, Z, get it done.
Omar Zenhom
How do you gonna know what that is if you're not growing, if you're not getting better?
Co-host
So the best investment you can make is in yourself. Your business depends on it. So to wrap this up, unsuccessful entrepreneurs.
Omar Zenhom
Aren'T held by external factors. They're held by themselves. They're held by the habits that sabotage their progress.
Co-host
So here's a recap of the seven.
Omar Zenhom
Habits I want you to avoid like the plague.
Co-host
Letting fear call the shots.
Omar Zenhom
Overthinking and not taking action. Number three not delegating your task.
Co-host
Delegation is a part of growing your business. Number four Treating your business as a.
Omar Zenhom
Job, not an investment.
Co-host
Number five Thinking small but acting big.
Omar Zenhom
Number six Poor cash flow management. And number seven, not growing and evolving as an entrepreneur.
Co-host
If you recognize you have any of.
Omar Zenhom
These habits, the good news is you can change them.
Co-host
Awareness is the first step, and you've already gone past that step with this episode.
Omar Zenhom
So make a commitment to yourself that you're going to work on these things. And if you haven't come across these yet, look out for thanks for tuning into the hundred dollars MBA show again. If you want my free P and L sheet to be able to calculate your numbers and be on top of them and not be a statistic, just go to 100- MBA-NET templates. Download all our templates via that link. You can just leave your name and email address and we'll send it to you. Thanks so much for listening to the $100 MBA show. I'm Omar Zenholm. If you want more practical business lessons to help you get up, start that business, grow that business, scale that business, go ahead and subscribe. Whether you're listening on Spotify or Apple podcasts or on YouTube, you're watching on YouTube, hit subscribe or follow right now. Our next episode Again, we publish Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Co-host
Make sure you hit subscribe so you.
Omar Zenhom
Don'T miss a beat. Thanks again. And remember, you have the power to change everything. Change who you are, change where your business is going, change your life.
Co-host
You just got to take action.
Omar Zenhom
You got to commit, make those decisions and know that, hey, it's all going to happen.
Co-host
Because I decide to.
Omar Zenhom
Thanks so much for listening and I'll check you in the next episode.
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Podcast Summary: The $100 MBA Show
Episode: MBA2586 - The 7 Habits of Highly Unsuccessful Entrepreneurs (and How to Avoid Them)
Host: Omar Zenhom
Release Date: February 14, 2025
In this insightful episode of The $100 MBA Show, host Omar Zenhom delves deep into the seven detrimental habits that hinder entrepreneurial success. Drawing from personal experiences and practical business strategies, Omar and his co-host provide actionable advice to help aspiring and current entrepreneurs navigate common pitfalls. Below is a comprehensive summary of the episode, highlighting key discussions, notable quotes, and essential takeaways.
Omar Zenhom opens the episode by emphasizing that while success leaves clues, failure does as well. Recognizing and avoiding these seven detrimental habits is crucial for any entrepreneur aiming to build a thriving business.
Timestamp: [02:05]
Fear is identified as a primary obstacle to entrepreneurial success. Whether it's the fear of failure, rejection, or uncertainty, these emotions can paralyze decision-making and lead to missed opportunities.
Key Points:
Notable Quote:
Omar Zenhom [03:17]: "Fear is a part of the process. Taking small, calculated risks are what business is all about."
Timestamp: [03:53]
Overanalyzing situations can trap entrepreneurs in the planning phase, preventing them from executing and adapting.
Key Points:
Notable Quote:
Co-host [04:08]: "So many entrepreneurs, when they get started, they want to have all the answers before they even take action."
Timestamp: [06:14]
Attempting to handle all aspects of a business single-handedly leads to burnout and limits scalability.
Key Points:
Notable Quote:
Omar Zenhom [06:29]: "Time is your most valuable asset. If you're buried in low-value tasks, you're not going to grow your business."
Timestamp: [07:41]
Viewing a business merely as a job rather than an investment stifles its potential to become a valuable asset.
Key Points:
Notable Quote:
Omar Zenhom [08:03]: "You're building something that is going to create value for the world in exchange for value for you, which is going to earn you income."
Timestamp: [11:08]
Entrepreneurs who stretch themselves too thin in an attempt to appear larger than their actual business capabilities can undermine sustainable growth.
Key Points:
Notable Quote:
Co-host [11:20]: "Big success comes from mastering the small details, not pretending you already made it."
Timestamp: [12:18]
Mismanagement of finances is a leading cause of business failure, making it imperative for entrepreneurs to maintain a clear understanding of their financial health.
Key Points:
Notable Quote:
Omar Zenhom [12:18]: "Don't say I'm not a math person, I don't know. No, it's not optional. It's survival."
Timestamp: [14:31]
Personal and professional stagnation hinders business growth, emphasizing the need for continuous self-improvement and adaptability.
Key Points:
Notable Quote:
Co-host [14:31]: "The best investment you can make is in yourself. Your business depends on it."
Timestamp: [15:26]
Omar and his co-host conclude the episode by recapping the seven habits to avoid:
They emphasize that recognizing these habits is the first step toward eliminating them. With commitment and actionable strategies, entrepreneurs can overcome these obstacles to build successful, scalable businesses.
Final Advice:
Final Notable Quote:
Omar Zenhom [16:06]: "So make a commitment to yourself that you're going to work on these things. And if you haven't come across these yet, look out for..."
By addressing and avoiding these seven common habits, entrepreneurs can significantly increase their chances of building a resilient and prosperous business. Omar Zenhom’s practical insights provide a valuable roadmap for navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship with confidence and strategic foresight.