I have had the chance of starting two of my own businesses over the years, and both times I have had success. At 21 years old I started my own language conversation business from home, and collected a vast array of clients and good referrals. I am now part of Enagic Inc., a company that distributes the healthiest water on earth, and so far have had wonderful success too. Here are some attitudes that helped me become successful in my businesses. To be successful I had to:

1) Take care of people. A seed needs water to grow. A business needs people to grow. If you want any success in your business, you have to love and take care of people. Whether they are your clients or your employees, the more you water them with positive energy and love, the more your business will take wings and fly. Can you imagine a company that is run by Scrooge, a bitter lonely man who sits behind a desk and counts every penny, a man who shows no kindness and no compassion? Scrooge might make money at first, but clients will soon wander away to more loving lands.

2) Determination: Keep your eyes on the prize. All successful business men and women claim that they have made it to the top because they never quit. “Quitting is not an option” says top world leader in Enagic, Daniel Dimacale. I second that. When you start a business, you have to keep your eyes on the prize, and that prize cannot falter or change or dissolve with time. Success is bound to come to those who continue to plow the lands and plant many seeds.

3) Team work. A company needs legs, strong legs, to support itself. If it thinks it can survive with only one Captain, then it will not last a long time in the raging waters of our present economy. You need assistants and reliable ones to help and assist your business. Whether that is your wife or your friend, team work will make certain that not all the weight of your business rests on your shoulders. Too much pressure on one individual will not create a successful environment: it will create an unbearable stressful one that is bound to collapse.

4) Flip the switch. To have a successful business, you need to know when to flip the switch. You need to know when it’s business time or friendly time. I once met a man who was so friendly that he never could close a deal, and although he collected a huge amount of friends, he never made any money.  I also know a person who is so business-oriented that he has forgotten the meaning of being human! A good middle path is recommended, where we are both friendly and business-oriented.

5) Be positive. Keep a positive attitude, no matter what happens in your day or week or year. The more positive you are, the more positive events you will attract to your business. Recall what the Buddha said about success: it is not success that brings happiness, but happiness which brings success. Bill Gates was not born a billionaire and I am certain that before his success came, he had to remain positive when facing challenges.

Once you have loved your clients, kept your eyes on that prize, found reliable and stable assistants, remained both business-minded and friendly, and remained positive, I am sure that life will reward you with many wonders in your business.