Bryant C. Da Cruz
Rhode Island Association of Realtors president
Century 21 Guardian Realty broker associate
It’s pretty clear that the uncertainty of our economy is presenting some challenges. For those of us who are self-employed, times like this can be especially worrisome. Rising costs and perilous streams of income can be daunting. But in my years as an entrepreneur, I’ve come to learn some key philosophies that can take the edge off and help to weather any storm.
• First, passion drives results. Even in some of the toughest times, I’ve never regretted what I do for a living. Running a business that helps people find a home to call their own, and guides them through the process involved with one of, if not THE, most important financial decisions they’ll ever make, never grows old. No matter what path you choose, if you find value in what you get out of your work that goes beyond the bottom line, you won’t mind working hard, and hard work breeds success.
• Second, to run a successful business, you don’t have to know it all, but you do have to know people who do. I’m a firm believer that those who have achieved success understand that those in charge can set policies, goals and objectives, but true leaders find smart people who can take the ball and run with it and turn those goals into reality. When you work with the right people, your best results happen when trust outweighs micromanagement.
• And third, it’s not how hard you fall, it’s how you pick yourself up. Don’t be afraid to fail because every failure is a learning opportunity. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs I know have failed many times. Handled well, failure can bring knowledge, resilience and, ultimately, success.
