There is a lot of similarity between business and creativity.

Building a small business means bringing ideas to life, creating something new, and putting it out there for people to react. It also means having to constantly overcome self-doubt, criticism, and frustration. The process is the same for any type of creativity whether it's art, music, writing, or any other form of self-expression.

Just as with life, business is a constant barrage of decision making. Should you hire that person? Should you launch this project? Should you expand? Cut back?

When it comes to the myriad ways technology has altered our personal and professional lives, we tend to hear only all-or-nothing opinions. Tech is either the miracle of our time, building a better world and improving our lives immeasurably, or an ever-spreading disease, infiltrating our daily existences and wreaking havoc on our interpersonal relationships.

Just as with life, business is a constant barrage of decision making. Should you hire that person? Should you launch this project? Should you expand? Cut back?

To make it even more stressful, your decisions often can have serious consequences on your business that can weigh on you. 

Creating your personal brand is an important step in the evolution of your business and career. It can define your goals and services, and help to better connect with your customers and team. What do you want people to think about when they interact with you and your business?

Mastery is a myth. That statement may sound crazy on its face, but bear with me for a second. Do you really think any of us reaches a point in our lives where we’ve learned enough, grown enough, and progressed enough to say we’re content with where we’re at? Self-satisfaction breeds complacency, which is the enemy of improvement.

There is a saying that you can never get enough education. The most successful business people I know are always striving to learn more about how they can improve their business, their knowledge, and their life.

I've found that one of the best ways to further your education is to listen to podcasts.

In order for your business to run the most efficiently, and for your team to strive to be its best, as a leader, you have to set a good example. People notice when you are engaged, focused, organized, and can balance various aspects of your life. Those traits are what motivate others to follow your lead.

As somebody who travels the country speaking about the role of technology in the professional environment, I’ve had the chance to talk with countless business owners and team members about innovation. Far and away the most frequent question I’m asked is how somebody can create a workplace atmosphere where innovation is seen as a benefit, rather than an obstacle. 

You could say that soft skills are the most important since they affect so many aspects of daily business. They include being collaborative with the people around you, thinking creatively, making decisions, managing your time, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Soft skills also involve personality traits like being personable, having a positive attitude, being an empathetic listener, and being self-disciplined.

When I started my first accounting business, I did it all: arranged client calls, prepared financial reports, returned client messages and e-mails, scheduled meetings, and even took care of my company's own accounting needs.

Have you ever felt alone in an office full of people? I've worked for companies where I felt like an off-site worker even though I was surrounded by hundreds of co-workers.

It is natural to relish the good times, and wallow in the bad times. But business, as in life, ebbs and flows. You can't expect everything to go well all of the time, nor feel that the down times will last forever.

I’m guessing everyone reading this article has heard some variation of the word disruption recently. It’s as buzzy a buzzword as you can find right now. Seemingly every business you read about claims to be “disrupting the paradigm” or see themselves as “disruptors changing the way we live.” Inc. Magazine even publishes a list of the 25 most disruptive companies every year

Humans, the old saying goes, are creatures of habit. Some of our habits our productive, while others are less than ideal. Many times, we are prone to attributing our habitual behaviors to external forces, when they are really the product of our internal selves and instinctive response. Believe me, I’ve experienced this for myself. Personally, I have a habit of expressing too much emotion at times I don’t want to, later regretting the way I’ve handled a situation.

Being a leader is more than being a subject matter expert. Your team looks toward you for guidance and inspiration. You are often the face and voice of reason and can provide the motivation and insight they need to succeed, which is just as important, if not more, than your technical knowledge.