简译：林永青

企业家是一群拥有特质的人。每个人都以自己独特的方式成功，很难复杂。成功需要艰苦的工作，奉献精神，当所有人反对时坚持前行等等。以下是十大原则。

Entrepreneurs are an idiosyncratic group of people. Each one has found success in his or her own way. It’s difficult to duplicate the results.

Success takes hard work, dedication and, most importantly, the drive to keep going when it feels like everything is against you. Following these principles will keep you in the right mindset to grow your small business.

1. Do the work.

做该做的工作

每一位伟大的创业者并不害怕将他或她的手搞脏。他们花大量的时间学习行业的运营。他们不会躲在办公室里。

Every great entrepreneur isn’t afraid to get his or her hands dirty. They put in the hours and learn how the industry operates. They don’t hide in the office.

2. Don’t give up easily.

不要太早放弃

邱吉尔说，成功来源于一次又一次失败而并不失去热情。很多创业者相信这个信条。他们认识到成功实现某些事情，意味着艰苦的工作，需要先落下在高飞之前。

To quote Winston Churchill, “Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” Many entrepreneurs share this belief. They realize that achieving something meaningful is hard work, and it may take a few flops before something soars.

3. Be wary of success.

对于成功的警惕

如果事业是一场比赛，创业者们与其他参赛者们不同。他们将目光设定在更远处。当他们到达终点时，他们还将再走几英里。

If business is a race, entrepreneurs don’t have the same finish line as the other runners. They set their sights farther ahead. And when they reach that point, they might go a few more miles.

4. Start with a market need.

从市场需求开始

新的创意非常多，并没有太多价值。而创业者从需求开始，从已经有需求的市场出发。

Since new ideas are plentiful, they are not worth very much. Instead, entrepreneurs begin with a need, where they already have a market—the people who need what they have.

5. Don’t Set Out to Be Rich.

不以成为富人为目标

如果你的目标是成为富人，你往往会抄近路。创业者们的目标不是致富，他们寻求建立某种能够长久的东西。财富只是副产品。

If your objective is to get rich quick, you are likely to cut corners. Entrepreneurs aren’t out to be rich; they are looking to build something that lasts. Wealth is the byproduct.

6. Be brand savvy.

成为品牌大师

品牌是使你和竞争者区分开来的东西。创业者会告诉你他们如何戴一顶不同的帽子。

A brand is your mark in the industry that distinguishes you from your competition. An entrepreneur can tell you how they different from their competition at the drop of a hat.

7. Understand the trap of financing.

理解融资陷井

许多人相信创业者们都以百万美元的融资开始他们的企业。这不是真的。成功的创业者富有策略。“小步快跑”（借用柳传志语），只需要在每一个步骤时拿足够的资金。

Many believe that entrepreneurs start their companies with millions of dollars in financing. This simply isn’t true. Successful entrepreneurs are more strategic. By taking small steps, they only need to sufficiently finance the first steps in order to accomplish the next steps.

8. Build a team of experts.

建立专家团队

创业者应当学会授权。企业将不会成长，如果只有一个人在管理。

An entrepreneur learns to delegate early. Micromanaging creates obstacles. The company will never grow, if it is designed for only one person (the founder) to manage it effectively.

9. Play to strengths.

从强项入手

创业者专注于他们的最强优势。有创新地方，就有梦想家和实践者，有创想的人，也要有将创想变成现实的人。

Entrepreneurs focus on what they do best. Wherever there is great innovation, there is a dreamer and an operator; an “idea man” and someone who turns those ideas into reality.

10. Read to be inspired.

从阅读获得启发

创业者们互相学习。他们从任何地方获得启发。成功的创业者也乐于阅读，以挖掘宝藏。

Entrepreneurs learn from other entrepreneurs. They also look for inspiration wherever it might hide. Successful entrepreneurs are willing to pick up a book (or read a blog) and unearth the available treasure.