Emerging markets are classified as those countries which have certain characteristics of a developed market but not all. Typically, these countries show a transition from low-income, pre-industrial economies towards developed, modern industrial economies. In addition, they show the potential to become developed markets in the near future owing to increased trade volume, liquidity in local debts, FDI, etc. This infographic by Tecnova details the classification of emerging markets, factors driving their growth and challenges faced by those markets. 

Factors Driving Growth of Emerging Markets

• Developed Market Demand
• Performance of Domestic Economy
• Improvement In Technology

Challenges Faced by Businesses in Emerging Markets

• Underdeveloped financial infrastructure – Impacts banks, stock exchange, and currency.
• Political instability – Creates social disorder affecting retailers, manufacturers, and consumers. 
• Underdeveloped infrastructure – Poor communication impacts distribution channels and supply chain management.
• Fluctuating consumer demands – Affects in determining product line and production costs.

It’s no secret that businesses in every industry were caught off guard when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. For entrepreneurs, the economic upheaval meant scrambling to keep their new businesses afloat while in-person services ground to a halt. 

While the early days of the pandemic are behind us and companies have begun to adopt new business models to reach digital audiences, there is still a lot to learn from the startups that survived the economic crisis. Construction startups in particular are a great place to turn for entrepreneurs seeking business advice. 

Construction startups operate in an industry known for resisting technological advances and large-scale changes. This has made it difficult for startups to find buyers for new technologies and innovations that could change the way construction companies operate. However, many new construction startups have overcome these challenges by adapting to meet industry demands and working with experts to achieve success. 

Check out the infographic below to discover key business lessons entrepreneurs can learn from startups transforming an industry historically resistant to change. 

These days people have many more opportunities than before. It is much easier to excel in a field because information and education are far more available. However, this creates much more competition. Knowledge and experience are no longer enough for you to stand out. Other things have become more prominent, such as your ability to assert yourself, the level of your confidence, and how well you communicate with others. All of these come down to one skill: negotiation. Are you able to convince people that it should be you and no one else? If you want to get ahead, you need to learn how to negotiate!

Negotiation skills not only assist you in your professional journey but also in your personal one. They help you make choices and facilitate interactions with your friends and family. They make your decisions easier and increase your quality of life.

Whether you are trying to get ahead professionally or learning how to persuade people without conflict, this infographic is for you!

For a business owner or budding entrepreneur whose keen on innovation and disruption, books can help you get started with the right information. Of course valuable lessons often come from doing. Business lessons can be learned by trial and error and putting yourself out on the line. But the same lessons can also be had from a book. Reading about the errors and triumphs of other business leaders can prevent you from making mistakes and push you in the direction of success. Beyond lessons, a good business book can inspire you to lift your business to an even higher level.

We asked entrepreneurs and business owners about the best books on innovation and disruption and here's what they had to say;

#1- The Innovator’s Dilemma

The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen has to be the best book on disruption. Christiansen claims that most businesses, regardless of industry, will miss out on new innovation prospects because they failed to practice the two most basic tasks taught in business school. Listen to your customers and invest your time and money in the areas that will yield the most profit. He illustrates this point by emphasizing failure. Christensen analyzes historically successful organisations that aren't quite as successful today, then goes a little deeper to find what went so wrong — or didn't go wrong. This book is great for those who enjoy learning about company history and strategy.

Thanks to Jeroen van Gils, LiFi.co!

#2- Innovation and Its Enemies by Calestous Juma

What makes this book so special compared to the numerous books out there that touch on AI is the fact that it addresses the reasons behind our reluctance to embrace innovation and new technologies as a society. In other words, the book essentially identifies the tension that exists between the desire for innovation and the pressure that comes from a society that is constantly seeking to maintain continuity, social order, and stability. And in it, Juma shows that many debates over such new developments are framed in the context of risks to human health, financial stability, moral values, and environmental safety. But it also raises the point that behind these concerns are a number of socio-economic considerations. As a result, the book ultimately makes the case for the need to shift greater responsibility to public leaders to work with engineers and entrepreneurs to more effectively execute technological change, make the necessary institutional adjustments and increase public engagement on such technological matters, all for the sake of improving people's attitudes and raising the acceptance of new technologies.

Thanks to Eden Cheng, PeopleFinderFree!

#3- Diffusion of Innovations by Everett M. Rogers

One of the most influential early invention books, and the only book on this list that is about farming. The Diffusion of Innovations is an excellent illustration of how technology advancements affect all areas. The book defined the several types of adopters (innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards), which were expanded upon by Geoffrey Moore in Crossing the Chasm. Additionally, it pioneered some early theories about innovation adoption in large enterprises.

Thanks to Edward Mellett, WikiJob.co.uk!

#4- A Manager's Guide to Disruptive Innovation

Disruption can be a scary word to some, and it can often be misunderstood by others. That's why, before you make any big moves, it's best to do your homework. A Manager's Guide to Disruptive Innovation: Why Great Companies Fail in the Face of Disruption and How to Make Sure Your Company Doesn't by Philippe Silberzahn provides step-by-step instructions on how to best use disruption and innovation, and how to safely guide your company to achieve a positive outcome.

Thanks to Chris Riley, USA Rx!

#5- The Innovator's Solution

The Innovator's Solution (Creating and Sustainability Successful Growth) by Clayton M. Christensen is a masterpiece when it comes to really uncovering the underlying reasons as to why innovation is necessary for growth, and how to properly apply it to your company's processes. Additionally, it shines a light on the many pitfalls to avoid and mistakes that can turn to be disruptive into a very big risk if not executed properly.

Thanks to Lindsay McCormick, Bite!

#6- Pivot to the Future

If you've ever even considered reinventing your business strategies, then Pivot to the Future: Discovering Value and Creating Growth in a Disrupted World by Omar Abbosh is definitely the read for you! More now than ever, companies are finding the need to pivot when what worked before suddenly stops providing a high ROI. When this happens, a book like this can provide the guidance that you need!

Thank to Lauren Kleinman, The Quality Edit!

#7- The Power of Broke

Every small business owner has budgetary worries, and The Power of Broke tells the story of a billion-dollar entrepreneur who started out with only 40 bucks to start their company from scratch. It's not a book about finance or money management; rather, it's an inspirational and motivational treasure chest with countless tips on how to think outside the box, be innovative, and connect authentically with customers without having to necessarily rely on capital. In The Power of Broke, you'll learn one of the most important lessons a small business owner can learn, which is that you're always going to hit obstacles and challenges, but what separates the successful pursuits from the failures is the ability to use quick thinking and creativity to solve problems in new, imaginative ways – even if you don't always have the budget or the funds to back you up.

Thanks to Mike Nemeroff, Rush Order Tees!

#8- Mapping Innovation

The best book on disruption or innovation for me is Mapping Innovation: APlaybook for  Navigating a Disruptive Age by Greg Satell. Mapping Innovation is an easy and exciting look at how great inventors from the previous century moved from an idea to change the world and how the reader might follow in their footsteps by grasping these patterns. Basic Research, Breakthrough Innovation, Sustaining Innovation, and Disruptive Innovation are the four types of Innovation that Satell, a business innovation specialist, walks through in a simple and effective method. He emphasizes the importance of an entrepreneur adapting to the procedure most suited to the situation at hand. He presents a clear blueprint for disruption and company success.

Thanks to David Fernandez, Capital Solutions!

#9- Disrupt—100 Lessons in Business Innovation

Springwise's Chair, James Bidwell, has compiled a list of the twenty-first century's most significant disruptive innovation concepts thus far, emphasizing how to achieve success and the themes and ideas to be used for implementation in the real world. The book, which draws on the Springwise archive, introduces the major concepts underpinning modern innovation and suggests simple ways to apply them to your firm and disrupt your sector. This nicely designed book draws on their extensive library and editorial team's knowledge to produce a practical, themed overview of current innovation, along with simple, actionable techniques for bringing more creativity to your business.

Thanks to Katherine Brown, Spyic!

#10- Two books

The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen talks about established incumbents in a specific market. It tells that they are constantly investing in sustainable innovations to make incremental improvements to an existing product. Clayton explains how a new entrant enters the market with disruptive innovation and forces the incumbents to stop from competing. Clayton’s The Innovator's Solution: Creating and Sustaining Successful Growth is a follow-up to The Innovator's Dilemma and also a good read.

Thanks to Nathan Hughes, DiggityMarketing!

#11- Inventing the Future

The best book on innovation or disruption I've read till now is Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work By Nick Srnicek. It explains what's wrong with the labour market and with capitalism in its current form in general. The proposals, which are clearly explained within the book, are radical, but not revolutionary. They are very sensible and feasible. Implementing them would not bring about the end of capitalism but would bring about a form of capitalism that should be much more humane, rational, and better for the long run.

Thanks to George Belletty, Mango and Coffee!

#12- The Chaos Imperative by Ori Brafman

Chaos, confusion, disarray, or disruption, however, you chose to name it. This book brings to light the value of creating ‘white space,' time to think. This white space helps you to gain perspective, look for patterns and chart a path forward. This white space will help you in your personal life as well as your business pursuits. I enjoyed reading about the authors' experience, as well as the impact organized chaos can bring to any structured environment. A must-read for anyone who wants to be the leader of change in business.

Thanks to Tim O'Brien, The Healthy Place!

#13- A Manager's Guide to disruptive innovation by Philippe Silberzahn

An ideal introduction to the subject, A Manager’s Guide to Disruptive Innovation is jammed with fascinating case studies and stories of organizations faced with disruptive innovation. This book was great for exposing the devices of disruption explaining why great companies fail and suggest tangible ways to turn disruptions into opportunities.  Offering you insights into the workings of Disruptive Innovation, steps you can take to guard and nurture disruptive projects, and practical approaches to transforming your business management practices to become more innovative. As an entrepreneur, it empowered me to understand the principles of disruption and drive my projects with a sense of how to disrupt my industry.

Thanks to Joe Bowab, Lobster Anywhere!

#14- Ryan Holiday's The Obstacle is the Way

The Obcastle is the Way is based on the Ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism, which emphasizes persistence and the capacity to transform obstacles into opportunities. It has been praised by some celebrities, including Arnold Schwarzenegger. Holiday demonstrates how the application of stoicism principles is more essential than intellect, skill, or chance by looking at successful individuals throughout history, from Amelia Earhart to Steve Jobs. This idea promises to help you alter your attitude in the face of adversity by transforming difficulties into challenges that can be conquered.

Thanks to Jacob Villa, School Authority!

#15- Bold

Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth, and Impact the World, by Peter H. Diamandis, is one of the best books I have ever read. With an in-depth analysis of disruptions by Fortune 500 companies, this book is absolute gold for people who need to understand disruption. Putting forward some real-life success stories of extraordinary business people like Elon Musk and Richard Branson, the book brilliantly presents some great concepts and the potential of several current technologies.

Thanks to Isaac Robertson, Total Shape!

#16- Zero to One

The best book on disruption and innovation is Zero to One by Peter Thiel & co-written by Blake Masters. Through the vessel of this disruptive book, Theil discusses how disruptive technological advancements can unluck massive and immeasurable abundance on earth. He negates the ideas of scarcity and proposes that the courageous entrepreneurs & geniuses of every generation continuously unlock new ways of solving problems that were previously thought to be unsolvable through technological innovation.

Thanks to Jack Delulio

#17- Mapping Innovation

Mapping Innovation: A Playbook for Navigating a Disruptive Age, by Greg Satell. Mapping innovation is an easy and exciting look at how great inventors from the previous century moved from an idea to changing the world and how the reader might follow in their footsteps by grasping these patterns. Basic Research, Breakthrough Innovation, Sustaining Innovation, and Disruptive Innovation are the four types of innovation that Satell, a business innovation specialist, walks through in a simple and effective method. He emphasizes the importance of an entrepreneur adapting to the type of procedure most suited to the situation at hand and thus presents a clear blueprint for disruption and company success.

Thanks to James Leversha, Top Notch I.T!

#18- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

The book talks in detail about how innovations can be counterintuitive. It takes on a very crucial topic: Why do innovation or startups fail. It can be used as a comprehensive guide for newbie entrepreneurs or businessmen who want to start a new business. After discussing the problems in detail, the book progresses towards the solution that can be applied to ensure successful innovations. One of the most striking features of this book is Ries practical and advice such as: it's the boring stuff that matters most. Remember if we're building something that nobody wants, it doesn't much matter if we're doing it on time and on budget. Customers don't care how much time something takes to build. They care only if it serves their needs.

Thanks to Erica Tan, Best in Singapore!

What is the best book on disruption or innovation? Tell us in the comments below. Don’t forget to join our #IamCEO Community.

Whole Foods, Overstock, and even Starbucks, these major companies and then some have started cozying up to cryptocurrency payment methods more than ever.

And with this alternative currency moving into the mainstream, it’s also more important than ever to understand how to protect your electronic wallet from cybercriminals trying to get their paws on your hard-mined money — that is, understanding emerging cryptocurrency scams.

In short, cryptocurrency scams are fake requests for cryptocurrency payments and they can come in many forms, including:

• Investment or business opportunity scams
• Imposter or impersonation cryptocurrency scams
• Blackmail or extortion cryptocurrency scams
• Social media cryptocurrency scams
• Giveaway cryptocurrency scams
• Fake apps
• Loader or load-up cryptocurrency scams
• Romance cryptocurrency scams
• Phishing cryptocurrency scams
• Employment cryptocurrency scams

Knowing the red flags of each can go a long way in helping you avoid these. To that end, pore over the infographic below, courtesy of Norton, for a refresher on the top ones to avoid in 2021 and beyond.

If you want to start a blog or website, you need to focus on the right set of tools so you can save time, money, and energy.

Below are some of our best-rated tools for bloggers.

Brainstorming

• Google Trends: Get trending topics ideas in your market and compare different keywords to find the highest potential.
• Buzzsumo: Explore content ideas with the most engagement on social media.
• Facebook Ad Library: Learn what’s working for your competition.
• Product Hunt: Browse through high-performing products in your niche.
• AnswerThePublic: Read the questions your users want answers to.
• Headline Generator: Enter your topic, content format, and audience to get title ideas.

Writing and Note-Taking

• Google Docs: Create documents that you can share with your team.
• Page Sizer: Set a specific size for your pages in points, inches, or millimeters.
• Evernote: Write notes, attach documents, and more.
• Headline Analyzer: get an idea of the Emotional Marketing Value of your article’s title.
• Grammarly: Get spelling and grammar replacements in real-time.

SEO Tools

• Yoast SEO: Get technical SEO suggestions right on your content management system.
• Ahrefs: Research keywords, competitors, and find opportunities for link building.
• SEO Checker: Get an overview and score for your SEO efforts, as well as areas where you can improve.
• Google Keyword Planner: Explore the keywords with the highest potential based on monthly search volume data.
• Google PageSpeed Insights: Find areas for improvements of your website’s speed and load time.

To learn more about how you can make the most out of your blogging tools, read through the infographic below.

The COVID-19 lockdowns hit small businesses hard. And even though the world is starting to re-open, many of these merchants and shops will struggle to survive in the long term. A report by the Mckinsey Group found that up to 2million smaller US businesses could still close due to disruption from the pandemic.

But some smaller businesses are thriving in a post-Covid world. And they're doing it by embracing one of the biggest revolutions in retail history – online shopping.

So what's the best way to set up shop online? The answer is Shopify. It's one of the world's leading direct-to-consumer subscription services that lets users build and run an online store.

Now you can join the online retail revolution with OnDeck's small business guide to selling on Shopify. It explains all the benefits of using Shopify, a list of the platform's best features, and pricing guides. There's also a step-by-step guide to creating your own store on Shopify. And don't worry; it requires zero coding or design skills!

So read on and get ready to take your business online. It’s the best way to survive (and thrive) in today’s increasingly digitised marketplaces.

After over a year of remote work, many people have gotten used to the comforts of working from home. However, with many businesses transitioning back to the office, it may be time to consider switching up your career and calling the shots. One way to keep your work from home perks while being your own boss is to start a home-based business.

There are many pros to starting a home business such as a flexible work schedule, lower startup costs, and the ability to deduct expenses for your home office from your taxes. On the flip side, there are a few cons too, such as limited space, lack of work-life balance, and restrictions on your type of business.

If you think the pros outweigh the cons, take a look at this infographic from The Zebra to help get inspiration and find ideas to get started on your journey to home entrepreneurship!

There are skills one has to adapt to be an effective and efficient CEO and anyone can be a CEO. “It’s within everyone’s grasp to be a CEO” Martha Stewart. The most common skills are decision making being the leader of the team and communication. Some CEOs are born with skills while others have to acquire them through consistent practice. As a CEO, you have to remind yourself its not always about you and practice servant-leadership in most cases. We asked entrepreneurs what critical skills one must have to be a CEO and here are the awesome responses.

#1- Soft skills

As a CEO of a business, your role is to embody its purpose and realize it through your business practices, management, hiring and culture. To achieve this requires certain soft skills that are hard to teach and rare to find. You must have and always work on visualizing as a skill: how do you visualize your purpose as a profitable business? When we talk about leaders having a vision, we mean the ability to visualize the future and purpose of your business, and translate that into tangible, achievable goals and phases.

Thanks to Michelle Ebbin, Jettproof!

#2- Ambition and vision

There is no alternative for a burning desire to accomplish something significant, significant, and transformative. The word ‘ambition' has a bad reputation. Ambition is a lovely thing when it is directed toward the appropriate vision and fueled by the correct drive. Ambition is contagious, magnetic, and instills confidence in others around you when you show that you understand where you should be going. Leaders seek to lead by example, convey their vision, and help their employees view themselves as part of a bright future. This attribute distinguishes exceptional organizations from those who will miss out on the huge opportunities that await in 2022.

Thanks to Stewart McGrenary, Freedom Mobiles!

#3- Awareness and emotional intelligence

Without awareness and emotional intelligence, it's near impossible to be an effective leader and decision-maker. Awareness is the foundation of any skill, because it allows us to assess our level of knowledge, and identify our strengths and weaknesses. When we pair awareness with emotional intelligence, we're able to assess how our experiences and beliefs influence our decisions, how we interact with others, and how we're perceived by others (stakeholders, employees, etc.). When we develop our emotional intelligence, were better able to control our impulse to react, and refrain from making irrational or hasty decisions. Additionally, we're able to connect with others on a level that fosters empathy and sparks innovation.

Thanks to Brittney-Nichole Connor-Savarda, Catalyst 4 Change LLC!

#4- Ability to delegate tasks

In my personal experience, the ability to delegate tasks, take responsibility, be decisive and responsive to change are all characteristics of being a CEO. One of the most important qualities is the ability to delegate work so that other people can apply their skills and maximize their productivity. This might include mentoring high performers or assigning lower-level tasks where someone excels ahead of others. It also entails being decisive – recognizing what needs to be done ahead of time and acting on it before delays arise. CEOs also need an excellent understanding of their business partners, employees, shareholders and the external environment/negotiators
that play into its success or failure.

Thanks to Amra Beganovich, Amra & Elma’s!

#5- Ability to read people

I believe one of the most essential skills one needs to possess in order to be a CEO is the ability to read people. As a CEO you need to know what the strengths of your people are, what they're passionate about, what roles within your organization they love doing, and what motivates them to perform at their best. This will allow you to fill key positions within your company with the right people and this will lead to a more efficient and effective team that ultimately results in a successful business.

Thanks to Phillip Lew, C9 Staff!

#6- An attitude toward cohesion

Hierarchical business structures are outdated and rapidly becoming systems of the past as we lean into new hybrid work models and fewer middle management positions. A modern CEO needs to develop a positive attitude and aptitude to create a space where strategic decision-making includes every team member. By learning how to work with a team rather than direct a team and take the initiative of other employees, a CEO can build up success along with a more tightly-knit team.

Thanks to David Aylor, David Aylor Law Offices!

#7- Several skills

Let me divide my thoughts into sections. First, they need to be knowledgeable about their organization's purpose, vision, and values. Second, they need to be able to manage employees effectively. Third, they need solid communication skills so that they can convey their vision and values and get people to adhere to them. Fourth, they need to be able to make rational business decisions. Finally, they need to be able to manage money in order to ensure that their company will succeed. If you are looking for a way to advance in your career, then you can do so by acquiring these essential skills.

Thanks to Benjamin Stenson, The Norsemen!

#8- Self-awareness

Being a successful CEO requires self-awareness, and those who lack this skill are often the ones who lead their company’s down the wrong path or create a negative company culture. Self-awareness is key for any form of leader – it keeps them grounded and helps them realize their own strengths AND weaknesses. Every CEO will bring different strengths and weaknesses to the table, and those who understand what theirs are will be able to better harness them and lead accordingly. A CEO who is not self-aware may also place themselves above their employees instead of working for and with them, which will negatively impact the culture and environment of the
company.

Thanks to Andre Kazimierski, Improovy!

#9- Borderline micromanagement

I say “borderline” since it’s unhealthy for your team if you get your hands on everything. However, you need to at least have the urge to micromanage everything. This means you have to care about every single detail and how it affects the whole picture. In my experience, it’s far easier to control the urge to micromanage than to try to get more involved when that’s not naturally your style.

Thanks to Cameron Miller

#10- Adaptability

Adaptability is a non-negotiable skill that a high-performing CEO should possess. As a CEO, you need to solve complex organizational, management, and operational problems that arise in the organization. In this scenario, CEOs need to possess some level of adaptivity to respond to the situation appropriately. An unadaptable CEO doesn’t know how to respond to things they’re not familiar with, leading to poor decision-making and solutions. The lack of adaptability would result in poor handling of new problems. As a result, it can negatively impact the performance of the business.

Thanks to Johannes Larsson, Financer.com!

#11- Being fearless, creative and innovative

Being at the helm of an organization, a CEOs decisions and style of leadership impact the company and the people working under them. Therefore, they need to have an approachable personality. Respect is better than fear. A leadership based on fear isn’t the best. But those who respect you will jump with you over a cliff. So to say! Being ethical is also vital. Being fearless, creative and innovative are skills that go hand-in-hand. As the leader of an organization, one might be called upon to make difficult decisions and second-guessing oneself is not an admirable quality. Innovation also calls one to be open-minded. In today’s world things are changing at an extremely fast pace, business disruptions are everyday occurrences, and as a CEO, accepting that times are changing is important. Poor decision-making due to lack of open-mindedness can also lead to alienation of your company due to lack of foresight which should be avoided. In all these necessary skills, what comes out as an umbrella skill is one of good leadership. At the end, a CEO needs to be able to be a leader not a boss, a team player not a one-man show.

Thanks to Joe Flanagan, VelvetJobs!

#12- Passion

You must have passion for your company and for the message you’re bringing to your customers. For example, Beauté Sauvage was created with a mission to produce sensual lingerie of unparalleled quality that celebrates the uniqueness of every woman. I believe that lingerie should give everyone a boost of confidence and accentuate their own natural beauty. That passion is what drives me to stand for my decisions and take risks when necessary.

Thanks to Annalyse Galán, Beauté!

#13- Three skills

There are three essential CEO skills that have served me well. The first is resilience. Things can and will go wrong. Resilience allows you to pick yourself up, learn from what happened and keep going – even when you just want to crawl under the duvet and live there for a bit! The second is patience. It takes time to build a business, let alone a successful one. Being prepared to be in it for the long haul is realistic and patience allows you to tackle each day as it comes. The third is flexibility. Although it's great to have a solid vision, it's equally important to accept that things won't always go to plan and to be willing to change your approach.

Thanks to Daniel Adam, cosier.co!

#14- Grit

One thing the COVID Pandemic taught us is that times change and the unexpected is always around the corner. In my industry, real estate investing, this has meant that we need to change rapidly to keep up with emerging technologies. Sometimes rapid change can test the character of CEOs and company leadership. You’ve got to be strong, firm, courageous and unconquerable during these tough times. And more: you have to show your people that they too can beat the change, weather the storm, and come out stronger and better than before. You need true grit.

Thanks to Marina Vaamonde, PropertyCashin!

#15- Ability to inspire

A leader would have his own set of passion, vision, and ideals, but the ability to pass their passion on to their employees is a crucial one. The majority of CEOs are admirable bosses, but not all are good leaders. The ability to inspire your subordinates helps you in garnering a culture that works towards your goal and vision of the company, just as you would. The ability to inspire others comes from staying authentic, determined, and
resilient. CEOs should be able to lead by example of their own behavior and expect their employees to do the same. If a CEO has loyal subordinates that want to follow in his/her steps, the ideals and vision that he holds for his company will always subserve.

Thanks to Andrew Priobrazhenskyi, DiscountReactor!

#16- Knowledge of your processes

You need to be aware of which tasks in your company you should do yourself, what you should delegate to your team and what you should outsource. Once you have this knowledge, you’ll be able to save significant time and money because you’ll always have the best person for the job handling a certain task, instead of wasting time assigning important tasks to people who are not capable of doing them.

Thanks to Adam Hempenstall, Better Proposals!

#17- Decisiveness

Ask any CEO what their recipe for success is, and almost all of them will tell you it’s their ability to make critical decisions for their company and sticking with them. You cannot be a leader if you have trouble committing to difficult decisions. Great CEOs do not only plan the future direction of a company, they also make long-term decisions to ensure that the goals of the firm are met. And once they have made their choice, they stick with it and do everything they can to make it work. I firmly believe that it’s the skill of decisiveness that makes a CEO truly competent.

Thanks to Kurt Walker, Cream City Home Buyers!

#18- Foresight and financial skills

It’s the ability to think critically about the future and prepare for possibilities. As a CEO, you’re dealing with a lot of things, and foresight helps you to steer the company in the right direction. Another important skill is financial knowledge. You don’t need to be a finance expert to be a CEO, but you need to have a sufficient understanding of how things work financially. It will help you in future planning and making adjustments in your business.

Thanks to Tyler Wall, SD Bullion!

#19- A proactive nature

There's more to being a CEO than simply having a vision or the next big idea. CEOs need to be quick on their feet and grab the opportunities that come their way. Only by being proactive can they effectively chart out a plan of action and execute it. Without concrete action, their ideas would never come to life.

Thanks to Harry Morton, Lower Street!

#20- High integrity

To be a capable leader and build the right values into a company from the start, it's important to put your individual self-interests aside. A real leader is much more than their own desires and intentions – a leader is selfless and serves for the sole purpose of serving. You must expect nothing from the people that you help – that's the only way to operate successfully as a leader. Fundamentally, the ethos of a CEO goes beyond a list of hard and soft skills layered atop one another. When it really comes down to it, being a leader and CEO is about helping people when they need it. When you do, a lot of good things tend to follow.

Thanks to Mike Grossman, GoodHire!

#21- Growth-oriented

A mindset that is occupied with growth worries about and works towards the future. They not only establish goals for themselves but inject people with the same abilities around them. A growth-oriented CEO is likely to bring more growth opportunities for their employees and help them develop their own growth mindsets. A person obsessed with growth would always welcome challenges as an opportunity to learn and implement new ideas. Therefore, having a growth mindset is essential for anyone to be a CEO and be admired by those around you.

Thanks to Jose Mier, Heliotherapy Research Institute!

#22- Ability to build relationships

Some of the skills that you need to be a CEO are the ability to manage people well. This is not something to be taken lightly. A CEO needs to be able to inspire people to do their best and make them feel an important part of the workplace and not taken for granted. They also need to be good at driving results and building relationships. People who are good at building relationships are often the ones who have the most successful companies.

Thanks to Shaun Price, MitoQ!

#23- Networking

When you're a CEO, networking is a must-have skill. Even if you already have an established company, you can never have too many contacts, and we all know that there's no such thing as an unimportant connection. You never know when you can create a mutual collaboration, even if it's months down the road. So, keep in communication, and wait for the right moment to build something great!

Thanks to Lindsay McCormick, Bite!

#24- Being organized and goal-oriented

Some of the essential skills you need to be a CEO include being organized and goal-oriented. You are most successful in business if you have targeted goals you plan to meet, and it also helps to set a deadline in order to
meet them. Being organized can also save you from stress and save you money in the long run in your business. If being organized is not your strength, don't hesitate to have someone in your office set up an organizing system for you.

Thanks to Adam Reed, Crown & Paw!

#25- Good command of communication

The ability to communicate is a forgone conclusion for anyone in the C level. However, the CEO should essentially have unique communication skills. CEO needs to be able to tell clear language, concise, decisive, and flexible at the same time. This is crucial and affects mainly the work progress on a day-to-day level and over the long term. If a CEO doesn't have this essential knack, this results in catastrophic results inside the workplace.

Thanks to Adam Garcia, Stock Dork!

#26- Good negotiation skills

Well, I believe that In order to be a successful CEO, a person must have good negotiation skills. In business, you must always ensure that you and your company are getting the finest deal possible. This requires the ability to negotiate. This could include talking to external vendors, partners, business associates, or even members of your own team. Negotiation involves the ability to reach an agreement that benefits both parties. Negotiation training can be obtained from a professional training company, and any CEO can benefit from it.

Thanks to Alejandro Uriarte,1-800 Injured!

What essential skills do you need to be a CEO? Tell us in the comments below. Don’t forget to join our #IamCEO Community.

It's easy to drop self-care at the end of the list when things are busy. It's easy to think it's not all that important and that there are other things we need to do first, but as we continue this kind of mindset, there is a tendency to burn out quickly.

As CEOs and business owners, if we don't have anything left to give, we can't give our all to our team, to our work or even to the task at hand.

Self-care does not imply selfishness or a disregard for the needs of others. In fact, it is essential for you to stay in the game and work at your most productive.

To help you stay on your A-Game, The Derm Review has created an excellent infographic that covers self-care tips from extremely busy people. It covers tips (and the science-backed reasons they are relevant to you and your team) from Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, and Michelle Obama.

They inspire us to work on what we love, to fill our own cups first, and to create a positive working environment so that we can be at our most productive, all the time. Follow these tips and implement them for your team and watch not only as your output skyrockets, but satisfaction and work-life balance increases as well!