Success doesn’t come from waiting for the stars to align—it comes from taking action. Here’s how to channel your inner entrepreneur to create your best year yet.
Success doesn’t come from waiting for the stars to align—it comes from taking action. Here’s how to channel your inner entrepreneur to create your best year yet.
Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.
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MOD 828: Use an Entrepreneurial Approach to Achieving Success This Year
Description: Success doesn’t come from waiting for the stars to align—it comes from taking action. Here’s how to channel your inner entrepreneur to create your best year yet.
Episode #: 828
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Hey, it’s Rachel Cooke, your Modern Mentor! I’m the founder of Lead Above Noise, where we help leaders activate performance and engagement—without burning out. Whether it’s bootcamps, keynotes, or Pulse Checks, we design solutions that drive meaningful change. If your organization is looking for that kind of change, let’s talk!
So, it’s a brand-new year. The season of fresh starts, ambitious goals, and new calendars with no missed deadlines…yet. I love the energy that comes with flipping to a new year.I think a lot of us feel this way - we bask in the fresh starts. And then…pretty much without fail, within a few weeks, the vibe starts to shift.
People start to get caught up in the bumps and uglies of work - the grind, the boredom, the disconnection, the here-we-go-again feeling. And while running my own business isn’t perfect, I think back to my days of being an employee. And I realize how much I’ve had to shift my mindset.
When I worked for a company, I think I spent too much time waiting for the perfect plan to emerge or the perfect opportunity to fall into my lap. But that’s not how success happens.
It happens when we decide to own it. To make it happen. And honestly? That’s what entrepreneurs do every day.
So, what if we all channeled a little entrepreneurial energy this year? What if we approached our careers with the mindset of an entrepreneur—someone who owns the business of their own success? If you’re into it, then stick with me. Today, I’m sharing five ways you can think like an entrepreneur to make this your most successful year yet.
You can’t run a business just waiting for products to build themselves or customers to find you. You’ve gotta pound the pavement - make it happen.
Yet I talk to people all the time in who, in their workplaces, are just not satisfied with what’s being handed to them. “I didn’t get tapped for the promotion” or “I would have been great on that project team but I wasn’t invited to join.”
If this, in some form, is you, then let’s change the course of this year.
Feeling underutilized? I don’t mean are you twiddling thumbs because everyone is busy. But are you being truly utilized - working on things that tap into your potential?
If not, what do you wish you could be doing instead?
Talk to colleagues in leaders on teams across the organization about what they’re focused on. Ask around about projects or committees or Employee Resource Groups that could use an extra hand. Or even better, start something new. Maybe you’ve been noticing a skills gap on your team—could you start a learning circle to share knowledge? Or maybe there’s a newer colleague who could use a mentor.
These are all opportunities to show initiative, build your skills, and get noticed for all the right reasons.
Gotta be honest - this one came not so naturally to me. I’m…pretty good at whining about things.
But when I’m running the show, it’s really just me and my dog Ruth. Know what Ruth’s not great at? Fixing literally anything at all. Also, waiting patiently for her food but that’s not as relevant to the discussion.
So I’ve become a fixer. Sort of. And I’d love you to do the same.
Not so much of printers, but of process. Of ways of doing and working. When you see something that’s inefficient, or failing to include an important team member’s voice or going to put the company at risk, or is it just a missed leadership opportunity? Don’t grumble about it. Take an action.
Instead of pointing fingers (we’ve all done it), try suggesting a solution. Like maybe your weekly team meeting is heavy on the updates and light on the dialog. Suggest to your boss a shift in that balance. Recommend some topics you’d like to discuss, or better yet - offer to host one. Just to give something new a try.
When you’re the one offering solutions instead of complaints, you’re not just solving problems and delivering impact—you’re building your reputation as someone who makes things happen.
Because for entrepreneurs, it literally is. Time is their most valuable resource, and they don’t waste it. They’re laser-focused on what matters most, and that’s a habit we could all stand to adopt.
Think about how your time gets spent at work. Do you let the urgent crowd out the important? Do you say yes to things that don’t align with your goals, just because you don’t want to disappoint someone? Do you not ask for clarity on which project or initiative is most important right now? And then spread yourself way too thin across them all and then complain you’re exhausted because you are?
Entrepreneurs don’t have that luxury. They know that every minute spent on the wrong thing is a minute stolen from what really matters.
So, this year, start treating your time like the precious resource it is. Push for clarity on priorities. Ask your boss or team, “What’s the one thing we need to nail this week?” And then protect your time fiercely to make sure you’re focused on what matters most.
Entrepreneurs know they can’t do it alone. They’re tiny but mighty, so they build communities to support them. And the same is true at work. Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it’s powered by relationships.
Think about who you need in your corner. Maybe it’s a mentor who can help you grow, a colleague who pushes your thinking, or someone in another department who can give you a fresh perspective. Building your network within your company and even across your industry doesn’t just make work more fun—it’s also a great way to share wisdom, uncover opportunities, and lift each other up.
Entrepreneurs don’t spend time collecting certifications just to post them on LinkedIn. They learn the skills they need in the moment, applying them immediately to solve problems, innovate, or build something new. And honestly? That’s the approach we should all take at work.
Instead of chasing credentials, ask yourself: What’s the one skill that would propel me forward right now? Maybe it’s mastering a new software tool to streamline your work. Or improving your presentation skills so you can share your ideas more effectively. Whatever it is, focus on learning it by doing. Apply your new skills to a real-world challenge, and you’ll build not just knowledge, but confidence too.
So, there you have it—five ways to channel your inner entrepreneur and create your own success this year. Find your own opportunities. Fix what’s broken. Prioritize like your time is money. Build partnerships wisely. And focus on learning what matters, not just chasing certifications.
If you’re ready to take action but need support—maybe your team could use a jumpstart—reach out to me at rachel@leadabovenoise.com. Whether it’s an Activation Bootcamp, a keynote, or a Pulse Check, we’ll create the momentum you need to make this year your best yet.
Join me next week for another great episode of Modern Mentor. Until then, visit my website at leadabovenoise.com, and follow Modern Mentor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Thanks so much for tuning in, and have a successful week!
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