Entrepreneurs hustle.That’s our mindset: See opportunities that others don’t, do what others won’t, and keep pushing until prudence says quit. The entrepreneurial spirit is about connectingdots that don’t yet exist. It’s about having the intuition and gut feeling to know that they might or will exist and what to do with them before others see the same opportunities. That’s how to continuously cultivate innovation and initiative and then use that foundation to grow and prosper.

Entrepreneurs must trust themselves enough to be fearless. We need to think big, make a difference and have an impact in everything we do and how we do it for the betterment of a healthier whole.That’s how we build continuous momentum and are able to sustain success and eventual significance that stands the test of time.

From scraping byto above and beyond.

58003 What is not discussed enough is the entrepreneur’s ability to over-deliver value.Oftentimes, early stage entrepreneurs are in survival mode and/or too transactional in their approach.They are looking to generate cash, close a new deal or seek additional funding.With that mindset, entrepreneurs often fail to focus enough on adding value to employees,vendors, clients, strategic partners, community leadersand others.

Wise, more established entrepreneurs know that over-delivering value --which simply means going above and beyond for the people we serve to deliver more satisfaction for our service and thus exceed expectations --is crucial to a firm'ssurvival, growth and future.It represents the core of abusiness'sfoundation.And without asolid foundation, a business is always vulnerableto a person or company that does over-deliver.

To ensure you don’t ever forget the importance of over-delivering value, here are three ways it will give you and your company a distinct competitive advantage:

1.Creates abundance

Success comes most to those who are surrounded by people who want their success to continue.When you over-deliver value, people may be skeptical at first, thinking that you are expecting something in return, but when you are consistent and genuine with your intentions, they begin to trust and appreciate that you are just thinking of them.You never know the value of the value you are delivering. But I’ve learned that if you are consistently delivering greater value to people, your value becomes more and more aligned with the immediate needs of the people and companies you are serving --and abundance in the relationship is created.This is what over-delivering value is all about.

2.Earns respect

Entrepreneurs that take the time to over-deliver value are the ones that earn respect.Typically early-stage entrepreneurs tend to findways to be the recipient of someone else’s value in asearch for momentum. You never know which transactional seed is going to grow, but when adding value to others, this type of seed is never forgotten.

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3.Enables distinction

Entrepreneurs who add value to others create and sustain a distinction in the minds and hearts of those they are serving. After all, most people are simply doing what they’re told to do inside the box they are given.Entrepreneurs can’t afford to do that.

We are the originators,the innovators and the opportunity seekers.We live our lives constantly in search of ways to add value to make things better. We disrupt the status quo.We are not in the business of fixing the old ways of doing things.We create new ways of doing things. If entrepreneurs are technically the experts at adding value through our products, services and brands, why can’t we add value through the people we depend upon most for our success?

58003 No one is successful alone. We must see the value in over-delivering value by being other-directed and connectingdots of opportunity with focus and purpose to become smarter and wiser, while making ourselves invaluable to the people and businesses we serve.