Every one of us dreams of a time when they will have financial freedom. Presently, 49% of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. Although most people decide to break the cycle by venturing into entrepreneurship, 20% of their businesses fail within the first two years.
Sal Shakir is no stranger to the struggles of entrepreneurship. He had to hustle his way to the top by working at odd jobs. Shakir worked as an attendant to a local laundry shop, and as an assistant to an AC technician. This serial entrepreneur still recalls how he would work on painting fences by door-knocking houses on golf courses to paint their rusted fences. Today, Shakir is a successful businessman. He is the co-founder of numerous companies, including ALL IN Entrepreneurs (ALL IN Nations), National Cash Offer, and Offerkey. We interviewed Shakir to get his story on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.
Sal Shakir Backstory
Sal Shakir and his family left the Middle East to escape the war. They came to the U.S with the hope that they will rebuild their lives here, and pursue the American dream. Aside from spending years working at odd jobs, Shakir joined the military, where he became a trainer for the U.S army. Joining the army gave him the boost he needed to pursue his entrepreneurship dream. He used his savings from the military to launch his first business back in 2013. This business involved buying and selling cars. Next, Shakir pursued the real estate business by investing in a damaged house, fixing it, and selling it. “Eventually, I sold my car retailing shops so I can focus on real estate. Also, I continued to expand my business by venturing into other areas. Now, after all the hustling, I have established 26 enterprises,” he says.
The ALL IN Entrepreneurs
The ALL IN entrepreneurs is a podcast that focuses on covering issues that have to do with entrepreneurship. Shakir started the business to help fellow entrepreneurs who were struggling with their company. “We want to share with other entrepreneurs the strategies that we leveraged and eventually turned us to seven figure earners,” says Shakir.
Shakir’s ability to manage 26 businesses has a lot to do with the principles and values that drive him. This serial entrepreneur believes in dedication and honesty. He loves all his companies and dedicates a significant amount of time for work. Shakir says that honesty goes hand-in-hand with commitment. “An entrepreneur needs to be honest about the time they need to invest in their dream. If he/she is not realistic about the time they can sacrifice, then they can never achieve their goal of success,” he says.
Shakir prioritizes accountability, organization, and delegation. Most entrepreneurs wonder how accountability affects performance. Accountability means that you are clear about the goals you want to achieve and how to achieve them. One of the ways that you make yourself accountable is by becoming part of a community of entrepreneurs. You should join a community of entrepreneurs that share a similar mindset, understand your challenges, and motivate you. These entrepreneurs will also share knowledge with you to avoid the common pitfalls that people make. Shakir’s closest entrepreneur friends include Carlos Reyes and Alex Saenz. The two friends also have a tough past and have managed to become a success.
The act of managing 26 businesses requires high-level organization skills and delegation. Shakir links organization to accountability. He advises entrepreneurs to try and plan their days the night before. This approach gives you a framework of how your day will look like as well as a plan on how you will complete the day’s activities. According to Shakir, an entrepreneur who lacks the discipline to plan for the day ahead is an entrepreneur who plans to fail. For you to achieve high organizational skills, you need to train yourself to set reminders. This idea may seem simple, yet reminders are the most excellent accountability tool that you have in your hands. You can use your smartphone to set a daily schedule planner and reminders to get things done. Shakir advises entrepreneurs to delegate duties. “By the end of the day, you can’t do all things by yourself; you will burn out. Fight that mentality that tells you you have to do all things by yourself. Delegate the work to your teammates,” he says.
You can log in to the ALL In Entrepreneurs Podcast for useful tips on becoming a successful entrepreneur. The podcast offers excellent insight as well as motivation that will help you forge ahead.
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