I believe that entrepreneurs have to be born; it takes the right person to be willing to risk failure to pursue their dream. Starting a business was something I always knew in my gut I was meant to do, and it\u2019s that trust I had in myself (along with a lot of perseverance, passion and hard work) that led to the creation\u2014and success\u2014of Murad Skincare.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re an entrepreneur, or thinking of becoming one, congratulations! Though no two journeys are the same, I believe mine could be a useful roadmap for anyone finding their footing as a businessperson. Here are some lessons I\u2019ve learned along the way.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to pay my tuition at medical school, I worked nights and weekends. Though hard at the time, it was worth it! My first office was tiny and outfitted with used medical equipment and furniture. Humble beginnings\u2014for me, I was the youngest of six children who immigrated to the United States\u2014eventually help us see how far we\u2019ve come, and appreciate the sacrifices we made to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No matter who you are, you\u2019re going to fail at some point. I\u2019ve failed a lot <\/em>in my entrepreneurial career. When I was launching Murad Skincare, I mortgaged my house and put all my money into an infomercial\u2014and it was a total failure. But I took that failure as a learning opportunity, and my second infomercial was a huge success that really helped put Murad on the map. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I wasn\u2019t the most business savvy person at the start, which some people took advantage of. But I believed in myself, knew what I wanted and persevered until I succeeded. When I decided to sell my skincare at retail stores, I lost a lot of my medispa clients, because they wanted the products to be exclusive. Though devastating in the short term, I knew in my gut it was the right decision for my vision, and it turns out I was right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re launching a business, a lot of stressful decisions need to be made. In those times, think about the traits of a child: They\u2019re not afraid to fail or ask questions, they\u2019re full of curiosity and reserve judgment. Harnessing that childlike wonder can help ease stress and even make you a better entrepreneur. Children are the world\u2019s most unabashed risk takers, after all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In my early days, before social media, the best way to get the word out about my dermatology practice was from doctor referrals. So, I went to doctor\u2019s offices across town to introduce myself. When I couldn\u2019t meet with the doctors, I spoke with the receptionists and left my card with them. It worked. I started getting referrals almost immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDON\u2019T\u00a0let adversity change your attitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
DO\u00a0channel\u00a0your inner child<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
DON\u2019T be afraid to network<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
DO\u00a0hydrate, hydrate, hydrate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n