In addition to being an entrepreneur and author, Asa Leveaux is the founder of Genius Academyâ„¢, which was created to serve aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs who value having a transformational experience while having access to and absorbing foundational business principles. He specializes in speaking, entrepreneur coaching and small business development. [RELATED: The Entrepreneur in You] BlackEnterprise.com recently met with Leveaux and asked him for some tips on how to be a genius at what you do. YOUR Passion, is YOUR Problem A lot of entrepreneurs are stifled with not getting the support they feel they deserve or need from friends and family which can lead to feelings of loneliness on the journey to greatness. But YOUR passion is YOUR problem. Focus more on the individuals whose support reaches out and surrounds you instead of the people who don't. Everyone may not contribute or participate in your success. Spend time embracing the supporting cast of your passion not wasting time worrying about anyone who didn't make the cut. You answered the call on your life, now do something with it! Focus on a target audience Do not become preoccupied with what others have said about you or what others perceive you as. You need to be about the business of getting your service to a target audience so the people who are praying for you can patronize you. Someone in the community needs your service and suffers when you focus on the unimportant things. Someone is praying for YOU! Not praying for your success, but praying for a solution to their problem which is where your business takes center stage, offering the solution. Focus on repeat customers: the ones you know and the ones you can trust. Turn negative chatter into positive affirmation statements. Stay focused on serving your specific target clients and remember –if your focus is to everyone, it becomes relevant to no one. Ensure your customers know you exist and practice gratitude marketing A lot of times entrepreneurs are yelling 'I'm here! Pick me! Pick me!' yet no one is listening because they have not positioned themselves well. Take time to build your business. Compile a list of people who are totally excited about what you do in the world and need your services. Then make sure to cultivate, nurture, and build that list. Show your gratitude when marketing by thanking your customers quickly AND frequently! Provide helpful information to them. Send personalized "thank you†emails. Look for creative ways to say "Thank you, I appreciate your business and come back soon!†(Continued on next page) Adopt 10x living as a principle Adopt Grant Cardone's 10x Rule which states: If you want massive success in your life then you need to have massive actions. If you are interacting with five people a month, 10x that so now you are interacting with 50 people because you want more results and you want more success. The result in your success is based on what YOU do, not what anybody else does. Nothing falls on the customer. The customer does not have the burden of buying from you–you have the burden of selling yourself, your service and/or your product to the customer. You won't always get a BIG reward when you put forth big effort, but you'll never put forth a small effort and get a BIG reward! Leveaux serves the world through his endeavors of love, passion, and wealth through being the chief strategy and revenue officer of Leveaux Group Inc., Founder of Genius Academyâ„¢, and author of I Am Man Enough: 365 Affirmations for Men.†Leveaux often tells his audiences and clients that, "Business is a necessity. Bliss is a luxury. You deserve both!†Marquita Miller is the founder and CEO of Five Star Tax and Business Solutions—a full service accounting firm in Kansas City, Missouri. A small business expert contributor on CBS & FOX morning shows, Miller is a published author, business strategist, motivational speaker and well known advocate for entrepreneurship. A recipient of Kansas City's Influential Woman and Woman Who Means Business award, Miller is also a conference speaker and workshop facilitator for TD Jakes Ministries; Twitter @MarquitaMMiller; www.facebook.com/MarquitaMMiller