Owning your own business gives you a sense of freedom and empowerment. You can build things and watch them grow.

Entrepreneurs make decisions for themselves, realize their creative visions, and develop lasting relationships with other entrepreneurs, customers, and vendors.

It’s a great way to live. That’s why I’ve founded so many companies — I can’t get enough.

That’s why I’ve put together these tips to help you to become more successful.

1. Get gritty

Grit is perseverance. Grit is the go-get-’em attitude that we expect of entrepreneurs. Grit is the ability to keep working when everyone tells you that you should give up. If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you have to be gritty.

Honestly, without hard work and perseverance, you’re not going anywhere in the entrepreneurial world.

2. Challenge yourself

If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you have to challenge yourself. No one else is going to push you, so it’s up to you to do it. Challenges keep entrepreneurs nimble and on their toes. If you’re constantly looking for the next challenge, you’ll always be prepared for what comes your way.

3. Be passionate

If you don’t love what you do, don’t do it. I truly believe it’s as simple as that. As an entrepreneur, you’re going to have to put in long hours and make sacrifices for your business. When you’re passionate about what you do, putting in the long hours won’t feel like a sacrifice anymore. If you’re not passionate about what you do, you’re not going to have the motivation to keep going when you’re stressed and tired. Have you ever noticed those entrepreneurs who never seem to get tired? Those entrepreneurs who get that gleam in their eye when they talk about what they do? Yeah, that’s passion.

4. Take risks

Humans are generally risk-averse, but part of being an entrepreneur is recognizing the risks that you should take. Successful entrepreneurs take risks. It’s part of the job. Successful entrepreneurs also know which risks to take and which they shouldn’t. Learn to recognize the risks that will benefit your business and take them. Taking risks has a dangerous side, but the opportunities they present often far outweigh the potential dangers. Learn how to identify which risks are worth taking and you’ll learn how to be a successful entrepreneur.

5. Trust yourself

If you don’t believe in yourself, who will? Being a successful entrepreneur means that you’ve learned to listen to your intuition and rely on your wisdom when making decisions. Your ability to trust and believe in yourself will show your confidence. People are more likely to follow and trust confident leaders. Trusting in your own skills will also take some of the pain of uncertainty out of being an entrepreneur. When you feel uncertain, remember how much experience and knowledge you have. Most entrepreneurs start their business after years of experience working for someone else. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it or turning to a mentor for advice, but you also have to learn to trust yourself and your own judgment without input from others.

Learn to trust yourself and you’re already starting down the path of entrepreneurial success.