By their very presence, entrepreneurs demonstrate the ability to bring something from nothing into the world, as if by magic. But there’s no sleight of hand here. If you watch closely you can see the secret ingredients for success, and what seems mysterious begins to reveal a recipe that if replicated, produces winning outcomes time after time.

I have the pleasure of working with two such entrepreneurs, Wally and Kathy Arnold at Popcornopolis. Kathy was conducting training for new franchisees from Las Vegas, and I saw her staff in action working in the store, coaching the new folks, and interacting with customers all in the beautiful dance of retail.

It got me thinking about what entrepreneurs can teach us, and I thought I’d pass along the insights I’ve gained.

1. Watch for recipe migration
I’ve seen this happen in many companies where the vision and best practices slide over time, and what you did in the beginning to be successful, is often forgotten as you expand and include more people in the day-to-day running of an enterprise. What wasn’t tolerated in the beginning becomes the expedient thing to do. Kathy reminded me to watch carefully for any recipe migration, whether it was in cooking the popcorn, selling to customers, or setting up the store.

There is no good enough. There is only working to specifications, exactly. Success is in the details.

2. Manage by commitment, not by chance
I’m not a checklist person by nature; I’m a checklist person by training. Checklists are only effective if you use them. On the checklists I observed there was a column where the person who was assigned that task initialed the daily action. That way anyone could look at the list and know the function was complete. One employee offered that he loved signing off on the checklist. It gave him both accountability and the fulfillment that comes with completion of a task.

Nothing was left to chance. It’s not only a great way to run your business; it’s a great way to train your self and your people to be successful at accomplishing any goal.

3. Respond to the urgency of breakdowns
Breakdowns are uncomfortable. Resist the urge to blame and fix it immediately. Reflection on what happened comes after you fix it, so the problem doesn’t happen again. In a world where you can call, text, and email, breakdowns are revealed quickly and can be dealt with as quickly. A breakdown reveals that something is missing—training, clear directives, or the right person in the right job.

Never flinch from a breakdown, the sooner you deal, the more that gets revealed.

4. Give and get feedback
Give unadulterated information, not diluted with any extra elements. Everyone knows when you’re hesitating, or sugar coating, or sandwiching in the feedback. This doesn’t mean you have to be unkind, just accurate and straightforward. Give feedback now, not later when someone can’t do anything about the situation.

Listening to feedback can be hard, but it’s essential to your growth and the success of an enterprise. Take the case that people (customers and coworkers) are trying to help you be successful by telling you what they see.

Whether you act on it or not is your decision. Listen to it fully so you can make the best choice.

Feedback is information that allows someone to get on course to achieve goals. It’s the essence of effective coaching.

5. Don’t bite the hook
You probably have had the experience when someone is overly dramatic, emotional, upset, or angry. Just because someone else reacts in a certain way, doesn’t mean you have to! Instead have the presence of mind to deal with the facts of a situation, instead of your reaction to the situation or person. If you find that you’re reacting, get some coaching from someone who is more neutral, and can review the precise, unarguable details.

This is a mindfulness practice that reduces stress and allows you to ask questions and find out what happened. Instead of reacting, you’ll find answers.

6. Have fun
This is the most amazing part of the entrepreneurial experience. It seems that no matter how many daily challenges you face, everyone comes back to the unifying vision of having fun. When it’s not fun anymore, it makes it harder to do the daily tasks, deal with breakdowns, and give feedback. When you enjoy what you’re doing, it shows in your leadership, communication, and example.

You tackle the obstacles because they’re part of the game, and keep everyone’s focus on success. You provide a culture of fulfillment with an enduring sense of a job well done.

7. Understand the dignity of work
When I look around my world and interact with the staff of retail stores, gyms, post offices, restaurants, customer service centers, legal offices, churches, and corporate headquarters of all kinds, I see the dignity in work … the opportunity to be in service no matter the job description. The opportunity to make a contribution.

Although your work can change over the years of your life, never stop working. You have a continuing contribution to make.

So there are my top 7 lessons from entrepreneurs. I want to thank popcornopolis.com for giving me the opportunity to think about this magical recipe for success. I will be forever grateful.

Let me know how you use these 7 practices in your work and your life.

My love goes with you as you work with this Uplifting Moment.