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By Norm Merritt<\/span><\/p>\n Since coming on board as co-CEO of a growing New York startup, I\u2019ve increasingly found myself on the receiving end of one seemingly simple, yet surprisingly difficult to answer question:\u00a0 “What defines a successful business person?”<\/p>\n The traits that matter the most are quite simple — and I actually learned all of them from my high school English teacher, Mrs. Miller. The lucky among us have had a teacher that played a pivotal role in shaping not only our work habits, but also our character. Mrs. Miller was a stern but caring teacher whose wisdom and high expectations continue to impact my work today. She encouraged me to:<\/p>\n Be dogged<\/strong><\/p>\n For a long time, every English essay I submitted would come back liberally marked up with comments like, “Poor overall structure,” “insufficient evidence,” or “overly wordy.” After sitting me down and explaining in more detail where I was going wrong, Mrs. Miller would encourage me to implement the changes we had discussed instead of wallowing in defeat.<\/p>\n Any successful business person, from a small-business owner to a seasoned entrepreneur, experiences pitfalls. Picking yourself up and trying again after a defeat or setback is key to long-term success.<\/p>\n But intelligent<\/strong><\/p>\n Unfortunately, after a round of quick edits, I\u2019d often then receive an even worse grade than I received initially. The point? My English teacher believed that improvement wasn\u2019t easy or an automatic function of repetition. If you wanted a better grade, you had to be willing to use your own mind, as well as work hard and fast.<\/p>\n The most successful business people I know put this in place every day: They are diligent and tenacious but also smart and selective in how they apply their efforts.<\/p>\n Be convincing<\/strong><\/p>\n There is no greater asset in business than an ability to sell your vision to others. Whether dealing with customers, employees, managers, suppliers, journalists or venture capitalists, a successful outcome almost always depends on the same core competency that I picked up in Mrs. Miller\u2019s English class — an ability to build a logical, well-structured narrative that persuades others of the merits of an argument.<\/p>\n The most impactful business people I\u2019ve had the privilege of working with have the unique ability to think through a problem and only interject when he or she can marshal the relevant facts, statistics, insights, precedents, and comparables in support of a cohesive argument. These persuasive, thoughtful leaders are almost always the ones that actually move things forward, because people around them are convinced and inspired to act.<\/p>\n Be open<\/strong><\/p>\n I had a lot of strong opinions in high school.\u00a0 I still do. But Mrs. Miller taught me to appreciate one fundamental fact about English literature, life and business: There is rarely only one right answer.<\/p>\n Business building is a discovery process. Yes, it\u2019s important to have a clear vision — and the drive to see it through — but the best business people are not blinded by their own passions and convictions. They remain open to a changing world and the experience and insight of others and are willing to make changes where necessary.<\/p>\n