The business world is a cutthroat one, so if you truly want to find success within it, you’re going to need some pointers. Here are just seven ways to make a splash as a new business owner or financier.

1. Start As You Mean to Go On

Don’t cut yourself any slack just because you’re a beginner. If you’re serious about succeeding in the world of business, you’ll need to be smart, focused and motivated, and that means accepting no excuses, not even from yourself. Be aggressive and ready to excel from the moment you’re out of the gate.

2. Take Budgets as Guidelines Instead of Absolutes

Budgets are always exceeded. No matter who you are or what industry you’re in, it’s very rare for things to go exactly as planned, and that includes meeting your budget. Instead of panicking, roll with the unexpected expenses and move on. If you planned things intelligently, you have an emergency fund anyway.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

If you’re starting your own business or overseeing your first major project, it’s tempting to do everything yourself to make sure it’s getting done properly. This practice will only burn you out, however. It’s better to delegate. If you don’t trust your staff to complete tasks, you shouldn’t have hired them in the first place.

4. Communicate Clearly and Effectively

Vagueness is no one’s friend. If you want to earn the respect of your employees while simultaneously steering your business in the right direction, you’ll need to be open and direct with communication. You don’t have to be cruel, but you don’t have to pad your words either. Always make things clear to the other party in the conversation so there’s no room for doubt about your stance.

5. Find Role Models

Emulate those whose success you admire. In the age of social media, you can find just about anyone on Facebook or LinkedIn, and their personalities and profiles can be great sources of inspiration for you. For example, you might look at someone like shahram shirkhani and copy the way he formats his online resume. You might look at someone else and copy the way they interact with their followers.

6. Always Meet Your Deadlines

Falling behind is never good for business, but if you’re a start-up or a struggling brand, it can be absolutely fatal. Make a habit out of meeting all your deadlines and exceeding all your quotas. Don’t fall into the routine of missing your milestones and then scrambling to catch up. View your work deadlines as something as unchangeable and unrelenting as the utility bill due at the end of the month.

7. Depend on Yourself

You are in charge of your own destiny. No one can live your life for you, and no one else cares about making you rich. If you want to achieve wealth, fame and success, you’re going to have to do it on your own. This means being an authority onto yourself and not letting other people make decisions for you. It also means owning up to your mistakes and not blaming anyone else for your failures.

If you’re serious about succeeding in business, these are just seven tips that can help you on your way to greatness. At the end of the day, perseverance is the quality that matters most, so find your goal, roll up your sleeves and make it happen.