Ali Siam, CEO of Siam Sports Management in Los Angeles, knows a lot about entrepreneurship. He watched as his parents worked their way up from nothing to own two highly successful businesses, and took many lessons from that experience. He successfully broke into the professional sports industry as an agent, and now owns his own company representing NFL athletes. Now, Siam wants to share some of the things he learned along the way that might help other entrepreneurs build a successful business.

1. Treat others like people, not investments – One of the key lessons Siam refers to in his life is learning how to treat people. His parents, who came to the United States from Iran, started at the bottom, making very little for long laborious jobs. They worked hard and now own two very profitable businesses. Siam credits that success to how they treat people as individuals, not investments or dollar signs. He has taken that and applied it to his own businesses. Treat people as people, get to know them, understand their story, this will help build a better relationship, and they will trust you, leading to a better business connection long term.

2. Be honest – Next to treating people well, Siam points to honesty as the next top thing entrepreneurs should focus on. This means being an authentic person, presenting their business for what it is. People are going to see through any kind of fake front or claims, you do not want to be known as the person who lies, makes empty promises, or cannot deliver when the time comes. Your reputation is your brand, and building a strong reputation, as an honest business, is going to yield a much more positive return for your business.

3. See things from others’ perspective – This applies to others in the industry as well as potential clients. Talking with others, those who have been around the field for a while can give amazing insight into customer bases, products, and how the industry works. This perspective can be incredibly valuable when navigating the different challenges that come up. Understanding where the client is coming from, what they need and want, helps entrepreneurs build the best services for clients, and meet their needs.

Siam stresses that people are the key to entrepreneurship, so treating them with respect, as individuals, and as people, not dollar signs will go a long way in building professional relationships that last and benefit your business. Learn more from Siam on Instagram and through his company website.