Blog | Cuts Clothing

At Cuts Clothing, we believe the keys to success are setting goals, trusting your instincts, and having a winning attitude. Here’s what that means.

Six years after starting in a basement, CUTS has grown to become a successful premium apparel brand. [Last month marked the company’s anniversary](https://www.cutsclothing.com/articles/anniversary-story), which we’ve given our all to since 2016.

A lot of people say hard work is the only key to building a business, or living a successful life. But while it’s important, effort should be in pursuit of goals that align with your vision, and you need other crucial mindsets and practices as well. Productive habits, asking for help, innovating, and believing in your ideas can also create both business and personal success. 

Whether you’re a business owner competing in your niche or a team member trying to climb the ladder, here is our key to success.

We started our small business as a lifestyle brand, founding CUTS on the premise that comfortable clothing can look sharp, inspire confidence, and fit other areas of your life as well. It started with a Kickstarter campaign in the fall of 2016, when we set out to make a shirt professional enough to wear to the office, while also versatile enough to wear on a night out.

Six years later, we’ve had the privilege of outfitting hundreds of thousands of customers around the world.

So, what’s our key to success? In our opinion, it comes down to these practices:

You can’t run a race if you don’t have a finish line. The same is true for your career or business, which is why our first key to success is to set goals you believe in.

We had $0 in outside funding and completely bootstrapped the company because we believed in our goal — to create excellent workleisure wear that helps customers compete in The Sport of Business.

You don’t need to start a business to set goals either. Consider what you’d like to change in your workplace, whether it’s developing more efficient processes or connecting more with your team. Then, set a goal to match these ideas, whether that’s proposing a new set of processes to your boss or scheduling a monthly happy hour with your co-workers.

When you work towards a goal, you’re invested in making lasting changes. You’re engaged, and you understand that what you do each day matters.

There are plenty of times in a business or a career where you’ll see a fork in the road — and it isn’t clear which option is the right decision. But once you do your research and weigh the pros and cons, it’s time to commit to your goal. Our second key to success is having faith in your decision.

Some people say you have to wake up at 6 a.m. or start habit tracking to be productive and focused. Successful people might do those things, and we aren’t discouraging you from making these positive changes. However, they’re part of a larger practice of [self-discipline](https://www.cutsclothing.com/articles/productivity-hacks).

Our third key to success is to adjust your habits to keep focused on your goals. This mindset means creating routines, habits, and a lifestyle that help you use your time wisely and stay focused on your goals.

Whatever craft, career, or endeavor you’re working towards, it deserves your full attention. Countless [successful entrepreneurs made their dreams real](https://www.cutsclothing.com/articles/best-entrepreneur-books) this way, and you can do the same.

If you only work on projects you’re comfortable with and don’t identify and use new tools and practices, you may be staying in your comfort zone instead of growing. Push yourself to achieve the goals that matter to you.

For example, at CUTS, we started out as a [men’s workleisure company](https://www.cutsclothing.com/articles/workleisure). But after listening to our customers, we pushed out of our comfort zone and introduced a women’s line. That meant we had to embrace new looks, a different approach, and a new audience. Was it outside of our comfort zone? Yes, at first. But it grew our company and created more opportunities. 

Consider what you might pursue if you weren’t afraid of trying something new. Then ask yourself — why not do it?

Industry leaders tend to be innovators. Instead of playing catch-up or following trends, they set the pace. It’s easy to try to duplicate what you see in the meeting room or on social media, but you can bring something new to the table.

Your tastes, skills, and perspective create a unique identity that the world likely hasn’t seen before. How can you use the ideas and experiences that only you have to create something new? 

For instance, Apple decided that usability and design had to come first — these ideas created a clean, crisp aesthetic and an effortless way of interacting with computers. At CUTS, we wanted to deliver a minimalist, capsule wardrobe so high-performing individuals could look and feel their best.

Experience makes experts. When you’re starting something new, educate yourself, immerse yourself in the industry, and talk to people who have done what you want to do. 

At CUTS, we researched everything from our market to how to create our own fabric. We backed up our confidence with a solid business plan and a committed team. We sought out people in the industry that we could learn from to reduce our potential blind spots.

If you aren’t confident that you know how to approach a new challenge, find a way to gain this knowledge. That might mean:

* Going back to school
* Earning a certificate
* Switching jobs
* Finding a mentor
* Doing your own research

Most importantly, surround yourself with people in your industry who have more experience than you. It’s often better to be a small fish in a big pond because that means you have room to grow and learn.

You’re a hard worker, but it’s important to let your passion shine through. That’s passion for the industry you’re in, the goal you’re working towards, the people you work with, and the philosophy you created. Passion comes from a love for what you do, why you do it, and who you do it with, and that’s what can drive you to success. 

Also, don’t forget to create time for your life outside of work. Life success is as important as work success, so avoid burnout, and simply enjoy your life.

# **Make Your Own Definition of Success**

Everyone’s looking for the magical key to success. But honestly? Several ingredients contribute to lasting success. At CUTS, we attribute our success to:

* Setting goals
* Having conviction
* Staying focused
* Leaving comfort zones
* Innovating
* Gaining knowledge
* Remembering the love of the game

That’s what worked for us, but remember, you’re in charge of your destiny. Create your own definition of success, and optimize all areas of your life to make it a reality. 

Want more hot takes on success and performance? [Listen to the CUTS podcast, The Sport of Business.](https://www.cutsclothing.com/articles/sport-of-business-podcast-09)

The Story of CUTS

Our Keys to Success

Set Goals You Believe In

Don’t Second Guess

Focus on Your Goals

Step Outside your Comfort Zone

Innovate

Industry Know-how Is a Must

Remember Your Love of the Game

Make Your Own Definition of Success