For Leap's Sake

I had the pleasure of interviewing Jim Canterucci on my internet radio show the other day (The Dino Herbert Show – Every Day Hero Entrepreneurs) and it was quite interesting.  Jim’s the CEO of Transition Management Advisors, author of the best-selling book “Personal Brilliance”, a professional speaker and founder of his newly created Emerging Leadership Circle.  You should definitely listen in to the interview and also go to Jim’s website (www.elcircle.com) when you get a chance.

We talked about Jim’s “7 Essentials of an Emerging Leader” and what intrigued me was how appropriate these 7 essentials are to entrepreneurs.  Here they are:

1.                   PERSONAL BRILLIANCE

Every emerging leader (and entrepreneur) must have a taste of personal brilliance inside.  What’s meant by “personal brilliance”?  Jim book goes into greater detail about each one of the following four traits that are prerequisite to having personal brilliance.  They are:

Awareness – You MUST know what’s going on – in the global economy, the national economy, your industry and definitely in your company.  It’s only then that you can be creative in terms of giving your organization a competitive advantage.

Curiosity – Curiosity may have killed the cat, but curiosity is a necessary trait for entrepreneurs.  “What does the market need and want?”  “What is the competition doing?”  “Why are our customers buying our ‘best’ product? “ What If….?”  Successful entrepreneurs are ALWAYS questioning, wondering and probing for solutions to sometimes unanswerable queries.

Focus – Entrepreneurs have to focus on a venture until it’s successful.  The field of entrepreneurial battles is littered with who quit when the going got a little tougher and the outcome seemed uncertain.  Oftentimes the situation is made worse because the entrepreneur begins to attempt to diversify in the name of achieving success, when in fact the solution is to continue to focus on core competencies.

Initiative – This goes without saying.  Entrepreneurs take the change when others won’t.   Sure it’s a risk, but with successful entrepreneurs it’s a calculated risk.

2.                   LISTENING

The importance of listening for entrepreneurs cannot be understated.  Listening to customers, to the market, listening to your employees and even listening to the stockholders!  NOTHING ever gets worse by listening a little longer, listening more closely, listening for understanding.

3.                   INFLUENCE

Entrepreneurs must have the charisma that is necessary to influence others.  Perhaps the business owner is attempting to convince a venture capitalist that your organization is worthy of funding; maybe there is a key individual who has the exact set of skills and experience that are needed to really make this company “sing”; perhaps the employees need to be inspired again to see where the company is headed or perhaps a potential client needs to understand how your product will, indeed, directly bring financial rewards.  In any of these situations an entrepreneur must be able to exert influence on those around him.  Devoting time to interpersonal skill building is always time and money well spent.

4.                   Why don’t we stop here for now…we get the rest of them next time.

Until next time……Geronimo!

Dino

Just in time for today’s Super Bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals, I had the pleasure of interviewing a gentleman by the name of Kent Jordan last week on my podcast, “The Dino Herbert Show – Every Day Hero“.  Kent is a former NFL player who played for the Oakland Raiders (they were in Los Angelos at the time).  Kent was able to live the dream of many young college football players:  he was drafted into the NFL!

Kent’s experience provides a good example of lessons that can be learned by entrepreneurs:  new or otherwise.

Let your disappointments drive you

After the initial excitement of being drafted, Kent’s career in the National Football League was short-lived.  After only 2 years as a professional, Kent had a career-ending accident that ended everything.  As Dr. Seuss says in his classic, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go”,  you can achieve your dreams in an easy manner “…except when you don’t; because sometimes you won’t.  I’m sorry to say so, but sadly it’s true…that Bang Ups and Hang Ups can happen to you” (Excuse the reference…I have toddlers in the house – and the Doctor’s lessons are fresh!)

Kent could have chosen to follow the path of some former NFL players and turned to drugs and alcohol.  Or he could have chosen to lean back on his communications degree and get a “real job”.  But he chose otherwise.  He chose the path of becoming an entrepreneur.  Soon after his NFL career ended, Kent found himself at a technology start up.  It was at this start up where he met his future business partner, Jose daVeiga and the two eventually decided to start Klicksports.com.  Kent stated that it was perhaps his disappointment at having such a short NFL career that has fueled his desire to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Fill a need in the market – Klicksports

Klicksports has been dubbed “the Twitter for sports fans”.  Officially it’s live sports-based interactive gaming, but the analogy gives you the sense of what’s its all about.  The system allows you to make predictions about scores, support your team  and show off your sports knowledge about the National Football League, Major League Baseball, major college teams and they’re considering cricket at some future date!  Klicksporters can participate either online or via their mobile device while the game is in progress.  The top players earn points and can win prizes.

I took part during the Super Bowl and found it simple to sign up and participate.  There were several questions that were asked during the game, but not enough to be distracting.  The system also me appraised of how my performance compared to other players.

It seems that Klicksports has found a niche and is serving it well.  A very important component of being an entrepreneur.

Other Words of Wisdom

Mental toughness

Just like in football, an entrepreneur must have mental toughness to deal with the many obstacles that will come.  In fact, Kent believes that you have to be a little stubborn to do well as an entrepreneur.

Believe in your ability

No success is possible otherwise.

Seek advice

Every one needs a coach or a mentor at some time.

It’s Tough Out There

It’s not an easy task.  Sometimes a change in plans will be necessary.  Sometimes you may need to “take a job” to tide you over.

Be able to see the entire field

“Be open to options” or “don’t close your mind” to associated opportunities, is the way Kent put it.   This will allow the entrepreneur to take the path that is most likely to lead to success.

I hope that you were as encouraged by the story of Kent Jordan and Klicksports.com as I was.

For the thrill of the jump,

Dino Herbert

While perusing one of the thrice-daily www.helpareporter.com updates that I receive, I came across a website of a guy who I believe embodies the essence of “taking the leap” into the world of entrepreneurship.  The gentleman’s name is Jonathan Fields and his website is Career Renegade.  He has a book by the same name and I found it to be an appropriate addition to this blog.

Jonathan took the leap about a dozen years ago and hasn’t looked back.  Why is Jonathan Fields an appropriate topic?  There are several reasons:

POINTING OUT THE POSSIBILITIES

I can totally relate to the circumstance that Jonathan wrote about regarding the “pain” (my word) that is often associated with the realization that comes from climbing a corporate ladder that leads to nowhere.  After years of schooling and the attendant debt from loans, and after years of politicking and getting on the right track to success, you begin to realize something:  you’re not free!  You’ve set something in motion years ago only to find out that this particular trail actually leads nowhere; it actually is a loop and you’re destined to go in circles until you’re retirement day (Jonathan referred to this a treadmill).  You get the promotions and the perks only to realize that you really don’t have the true passion for the tasks that you’re performing on a daily basis!  Your new responsibilities begin to eat up all of your spare time and you begin to ask yourself, “Is there a different way?”

But then as a way of giving hope and pointing out what may be possible for you, Jonathan asks the question, “What if no matter how entrenched you are in the life you’re leading, it was possible, very possible, to extract yourself from a misery-drenched, life-sucking job and grow a future defined…by taking the opportunity to love what you do, enjoy life today, and create an equally secure tomorrow?”

Everyone who is NOT totally thrilled and ecstatic about the thing that they are doing each day and who have suppressed their dreams for the sake of being “realistic”should ask this question: “What if it were really possible to enjoy what I do for a living and actually make a living?”

IN PURSUIT OF PASSION

Another reason I like Jonathan’s book is because he threw caution to the wind,  and left a highly successful career to pursue his passions.  There were plenty of people who told him, “You can’t do that!”, but he persisted and found what truly made him happy.  The book also introduces us to a myriad of other entrepreneurs who pursued their passions in unconventional ways and yet were still able to achieve the allusive dream life.  There are so many individuals in this book and the strategies were so varied and creative that I am certain that you can find a way to love what you do and still make a living.

Pursuing your passion will allow you to get up earlier and stay up later, because you’ll be doing what you love to do!  Pursuing your passion will see you through the dark times when you’re not quite sure exactly where you are on the path.  Pursuing your passion will allow you to push through the times of uncertainty and doubt.  And pursuing your passion will allow you to enjoy each and every moment of it!

PRACTICAL STEPS

Finally, “Career Renegade” offers some very practical advice and techniques of how you can ACTUALLY begin to create the work life that can fulfill your heart’s desires.  Along with the examples of the entrepreneurs who have succeeded in finding their niche and their passion, Jonathan gives tools to use to find whether your particular passion is something that can be reasonably monetized.  He discusses business plans, market research, marketing, tools and tips, and public relations. He provides all of this in an entertaining, behind the scenes, transparent manner.

Many people fail to start their own business, or even consider doing so, because of fear.  The fear typically comes about because of the “great unknown” or the fact they’ve heard so much bad news: bad news about the economy, about business failure rates.  But having objective resources and evidence at hand helps to dispel the myths and the fear associated with starting a business. Being an entrepreneur (or a Career Renegade) takes having a different mindset than most people…and the book discusses this as well!

 POSTSCRIPT

So why did I choose to focus on “Career Renegade” this time? Because this book serves as yet another example (actually many examples) of what can be achieved if you really get beyond the fear of the unknown and seek to pursue your dream!

So….check the plane engine, test your harness strap, adjust your goggles… and go ahead and take the leap!

For the thrill of the jump,

Dino Herbert

“You know what”, he said.  “I guess I’m just one of those people who needs a boss”.  I couldn’t believe it!  Here I was, having lunch with a colleague who worked for one of my former employers.  A man who I have the utmost respect for and who I admire in so many ways. As we sat in the sun drenched restaurant sipping on our colas, he basically admitted to me that he would always be an employee and would never be an entrepreneur.  I sighed to myself…I guess perhaps everyone isn’t meant to be an entrepreneur!

I hadn’t seen my colleague for some time (several years in fact) and we got together for lunch to catch up on old times.  He was asking about what I’d been up to since we both left the place where we were formerly employed.  I was telling him about what I was doing: doing architecture projects, managing some real estate holding, looking for real estate to buy- believe it or not (that’s a whole other discussion), speaking and writing to encourage people to find their potential.  He was telling me about the employer he is with currently and the one he’s hoping to go to next.

Serial Employee

You see, my colleague is what I call a “serial employee”.  I know this because I was one of them. A serial employee is one who is always looking for the next best “gig”, the next job that will somehow fully satisfy the longing in the heart to find fulfillment; to find your purpose, your calling, your reason for being.  As a serial employee myself, every five years on average, I would get “an itch” to go somewhere else to find my calling.  Actually, it was more like a wrenching feeling in my gut that would compel me to seek greener pastures.  Inevitably I would look across the aisle to the adjacent desk and see someone 15 or 20 years my senior doing the exact same job as me, with the same responsibilities.  It wasn’t that I disliked my jobs – in fact, I enjoyed most of the jobs that I’ve held – it was just that I didn’t want to be doing the same work, the same activities, the same routine, for the next 15-20 years! And this is what led me to leave.

So my colleague was telling about the advantages that going to his next employer would bring: how much better the responsibilities would be and how much more satisfied he would be at the next place.  Then he shifted gears a bit and told me that he had tried being an entrepreneur several times.  He had tried and had come to the conclusion that the life of an entrepreneur was not for him.

The areas that he couldn’t  address to his satisfaction were as follows:

Setting Goals

My colleague said that he couldn’t come to terms with the fact that he needed to set some “big, hairy” goals (I didn’t coin that phrase).  He said that his goals were not compelling enough to move him to make the necessary “sacrifices” that he needed to make in order to keep going at those times when it seemed as if the results were not coming.  He said that he set goals, of course, but they just didn’t “move” him.  (Napoleon Hill called this a “burning desire”. It’s definitely something that entrepreneurs need).

Setting Priorities

My colleague also confessed that during those times when he had “too much on his plate”, it was tough deciding which task needed to be completed first.  We’ve all been in this situation: the To Do list is 3 pages long and you don’t know where to start.  Entrepreneurs MUST be able to make the tough decisions on a daily basis – it’s a prerequisite for the job.

Setting Deadlines

Finally colleague confessed that he wasn’t good at giving himself deadlines.  Procrastination was simply too comfortable for him.  I told him that I too suffer from procrastination quite often.  Architect practitioners are taught early on – not formally – but by example and by the sometimes unreasonable workload that is piled on unsuspecting underclassmen, that “all nighters” are to be expected.  So I’ve developed the habit of sometimes doing things at the last minute.  I confessed to my colleague that there is a certain adrenaline rush that comes with finishing with a flurry, however!  I told him about a friend of mine who said that a trick she employs is to overcome procrastination.  She said the way to overcome this ailment is to set an “unreasonable” deadline for yourself in order to recreate the adrenaline rush associated with accomplishing tasks at the last minute.  So, for example, if I know a project will take 3 weeks, I should give myself 1 week to accomplish it.  This way, I take immediate action and I focus on the critical elements of completing the task.

My friend admitted that he had tried similar ideas, but he just could not perform when he was one who set the deadline.  If he set a deadline in this way, he always knew that it was arbitrary and that the “real” deadline was further out.  If, however, he needed to meet a deadline that someone else had set, he would perform as required.  That’s when he made the “confession” that started this blog.

My Disappointment

You see, I’ve been operating under the assumption that everyone can be an entrepreneur.  Or at least anyone who wants to take control of their life can be, if they really want it.  My mission, in fact, is to get as many folk as I can to “cross over”, to “take the leap” as it were (hence the title of this blog) from the life of bondage to a life of freedom.  Freedom to decide how you want to live your life, spend your time and to spend your days.  So, the question is, “Are you meant to be an entrepreneur?”  Let me know.

For the thrill of the jump,

Dino Herbert

www.dinoherbert.com

“Passionate about helping people find their potential”

Based on my soon-published book of the same title

Question #1: If there’s anyone out there out who has a toddler (or used to have a toddler), PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND….

Question #2: Anyone who has (or had) a toddler during the time you are (were) starting your entrepreneurial endeavor, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND…

Question #3: Anyone who knows that the two don’t necessarily mix very well, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND…..

I noticed quite a few hands waving frantically on Question #3… and I completely understand.

Toddlers are – by definition: high-energy, talkative, daring, full of life, happy-go-lucky, always inquisitive, love-to-run, I-gotta-go potty, learning how to say “NO”, lovable, adorable little darlings!  I have one such toddler… my first born son!  But becoming an adult via “toddlerhood” and becoming an entrepreneur can indeed be similar to trying to mix oil and water:  it can be frustrating.  However…

Frustrations are part of the process

I knew when I decided to become an entrepreneur that there would be days when my life would be hectic and that there would be days of frustration.   But when I was thinking ahead to these days, I must admit that I did NOT factor my now 2 1/2 year-old son into the equation!  They tell me that toddler boys can take it to “another level” that toddler girls may not typically aspire to, and I believe that it’s true.  When a toddler boy is determined to both “have fun” and “create havoc” at the same time, it’s a beautiful thing to behold!  That is, unless you’re in the middle of trying to finish a proposal letter to a potential client, and your son wants to play with the printer and the fax and wants to sit on your lap to see the “pyooter” (“computer” for the uninitiated)!

So sometimes I need to adapt.  I may need to ask my wife to come help out and lead our son to play with his baby brother or I may need to take some time to play with him.  In either case, I’ve learned that working from my home office with a toddler is a challenge that is just a part of the territory.  And it’s the same frustration associated with being an entrepreneur: we know that things – in fact, many things – will not go as we plan them to go.  Adaptability is one of the required tools in the entrepreneur’s tool kit.  We must learn to expect the unexpected so that we are not thrown off our set path.

Look for the seed

If we are expecting “smooth sailing” all along this entrepreneurial journey, we are mistaken.  There will be times that “try our soul” as Thomas Paine mentioned during the Revolutionary War.  In fact we not only need to expect unexpected frustrations, we need to “find the silver lining” in every situation that we encounter.  That silver lining is ALWAYS there, we just need to look for it.  Napoleon Hill put it this way:  “Every adversity…carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit”.  So we must look for the silver lining; we must look for the seed of the greater benefit in EVERY frustrating or difficult aspect of our business.  When we do this, these times of frustration will serve as a vehicle for our continued growth and prosperity.  So I began to look at my interactions with my toddler son from a different vantage point.

Setting the example

As I began to pay closer attention to my interactions with my son and to look for the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit, I started seeing his activities in a different light.  While I’ve been seeking to set an example for him regarding growing and learning, he has, at the same time, been setting a wonderful example about living life in general and also being an entrepreneur.

It’s All About Fun

First and foremost, my son’s life is all about having fun!  No matter what the situation, location or circumstance, you MUST be able to have fun!  So whether he needs to be find some pots and pans in the kitchen, whether he needs to play with his dad’s shoes, whether he must use the laundry basket as a “choo-choo” train or whether he needs to play under the table at the seafood restaurant, life is all about having fun!

The lesson for the entrepreneur, of course, is that we must make sure that we are having fun (I dedicated an entire blog to this topic previously – “Even Entrepreneurs Need to Have Fun and Laugh”).  The billionaire Richard Branson said that if a particular business venture he’s involved with is no longer “fun”, he asks “Why?”  If he can’t modify the situation to make it fun, he moves to something else.  Life is too short to spend all of your entrepreneurial energy chasing something that isn’t fun for you.  When you are pursuing goals and accomplishments that are fun for you, you won’t need to “talk yourself” into reading, writing, doing research, marketing or any other necessary business activity.  If we’re not having fun, what’s the point?

“I do it”

Since my son has become a toddler, he has developed many new physical skills.  Accordingly he has also developed a newfound sense of independence and he wants to do more and more on his own.  He likes to tell my wife and me, “I do it!”  Letting us know in no uncertain terms that he is capable of 1) getting dressed (putting on his shoes, shirt, coat, doing his hair); 2) Going about his day (eating, opening doors, putting on his seat belt); and 3) going to bed (bathing, brushing teeth and turning out the light).  My understanding is that he’ll go through similar episodes of independence somewhere around the age of 6 and again at 13 or 14.  Should be an interesting time!

This quality of wanting to do it yourself is important for entrepreneurs because we really must take personal responsibilities for all of our actions.  Yes, we must rely on others for their expertise.  We have accountants, attorneys and financial planners.  But we must make sure that WE check the figures, that we actually read the contracts and that we ensure all other consultants have performed the duties as agreed upon.  We’ve all heard the saying and we must live by it: “The buck stops here”.

Full Throttle

From the time he wakes up at 6:30am (sometimes it’s 5:30) until the time he goes to bed, my son goes ALL OUT!  He wakes up and immediately wants to go downstairs to start playing.  He doesn’t care much about eating or having his clothes changed; he just wants to start his day!  He’s gotten to the point where he doesn’t want to takes naps; he concerned that he’ll miss out on something!

As entrepreneurs, we cannot afford to let up.  We will not get discouraged; we will give 100%! We are passionate about our businesses; we are excited about serving our customers; we are committed to the growth and professional advancement of our employees.  Because we are pursuing our passion, we don’t mind getting up early or staying up late!  Why?  Because we’re doing exactly what we were meant to do!

What’s That, Daddy?

Every time my son and I go for a walk in the neighborhood (this has become less frequent since the weather has turned colder), the question that dominates the conversation is, “What’s that, Daddy?”  Leaves… bugs… planes…cars…cats…dogs…squirrels…you name it.  He asks about EVERYTHING!  Even if he’s asked about it previously, he makes the inquiry. 

So what’s the lesson for entrepreneurs?  We must learn to be (and remain) constantly curious.  We must question what the market is doing and how our strategic goals align with it; we must question whether we’re serving our customers in the best manner; we must ask whether we are maximizing our revenue; we must ask how the latest “widget” that our competitor just released will affect us; we must ask how the micro- and macroeconomics will affect our business.  In short, we must always be in a questioning mode in order to stay on top!

Always Hungry

How can I say this delicately….my toddler son eats like a teenager!  He gobbles food down as if he won’t be getting another meal.  Furthermore, when he was a 10-month-old he would actually get impatient and start banging on his high chair table!  He cleans his plate every time and always seems to be ready for more, even when the meal is done.  Surprisingly, his weight is less than average for a kid his age (I suppose it’s because he’s “always on the go”)!

You’ve probably guessed where I’m going with this one!  Entrepreneurs MUST stay hungry, or as Les Brown says “Hong Gray”!  Every day entrepreneurs must behave as if it is our last meal.  This is truer for some of us than others.  Let me use an example: Do you recall the feelings you had when you first started out on your first entrepreneurial endeavor?  There was a shortness of breath, a lump in your throat and tightness in your chest…EVERY day until your client base stabilized and your cash flow became more predictable.  Well, this is the feeling and the attitude that we must maintain if we are to success beyond our wildest dreams.  In essence, we should forget our accomplishments of the past and set a larger, more “hairy” goal that takes our breath away.  Set a goal that you’re not so sure that you can reach and you’ll always be hungry.

“I’m Gonna Jump”

My son the acrobat!  He’s constantly climbing things.  At 2 ½ years old he is totally unafraid of high places.  He very comfortably climbs the jungle gym for the bigger kids and is always ready to jump off.  I’m not sure where he got this trait… well, actually I do.  I also have a propensity to jump from high places.  I blogged about it in a previous post (“This Entrepreneur Took the ACTUAL Leap”).  While I’m not actually encouraging my son to climb on to tall objects and take a leap and I still watch him like a hawk, I’m sort of glad that he’s unafraid.  I think that it will develop a sense of fearlessness in him.

Entrepreneurs must be unafraid to venture out into the unknown.  In fact, that may be one of the main allurements of becoming an entrepreneur:  the adventure of NOT knowing exactly what lies around every bend.  One of my favorite poems is Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”; “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference”.  Entrepreneurs must become comfortable with the unknown, because, try as we might, there will always be situations where we just don’t know the exact outcome.  We must become comfortable with being uncomfortable and certain even in the face of uncertainty.  That’s part of the thrill.  That’s part of the exhilaration.  Taking the leap is not at all like falling…it’s more like flying.

Final Learning

As you can see, entrepreneurs can learn a lot from toddlers (at least I have).  You never know where ideas will come from for improving your business.  And I guess that’s been the overall lesson that I’ve learned from my toddler.  As an entrepreneur, I must never think I ever have enough knowledge or experience.  I must always have the mindset of continuous learning and improvement. 

Thanks for reading!

For the thrill of the jump,

Dino Herbert

www.dinoherbert.com

In my last post I mentioned that one of the attitudes an entrepreneur must have is one where “turning back” is not an option.  Since then I have recalled several instances that serve as examples of how this applies to being an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurs must have a “decided heart” 

Since I had mentioned a portion of Andy Andrew’s book, “The Traveler’s Gift”,  I decided to go back and re-read some of it.  There’s a section where the traveler has an opportunity to meet Christopher Columbus and he is awed by the resolve that the young Portugese man has for his vision.  According to the story, just before dawn each day Columbus would look over the bow of his ship and confidently proclaim that he would see the new world at the break of dawn.  Even when confronted with the fact that he had not found the new world “today”, Columbus steadfastly affirmed that it would be found “tomorrow”.  He was undeterred by other peoples’ opinions or lack of belief.  Entrepreneurs must press on whether today’s results are stellar OR NOT.  We must not be discouraged by anyone else’s negativity or lack of energy to continue on.  Andrew states (thru Columbus), “I will freely give my vision for the future to others, and as they see the belief in my eyes, they will follow me”.

 Entrepreneurs must “know”

Another example comes from the 1999 movie “The Matrix”, where Laurence Fishburne’s character, Morpheus, believes he has found the guy who will save them from their enemies (Neo – played by Keanu Reeves).  Morpheus says, “We’ve found him.”  “I hope you’re right”, comes the reply.  “I don’t hope”, he says.  “I know”.

Entrepreneurs -or those wishing to become entrepreneurs- must know without a doubt where they are headed and what the vision for the future is.  We cannot waver in our belief or be unsure about the direction in which we are headed.  “Knowing” will give us confidence to proceed when consequences seem bleak and when others may doubt.

Entrepreneurs must be sure of themselves

Finally, I thought of Walter Wintle’s poem, “The Man Who Thinks He Can”, where he states that “you’ve got to be sure of yourself in order to win the prize”. 

Entrepreneurs must renew this resolve on a daily basis in order to keep the energy flowing, the vision alive and to overcome any obstacles that surface on any given day.  Know that you will succeed.  Know that you are on the right path.  Be confident in the decisions that you have made and be secure in the fact that you will reach your goals.

Have a great jump,

Dino Herbert

I was in Hawaii a couple of weeks ago…enjoying life.  We spent 10 days there: 5 days we were on Maui and the rest of the time we were on Oahu at Waikiki beach.  While on Oahu I had the pleasure of traveling with a group to the north shore to go skydiving!  I felt compelled to do so:  how can I write a blog about “taking the leap” without having taken “the leap of all leaps” myself!  This was something that I had always intended to do and the trip to Hawaii presented a wonderful opportunity to do so.  I believe that life was meant to be lived now and not to be feared!  Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing”, and I subscribe to that philosophy.

Of course there are analogies between skydiving and taking the leap from the regular world of work to entreneurialism.  Some of my observations:

GO TANDEM (if need be)

Since this was my first jump, I thought it would be best to jump tandem.  I’m sure most are familiar with this, but the procedure goes as follows:  the professional jumper has the parachute on his/her back and the newbie is strapped in front.  The professional is responsible for knowing when and how to deploy the chute, so the novice is free to go along for the ride.

While this is not a direct analogy, there are lessons to be learned.  Perhaps for your first attempt at being an entrepreneur it makes sense for you to enter into  a partnership or maybe you are one of several shareholders in a small start up corporation.  If your entrepreneurial venture is not one of these, at the very least you should join yourself to a mentor or at least become a part of a mastermind group that shares your values and will encourage you along the way.

STAY “IN THE MOMENT”

As we climbed higher in the small aircraft, those on the ground began to appear smaller and smaller: 2,000 feet….5000 feet….12,000 feet above the ground!  There were several folk (who also had never done any skydiving) that began to look a little nervous.  Several voiced their discomfort.  I admit to briefly having similar feelings, but then I took a good look at my surroundings.   The sky was clear blue with white puffy clouds…you could see the mountains below on one side and the clear blue ocean surronding them.  What a gorgeous day it was!  What a wonderful opportunity to skydive from such a beautiful location in Hawaii!

The lesson is this: don’t focus on what MIGHT go wrong as your entrepreneurial venture unfolds.  Focus on the beauty of the situation:  you have time freedom (if you do it right, that is); you are the “master of (your) fate” and “the captain of (your) soul” as William Ernest Henley said in his famous poem, “Invictus”.  You are living your life on purpose and charting your own course; a course that only you can set.

NO TURNING BACK

Admittedly the first several seconds of my leap took my breath away!  But after I got my bearings, I could totally enjoy the view.  It didn’t feel like FALLING at all!  It felt more like….like I was FLYING!  What an exhilarating feeling!  If you’ve never done it, I encourage all to give skydiving a try;  it will change your perspective on life as a whole!  It reminds me of a quote that has been attributed by many to Guillaume Apollainaire:

“Come to the edge”, He said.  They said, “We are afraid”.  “Come to the edge”, He said.  They came and He pushed them……and they flew”.

Once I was out of the plane, there was no need to worry about whether I had made the correct decision.  There was no sense debating with myself about whether my friends, neighbors or colleagues would think that I had lost my mind:  the decision had already been made, there was no turning back!  It is the same on this journey as an entrepreneur:  do not second guess yourself.  Do not debate whether you have made the correct decision.  Plow forward, always looking ahead, NEVER behind!  Trust your instincts.  Know (don’t “hope”) that you are going to succeed.  In fact, expect to be successful and you will be!  Just keep going and all resistance will eventually fall away.  In Andy Andrews book, “The Traveler’s Gift”, he stated it this way: “I will persist without exception”.  Winston Churchill said it this way: “Never, never, never, never, never, never give up!”.  I couldn’t agree more.

For the thrill of the jump,

Dino Herbert

While speaking to a former work colleague, I mentioned that I had left the position held at my previous employer and he first congratulated me and then mentioned that I had “guts” to make this bold decision.  Actually, he didn’t use the word “guts”, but used more colorful language and referred to parts of the male anatomy.  Since this is a family-friendly post, I’ll use the word “guts”.  I thought about it later, and I guess he’s right.  I DO have/ need GUTS in order to become an entrepreneur.

G – Goals:  I think and focus on them every single day before checking my email.  I visualize where I am headed and how that vision translates into annual, monthly, weekly and daily tasks.  You may have heard it before, but my goals are specific, measurable, actionable, reasonable (within reason) and trackable (achieved by a specific date).

U - Unique Selling proposition:  I don’t recall who coined the phrase “unique selling proposition” (right after writing this, I checked the internet and credit has been given to a gentlemen named Rosser Reeves in the 1950s), but this has been put forth as a major reason for business success.  As an entrepreneur, I must let my prospects know how I can meet their needs in a way that only I can do.  I also read somewhere that the more I “become myself”, the more unique my selling proposition.

T - Tenacity:  An entrepreneur MUST have the tenacity of a bull dog in order to achieve success.  Make no mistakes about it; starting your own business is NOT for the faint of heart.  You will encounter many obstacles, many “naysayers”, fierce competitors and the entrepreneur must meet each and every challenge that comes on a daily basis.

S - Self-confidence: According to Walter Wintle’s poem, “The Man Who Thinks He Can”, “….You’ve got to be sure of yourself before you can win the prize…”  If you don’t believe that you can do this, no one else will.  William James stated that “Belief at the beginning of a doubtful undertaking is the one thing that will guarantee the success of any venture.”  An entrepreneur must belief in himself even if no one else does.  Maintaining a positive mental attitude is an essential tool in the tool kit.

Dino Herbert

Today I realized that most people are not in support of the idea of “going out on your own”.  Most people are afraid of this idea and will attempt to dissuade anyone who suggests that they would like to become an entrepreneur.  Many individuals believe that it is too risky, that it is “crazy” to leave the “security” of a “stable” job; that it’s safer to stay in a sinking ship.  I know of many people who work for a multi-million dollar corporation who, though they had many years of service, were told that their services were no longer required.

How Becoming An Entrepreneur Makes Us Different

Here are some of the analogies that come to mind when I think of how an entrepreneur feels as compared to his employee counterparts:

Going Against Traffic

Have you ever been on a busy downtown sidewalk in a large metropolitan city and needed to suddenly go the opposite direction?  To say the least, it is quite a challenge to get where you need to go!  You must remain determined or you can be swept along with the tide of humanity going in a direction that you do not desire.

Pasture vs. the Jungle

I’m sure you’ve heard the analogy of the world of the entrepreneur being a jungle where the path is uncharted and the way uncertain and the atmosphere seems fraught with danger.  Your friends, colleagues and loved ones are depicted as cows and sheep grazing lazily in the meadow, not understanding why anyone would even consider venturing into that world of uncertainty.  I may have mentioned in a previous post the sentiment of Timothy Ferriss, author of “4 Hour Work Week”: “Most people would rather be unhappy than uncertain” (paraphrased).

Trailblazing vs. staying on the well-worn path

Similarly, most people want to stay on the path that has been worn heavily by many who have gone before.  “Why get off the path?” they say.  “You could get hurt”.  They don’t understand that there may be a rare plant or hidden waterfall that can only be seen if one has the courage to just go in search of the non-traditional, the unusual, and the special.

How to Protect Your Mindset

So how can entrepreneurs protect themselves against the negative, disbelieving attitude and mindset of the majority of those who he/she comes in contact with?

Focus on the goals, not on the negative circumstances

Every day the entrepreneur will be faced with challenges that could cause doubt or fear to set in.  The solution is to focus on the goals ahead and the next steps needed to achieve those goals.  Instead of focusing on a setback specifically, focus on the possible solutions to the setback.

Choose associations wisely

Let’s face it some people are downers!  They sap your energy, your time and seek to rob you of your dreams.  These individuals should be avoided whenever possible.  Instead choose to spend time with folk who will inspire, encourage and challenge you.

 Dream Big Dreams

Setting a “large hairy goal” – as I once heard it described – has a way of energizing and redirecting your energy in a way that small “ordinary” goals cannot.  When your goal is large there is a tendency to not even notice the insignificant and trivial.  Set huge goals when you become an entrepreneur and you are less likely to get entangled with non-productive pursuits.

Happy landing,

Dino Herbert

I spent the day phoning former work associates and colleagues and pursuing other networking activities seeking to “get the word out” about my new situation as an entrepreneur, I took time this evening to go to a nearby park to spend time with my wife and two sons.  We ate food and played on the slides and jungle gym and ran…ran….ran!  I think that it is important to take time to have fun and laugh for the following reasons:

PERSPECTIVE

We’ve all heard the saying that none of us on our death beds will bemoan the fact that we didn’t spend more time at “the office”.  Even as a home-based business entrepreneur, we need to take time to get away and to realize that, more than likely, one of the main reasons we became entrepreneurs was so that we could have the freedom to spend time with our families, loved ones and friends.  If we don’t TAKE the time to do this, then we’re missing the point.  I intended the emphasis on the “taking” of time because we can’t “make” anymore time (there’s only 24 hours in a day for each of us) and we can’t “find” the time either (there isn’t any more to be found).  We have to decide that we will take the time to do what is most important.

RECHARGE

Taking time to laugh and have fun will actually give us more energy to perform the long hours that are required of entrepreneurs.  This is similar to the concept of “sharpening the saw” mentioned by Stephen Covey in his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.  If we don’t take the time to sharpen or recharge, we will actually be less effective than we otherwise could be.  For example, when in college, I did what I suspect many college students have done: I pulled “all nighters” on occasion.  During one of these all night study/ project sessions it occurred to me (as I nodded off for the fourth time) that it would be better to get at least a little sleep so that I would somewhat refreshed for the exam. 

Grinding away with no time for rest and recreation does not serve us well as entrepreneurs.

POSITIVE MINDSET

Finally, having fun and laughing keeps entrepreneurs in the right frame of mind.  One of the most important characteristics that an entrepreneur can have is optimism.  Having a good time and laughing actually helps to keep us in a positive frame of mind.  One Harvard University professor, Shawn Achor, mentioned that happy people actually make better decisions (paraphrased).

As I am on this road of becoming an entrepreneur I need to make sure that I schedule the time to relax, have fun and laugh.  That reminds me…..I’ve always wanted to skydive….I think I’ll plan it some time next week!

 Until next time,

Dino