For Leap's Sake

Today is the day many of us in the United States  have set aside to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream.  Dr. King  set forth his dream on that fateful summer day back in August of 1963 with his “I Have A Dream” speech.

• His dream was about Equality – He hoped that everyone would be considered equal as heralded in the U.S. Constitution.
• His dream was about Brotherhood -  He hoped that the oppressed could one day sit down together with the oppressor in a bond of unity.
• His dream was about Freedom and Justice - He envisioned the day when places known for injustice and servitude would some day become just the opposite.
• His dream was about being judged on merits, not outward appearances
• King said his dream was deeply rooted in the “American Dream”.

Dr. King had a very powerful dream.  So much so, that his dream lives on today, nearly 50 years later.  Of course, there are discussions (and disagreements) about whether or not the dream has been fulfilled; about whether equality has been achieved, whether brotherhood is a possibility, whether freedom and justice have been served.

I believe that this debate will most likely never be settled.  I personally believe that the valleys will never be completely raised, the hills and mountains will never completely be made low, the rough places will never be made totally smooth, nor will the crooked path be made completely straight.

But you know what….THAT’S THE LIFE OF AN ENTREPRENEUR!

The question is this…Is your entrepreneurial dream big enough to see you through those tough times?

Entrepreneurship can help bring about equality because revenue and profits are, in some respects, the great equalizer.  There are very few people who will turn down your money because you are a different race, color, ethnicity, etc.  And conversely if you are truly bringing value to the marketplace, you will have many buyers of your products and services.

Furthermore, the prospect of increasing market share and revenues has caused more than one entrepreneur to sit down in the spirit of brotherhood with the competition to create joint ventures of all sorts! The phrase  “Co-opetition” was coined a few years ago to describe this phenomenon.

I also realize that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was promoting “jobs and freedom” on the day he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, but “freedom” is more closely aligned with “entrepreneurship” than with “jobs”.  You have to do what others tell you to do when on the job, while entrepreneurship allows self expression and the freedom to dream big!

SO HOW BIG IS YOUR DREAM?

Michael Gerber, the great ‘professor’ of entrepreneurship and author of the E-Myth series, wrote another book titled, Awakening the Entrepreneur Within: How Ordinary People Can Create Extraordinary Companies.  According to Mr. Gerber one of the main traits of an entrepreneur is that of “The Dreamer”.  We must have a dream that “moves us, consumes us” and “keeps us awake at night”.

The other book that comes to mind is Wintley Phipps’ book, THE POWER OF A DREAM The Inspiring Story of a Young Man’s Audacious Faith, where he talks about his unlikely journey from his childhood growing up in Trinidad to singing before presidents and heads of foreign governments.

You see, being and becoming an entrepreneur is not just about finances.  Not if you’re going to have any fun at it, any way!  Not if it’s going to feel almost like play time instead of work time.  It’s about creating something greater than yourself.  It’s about achieving a purpose for your life.  The money is just a byproduct of what you’re going to create!

As Phipps sang in his song:

“That’s the power of a dream!  So much power in your dream.  Can you feel it?  Can you feel it?”

Until next time…Geronimo!

Dino

P.S.

I haven’t forgotten about my discussion of Entrepreneurship & Emerging Leadership .  We’ll pick it up next time!

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

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

It’s been about 3 weeks since I left my corporate job in pursuit of my entrepreneurial dream and it just occurred to me that many of the individuals that I spoke with about my departure assumed that I would be looking for another job.  The comments were all similar:

“I understand that you want more time with your family.  Getting a good government job will probably be a good thing.”

“If you need me to introduce you to someone who may be looking for someone with your skill set, just let me know.”

“This is not necessarily the best economic climate to be looking for a job.”

All of these individuals do not understand – and perhaps they never will – that the job I left is the last job I will ever have as far as I’m concerned.  I suppose that some people just cannot understand how someone could leave a perfectly good job (or jump from a perfectly good airplane).  It’s like the saying goes, “If I have to explain it, you just wouldn’t understand.” 

There is so much opportunity “out there” and I intend to get my “piece of the pie”.  As this point in my life/career I consider myself to be unemployable.  The notion to become an entrepreneur has been with me for many years and I have nurtured it over the years by doing “on the side”.  But I’ve chosen to play full out and there is no turning back. 

I choose to have an attitude of “prosperity consciousness” instead of one of poverty; I choose to see the glass as half full with a huge 10 gallon pitcher next to it; I choose to walk a path that many others would not dare.  I have chosen as my mantra the words penned by one great man in his autobiography, “Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass”:

“I prefer to be true to myself even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false and incur my own abhorrence.”

Until next time,

Dino

I’ve done some reading over the last few days (years in fact, but the messages are a little different now that I’ve taken the leap) and I’ve uncovered the qualities that many entrepreneurs seem to possess.  I’ve taken another look at myself to compare whether I measure up to the standard: am I really fit to become an entrepreneur?  These are some of the qualities that I’ve found that can be summed up in the acronym LEAP OUT:

LONG-RANGE VIEW

 ”Begin with the end in mind”, as Stephen Covey says.  You have to know where you want to go before you take the first step in order to achieve the results that you want.

ENERGY

Long days, long nights, occasional disappointment, reworks, rewrites.  Dealing with consultants/suppliers, employees (eventually), accounts receivable, accounts payable, shipments, banking institutions, investors, customers, cash flow, creditors……enough said.

AMBIGUITY COMFORT

One of the reasons most people do not leave their jobs and become an entrepreneur is that they cannot reconcile the difference between the ”certainty” of a steady paycheck and the possibility of an unsteady income stream that comes with the life of an entrepreneur.   An entrepreneur must be able to accept and manage the idea, that while “pay days” may indeed be more lucrative than when with an employer, they most likely will not come on a regular schedule.

PERSEVERANCE

There will be disappointments and set backs.  There will be times when it seems as if I’ve made a mistake.  But I’m sure that this trait is one that is critical for new entrepreneurs.  There is no mindset that says, “I’ll give this a try until this date”.  I have the attitude that I will stick with my plan until….until I’m successful.

OPTIMISM

To become an entrepreneur a person must have a positive outlook on life in general and about the affairs of the business in particular.  The focus must be on the goals that have been set and NOT on any of the obstacles that may (will) occur.

UNDAUNTED BY FEAR (not necessarily unafraid)

Sure, there are risks.  Sure, there are unknowns.  But those who are able to become an entrepreneur will look at those risks, fears and unknowns, assess the situation as best they know how and yet will proceed courageously through those circumstances.

TAKE CHARGE

Anyone wanting to become an entrepreneur will need to be a leader.  The vision, inspiration and motivation must come from this person in order for investors, employees and customers to be comfortable enough to participate in the venture.

I will need to continually nurture these traits until I have succeeded.

Until next time,

Dino