How To Get Ready to Become An Entrepreneur
Monday, April 21st, 2008Short answer: I don’t need to GET ready. I’m already ready!
I was reading something this morning that I saw on Wil Schroter’s website, his “Go Big Network” regarding whether or not I’m ready for this step. His point in his blog post dated 12/1/06 is “You’re Already Ready”. To sum up his points:
I don’t need any more of the following:
EDUCATION
Everything that I REALLY need to know I’ll learn as I’m performing the daily task of being an entrepreneur. Neither undergraduate work nor my MBA can prepare me for the “school of hard knocks”.
EXPERIENCE
Again, all of my prior experience working for others does not compare with the experience I will gain while down in the trenches. It’s like learning how to be a gourmet chef by going to fancy restaurants (Wil) or learning how to be a painter by going to museums (me). I think you get the point: you have to actually do the deed in order to gain the much-needed experience.
MONEY
Most start up companies began with their own funding using “blood, sweat and tears”, as they say; not through the help of venture capitalists. I’ll have to tighten my belt and figure it out as I go. This doesn’t mean I should be foolish, just that I shouldn’t put off becoming an entrepreneur waiting for an angel investor.
TIME
There is no “right time” to make the leap from employee to entrepreneur. Except one time: NOW. The stars will never quite align; there never be quite enough money in savings; the economic situation will never be “just right”. I could have used any or all of the above to make excuses of why I shouldn’t have left my day job; but none of them amount to a good excuse. I’m glad that I listened to my gut and just took the leap.
Until next time,
Dino
