Let’s be realistic. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. Some have the stomach for it, most don’t. What separates a true Entrepreneur from the dreamers is the willingness to take the first step, which usually involves spending and risking your own money. Hardly a comfortable notion. Knowing what you’re doing, what you’re getting yourself into helps alleviate some of the anxiety. When it comes to pursuing what you love in life, entrepreneurs don’t take no for an answer. The true Entrepreneur understands risk vs. reward ratio, and lives by the motto… “No guts, no glory!”
Learning from people who have “been there, done that” before is the best resource available. But at the end of the day, someone else’s experience will not drive your company forward. It takes fire in your stomach, passion and drive, and a deep and abiding belief in your idea and in yourself. Nothing less will keep you on course in the troubled waters that threaten a fledgling business. Over the next few months, we’ll be looking at ways to optimize your new business’s chances of success. Stay tuned for more “NO COURAGE, NO GLORY!” articles and tips for aspiring Entrepreneurs based on interviews with successful Entrepreneurs.
Tip #1: When in doubt, just take a small step forward.
Believe in yourself. This is the first rule of Entrepreneurship. There are enough barriers to starting a business without you questioning your own abilities. Once doubt arises, rash and ill-considered decisions are made. Vision loses focus and energy. Fear and doubt have a smell, and people can smell it. It is a natural repellent for investors or potential clients. It’s normal to be anxious when you’re embarking on a new adventure… but don’t let them see you sweat!
You are so protective of your idea that you are not even willing to solicit feedback from your closest friends and family. Stop! Don’t be too proud or scared to ask for help. That’s what family and friends are for, to listen to your crazy ideas. Even if they don’t see your vision, articulating it helps refine and strengthen it in your own mind.
Often the biggest impediment to moving forward is the clutter in your own head. Get rid of all that useless baggage, it will only weigh you down. Live the moment. Yesterday it’s a canceled check, tomorrow it’s a promissory note, today it’s cash!
Tip #2: Grow thick skin.
Take a deep breath. Calm the mind. As Entrepreneurs we already have leadership tendencies, but we confuse that impulse with the need to dictate the vision and fight to maintain its sanctity. Stop! Not all conversations have to end with a kiss. Don’t let business get personal. It is a bad practice that leads to bad decisions. Learn to compromise, listen, and agree to disagree when the occasion calls for it. Also, if you are presented with unfavorable treatment, walk away. Leadership is not about being right, it is about achieving the goal.
On the other hand, a successful colleague once said, “If I’m the smartest guy in the room, my business is in trouble.” Hire talented people and let them shine.
Learn to laugh at things. Time heals all wounds. Give it time, time. Everyone makes mistakes, so ask yourself “five years from now, will this matter?” Probably not in most cases. Life is too short to waste time staying upset and angry. Besides, it’s bad business to let someone else live for free in your head.
Tip #3: Do not compare your situation with that of others.
If we all pile our problems in a heap and see each other’s, we’ll get our own back.
Often when the work is overwhelming and nothing is going right, we tend to feel like a victim, wishing we had never started the business. We can be envious of someone else’s success. Stop! You have no idea what his journey has been like. Envy is worse than a waste of time: it’s a corrosive practice that prevents you from seeing the blessings in your own life. You have everything you need to discover your own potential. At this point, go to a trusted friend who has started a business and have an honest conversation about his situation. wind with someone It’s much better than licking your wounds alone.
Every entrepreneur has been through what you are experiencing and most are happy to share some guidance. One of the moral imperatives of success is to lend a helping hand to the next entrepreneur, to guide and inspire future generations of entrepreneurs. Seek the advice of experts.
Tip #4: Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
No matter how good or bad a situation is, one thing is certain: it will change. So the best course of action is to prepare for every eventuality. Memorize your game plan, then keep in mind all the possible scenarios that could arise. Hopefully, you won’t face the more serious problems some startups face, but being prepared is the best way to combat adversity and keep a business thriving. And when you’re faced with a tough decision, don’t worry about it. A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.
As you go with the flow, new ideas will emerge. Share credit. Does it really matter where a good idea comes from? Give thanks for any contribution to your company’s success and acknowledge the source. Ignore the envious, the detractors. Celebrate the idea because sometimes you’re the only one doing it. Be the champion of the idea.
Tip #5: Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Come on, this is bound to be fun. This is what you always wanted. So show it off. Smile, it’s contagious. Simplify. Some claim that it is “lonely at the top”. Yes, if you are a tyrant, a bully or a real pain in the ass. But if you respect your employees, treat them like family; Running a business can be fun. It’s all a matter of your approach and attitude. If you go in with the mindset that you are the “boss” then it will be a lonely road, but if you go in with the design you are the leader of a team and the inspiration behind the plan then you will create an environment. that promotes growth and prosperity. Allow people to feel empowered, with a sense of ownership and a feeling of belonging and need.
Trust is important. Even if you don’t feel safe, pretend. Trust breeds loyalty, excitement, and productivity, which are contagious. Panic and fear result in chaos, which will ultimately destroy your business.
In conclusion, I’ll leave you with this… be eccentric now. Don’t wait until old age to have blue hair. Now go out and have fun. Good luck. Remember, “No guts, no glory!”