The Entrepreneur’s Life

Entrepreneurs are first dreamers. When you cease to dream, you cease to live, said Malcolm Forbes, the late chairman of Forbes magazine. But, what separates entrepreneurs from all others is they feverishly put words and ideas into action. Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve,” so said Dr. Napoleon Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich.

Do you have the traits of an entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship is not a career in corporate America; it’s a way of life. It’s 24/7. It’s who you are. Successful entrepreneurs share many characteristics that give them strength to power through the impediments along the way. Every book on entrepreneurship serves up its list of best-selling traits from take charge individual, problem-solver, self-motivated, big-picture thinker, thick skinned, to single-minded, persistent, cool under pressure and risk taker. Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, said, If you’re not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of the business. Those are all important and admirable qualities, but we have our own list that may surprise you.

BE NAIVE. You really can’t know what you have, where you want to go and how you’re going to get there. Yes, you have to have a game plan, but the only certainty is it will change. That’s OK. Be open to it and press on.

ASK DUMB QUESTIONS. You don’t know everything. And that will become more apparent as you navigate everything that is going to come at you. Ask your vendors, customers, colleagues, mentors, family for advice and information. They’ll see you as smart and want to help.

FEAST ON THE PROCESS. If you’re only focused on the endgame, the wistful song and words Is That All There Is? were written to console you. Entrepreneurs dig the details. They’re the daily victories that sustain them.

RELISH FAILURE. It will happen. Embrace it. Grow from it. NBA hall-of-famer Michael Jordan is often quoted as saying, I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that’s why I succeed.

BE FUN-LOVING. You can’t afford to drive people away. You have to draw them to you. Your temperament is your calling card.

Entrepreneurship will change you

Whether you want to own your own independent business or choose to join a franchise system like Alliance Franchise Brands, your perspective will change for the better, we should add. Here’s what to expect: You might not realize it, but you’ll feel more comfortable assessing situations and making quick decisions. You’ll come to see that bad decisions can sometimes yield acceptable results and good decisions don’t guarantee wins. Problems in your personal and professional worlds will become less stressful and more manageable. People will become more important to you for advice and support. And, you’ll become more aware of your environment for opportunities and ideas.

Take action

For the entrepreneur, they say the first step is the hardest. You won’t know until you take it. Wayne Gretzky, the NHL’s Great One, offers this advice, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

Are you an entrepreneur? Connect with us today!