If you are an aspiring entrepreneur and thinking about taking the leap, here's Part 1of 10 in a series of tips I've put together to help inspire you along the way!
You have to develop a culture of communication. To build tech solutions that really make a difference, you can’t have teams in silos that never collaborate and communicate. That’s a surefire formula for failure.
I’m sure you’ve seen the obligatory picture of “entrepreneurs” boarding the “private jet” to fly off to some imaginary amazing destination. They pose in deep thought as they gaze out the window with the aura of success.
I’ve been asked this question many times. See, there’s the myth out there of the driven entrepreneur that grinds away into the late hours of the night and early morning. It may sound admirable and it makes for great stories
It’s almost ridiculous that I’m even writing this but what we assume is seemingly common sense in today’s workplace is often uncommon. When growing a business there are vital essentials you must have from your team otherwise you’ll end up delivering a poor product.
From my perspective….No. I had 7 jobs in 8 years and in my first two I was fired. I was a horrible employee. Here’s why. I hate mediocrity and that’s what I saw where I worked in every corporate job.
There’s not doubt about it, rejection is no fun. Unfortunately if you want to win in business you have to be ready to accept it. The key is to not internalize it.
A few quick thoughts on setting yourself up for success as an entrepreneur. Remember it’s not what many will lead you to believe. It’s a lot of hard work!
Not at all. Becoming an entrepreneur is not about your age but whether you have the drive and creativity to make it happen. When I graduated from college, I had no idea how to really start a business so I ended up working in a cubicle at a dead-end job.
You're working hard, trying to build your business and you're out pitching to prospects. Inevitably you are going to hit some tough customers. Ones who aren't merely difficult, they are looking to make sure you don't get the business because they have their own agenda.
If you knew the truth of how hard it is, you’d probably run away fast as you can. What?!! Why would a guy like me say such a thing? Well, today we live in a world where many feel entitled to success without having to do much of anything.
I wanted to share this little nugget I found in my diary from 2005 of a typical day after building my company for just two years. It’s now 13 years later and my company is bigger than ever but it was the daily emotions like this you have to battle.
You are a business! Stop thinking small! Work, employment and making money is the new era we live in means you need to stop thinking like a clock puncher and start running a company called YOU, INC.
All too often an entrepreneur can get so excited about their venture that they make quick and fast decisions to move ahead. See, when you are growing fast you have to fill departments to cover for everything you can’t do personally.
The dream of building a business is not for everyone. Those who have been employed at a “big company” will have to hit the reset button in their thinking. Experience working in the corporate world does not necessarily translate into success as an entrepreneur.
Here’s the funny part. I ended up becoming successful in an industry I originally had NO interest in being in at first. Yes, that’s right. I wanted to find something else but my true path was in front of my eyes.
I've been asked this question many times and the reality is that it's a combination of factors but here’s four that quickly come to mind. Just remember starting, growing and building a company is tough and most companies fail. Being successful is hard even in the best of times.
The dream of building a business is not for everyone. Those who have been employed at a “big company” will have to hit the reset button in their thinking.
If you are bootstrapped, you are going to have to run super lean. You need to be, act and think scrappy. A real entrepreneur relishes the grind and digging deep to struggle.
