"Advice For Want To Be Entrepreneurs"

I was recently asked a series of questions from a friend that is looking at starting a business as part of their requirements for a program they are utilizing for potential funding.  I then thought this information which is my own personal opinions and what I have learned may be helpful to others and I would love to have people give additional feedback and comments as it is a great question and avenue to share your own experiences and thoughts.  Please enjoy this unedited version of those answers and I look forward to hearing your input.

1 What made you go into business for yourself?

I went into business for myself to have the ability to be my own boss and determine my hours and control my financial destiny.  Take my experience and try to do things better.  If I am not happy with my situation and think some things should be done differently the best way to accomplish that is by creating the environment to make that possible-Entrepreneurship!

2 What was hard about it?

There is a time lag that can come with cash flow and developing  a business.  I also found focus and what priorities I made versus what priorities I should make determined my success (being effective vs. just being busy).  As I  am only accountable to myself, I think having a mentor or coach to help keep me focused and accountable led to my greatest successes.

3 What was surprising about it?

having a strong and compelling vision and dream is easy but keeping focused and committed is hard as the amount of work and how hard it is to reach the goals was harder than expected and took longer than I expected.  Mistakes and failure will come…how we deal with it when it happens ultimately shapes our success long term.

4 What do you really enjoy about having your own business?

Flexibility and making a difference. Sense of accomplishment when success comes.

5 What skills are needed to successfully operate a business?

Financial, time, and stress management.  Organizational skills.  Communication,sales and marketing skills.  Relationship building and networking. Many others but those are the first that come to mind.

6 What advice would give to a person wanting to start their own business?

Spend a lot of time planning out the details before launching the business.  It gives the guide and roadmap but also the measurement and accountability needed to succeed. Ensure all tools and resources are in place to ensure you put your best foot forward early. First impressions count!

"Doing Things Right" or "Doing The Right Things"

I recently saw this question asked in a forum I follow and felt compelled to answer. Below is my answer to this question. Doing the wrong things right means you are still doing something wrong. It always pays to do the right things! Doing the right things doesn't always mean things turn out as you planned but it does allow you to maintain your integrity and hold your head high in whatever the decision is. I use to always say my guiding principles in decision making were "let common sense and your conscience be your guide." I realize for those of you who are employed it may put you in an awkward position and possibly put your employment at risk. However, I would ask the question "what is the effect on your health of doing things you know are wrong even when done right?" Also, the long term implications of the answer to this answer, not just the short term, need to be considered. It can take years or decades to build a reputation and integrity but it only takes one bad decision to take that away or have it questioned (i.e. doing a wrong thing the right way AKA doing as you are told even when you know it is wrong). When in doubt take the high road. If you are worried about repercussions from an employer or boss then have a discussion and express those concerns and possibly put those concerns in writing and help them understand your point and be open to what they have to say before assuming you know it is wrong. I look forward to hearing other people's comments. In the meantime, keep your head held high!

Stop Dreaming!

This was such a great article that I thought why reinvent the wheel just to show an article I wrote myself-Humbling.  I have decided if there is a great idea I come across or one that you want me to share, I am going with it as wisdom can come from anywhere.  I want to be a leader and teacher but also show I can be a student and life-long learner.

5 Ways to Stop Dreaming and Start Building Your New Business Now

Dreaming is easy. Starting? Not so much. Here are five ways to make the first steps easier.

By Jenn Houser |  @upstartbootcamp   |  Jul 5, 2011 from Inc. Magazine

 As a serial entrepreneur, I've had my share of new business ideas and (nerd alert!) I find it fun to think about them. Many don’t last longer than it takes me to say, "Hey, it would be cool to (insert idea du jour)." But occasionally an idea sticks with me. I find myself dreaming about turning it into a business. But actually taking the first steps can feel intimidating, even when I’ve done it before.

So that's when I think about something my grandparents used to say to each other. My grandmother would begin happy hour with, "I'm thinking about having a drink," to which my grandfather would reply, "Stop thinking and start pouring!" That philosophy never fails to inspire me to make an easy move to get going.

Here are some pointers to get you building your business now:

Take a step, any step. One of the things that makes starting so hard is that there's so much to do. It's overwhelming. So just pick something—anything—and do it. You'll feel good getting a task done and then be encouraged to take on another one. Before you know it, you're on your way. I usually start with something I like to do, and can get done in one sitting. For example, since I'm a product person, I will write a quick description of what the product offering will be. Then I'll add who will buy it and why. I won't sweat it if it's not perfect (see the next point) because I can change it later. Now I feel pretty darn good because I got started.

Keep it simple and forget perfect. Jason Fried of 37signals, a Chicago web company, says this best: "If you're opening a hot dog stand, you could worry about the condiments, the cart, the name, the decoration. But the first thing you should worry about is the hot dog. The hot dogs are the epicenter. Everything else is secondary." Figure out what your hot dog is, hold the (perfect) trimmings for later and you'll find starting gets much simpler.

Don't reinvent the wheel. There is no need to build something from scratch that you can rent, lease, or (better yet) use for no or low cost. For example, when you are building your website, consider using Wordpress or Blogger rather than having a custom-coded website built. The "off the shelf" tools are much cheaper, faster, and easier to use while you're learning what is needed for your business.

Tell people you're starting. Some founders assume they shouldn't tell anyone what they're doing because someone could steal their idea. But in my experience, the benefits far outweigh the risks. First, nothing makes a business "real" faster for me than telling the people in my life that I'm starting it. Second, a curious thing happens when you tell people about your business. They ask questions and offer ideas. They make introductions and identify the competition. And, by knowing, they can support you (emotionally and otherwise) as you're doing this incredibly rewarding but hard thing.

Tell people what you need. Immediately after you share with someone what you're doing, you should also identify for them what you need right now. This makes their help even more helpful. For example, if you are a technologist who really needs an online marketing expert to help you run the business, tell that to everyone you meet. Your contacts may not know the right person but someone else they know might. You'll be surprised what a small world it is that way.

Look at that, you're started. Easy-peasy.

Jeuser is a serial entrepreneur and start-up adviser. She and David Ronick partnered with Inc. to create Upstart Bootcamp@Inc., a program that guides entrepreneurs to start up smarter. 

Choose the Bright Side

I have talked and worked with thousands of people now and one thing that is clear is that as individuals we have good days and we have bad days.  Some have more than the other but we all have both and I like to think it is a good thing.  We celebrate in the good days and how great we feel.  We can do the same in the challenging times and days as well.  Challenges are opportunities to appreciate those good days that much more.  Moreover, the challenging days are where character is built and honed.  Many of the greatest accomplishments were done because of struggles or times of intense stress or pressure.  I also think our focus determines our perception and ultimately our outcomes - A self fulfilling prophecy.  When we focus on being mad,sad, or bitter that tends to be how we feel and we find more things to back up that feeling as that is where the focus lies and we tend to see what we focus on.  On the other hand, we can choose to see the positives and being happy and grateful and thinking abundantly and about possibilities and that is likely what we attract - Law of Attraction (this is real and much research and many books exist to prove this).

I was recently asked how things were going.  To be honest it is a time of transition and things are challenging looking at it from the outside.  However, I have faith and determination that has me seeing the positives and looking to the future with great anticipation while still being grateful for the blessings I currently have in my life.  This isn't Pollyanna thinking either.  My answer when asked, "how are things going?" went like this:
"I have realized that no matter where I go and what circumstance I am in I figure 90% of the time it is great and 10% of the time it sucks but I have a choice on which to focus on so I choose the 90%."  I have been thinking of that a lot lately and realize focus can expand the good and minimize the bad.  Allow yourself to have the odd bad day since sometimes circumstances make it the logical, reasonable, and appropriate thing to do (i.e. being sad over the loss of a loved one) but don't stay stuck there forever.  I remember those feelings when I lost my dad and then my mother but it was shortly after that I shifted to writing the eulogy that I got to focus on the positives and celebrate their lives with loved ones that helped get through those tough times.  We know sometimes life happens and things aren't always fair and not everyone is reasonable or shares the same values or integrity and we may have little control over certain aspects of our lives or situations but we can choose our own attitudes and behaviours.   I challenge all of you to choose the bright side!