The Six ?F? Words Every Entrepreneur Should Know
Start your own business, and soon enough, you find yourself in a situation
where there are many things you want to say, all of them unprintable.
It happens to every entrepreneur ? a moment of extreme challenge that causes
you to wonder why you started the (expletive) business in the first place. I've
had my share of those moments since starting our public relations firm in
March 2002.
But while trading notes with a fellow entrepreneur recently, I started to think
about all the moments of extreme challenge I left behind when I decided I no
longer wanted to be somebody else's employee.
That got me thinking about what really matters to me as an entrepreneur. As I
shared my thoughts with my friend, a new list developed ? the "F" words I
believe every entrepreneur should know. They've done the job for me so far,
keeping me rooted, married and talking to my kids while we build a successful
business. I hope they have the same effect for you.
1. Faith: I'm not a street corner preacher, but I have a deep and abiding faith
that starting my business is what I was meant to do in life. I also have a strong
faith that I've been given the tools to do the job ? even in a moment of extreme
challenge. Without faith in yourself, in your business and in your purpose, how
can you succeed as an entrepreneur?
2. Family: My wife and daughters are the most important people in my life.
Starting my business has enabled me to put them at the center of my life,
where they belong. Oh yes, I work long and hard, but today, it's with a clear
purpose. The generations of entrepreneurs who built this country understood
this principle. Their businesses often bore the family name, and generations of
people who were born, lived and died together managed to build great
businesses together.
3. Friends: Fortune 500 companies have boards of directors. Entrepreneurs
have friends. When no one else will listen, friends will. When others fail to see
the beauty of the product or solution, friends will. And when no one else will
talk straight to you about a dumb business move, friends will. And they won't
send you a bill.
4. Focus: It's nice to say you're an entrepreneur, that you are your own boss.
But do you have the commitment to turn that idea into true success? The
ultimate measure is your ability not only to set a goal, but stick with it, despite
those moments of extreme challenge. You may have to change course along
the way, but like a good sailor, you focus, keeping your business pointed to the
right shore.
5. Finances: Let's face it ? most of us strike out as entrepreneurs because we
believe we can improve our financial situation. I know I have not missed the
constraining limits and miniscule salary increases of corporate America. How
much do I want to make this year? There is only one answer: How hard am I
willing to work? And there is only one reason to ask that question: to make
good on my commitment to all the "F" words that rank ahead of money on my
list.
6. Freedom: This may be the greatest gift of entrepreneurship. But it is the one
that comes only after you can act on all the other "F" words in your
entrepreneurial vocabulary. So many entrepreneurs strike out to find success,
which they define as freedom from all the things they hated about working for
someone else. Unfortunately for these folks, they lack a true entrepreneurial
vision ? they're merely running away from something. True entrepreneurial
freedom comes from a vision that encompasses what's really important to you.
Are these the only "F" words an entrepreneur needs to know? Obviously not.
But in moments of extreme challenge, remembering these "F" words may help
you weather a moment of extreme challenge without resorting to the
unprintable variety. And if you're like me, they may also help you remember
why you started the business in the first place.
Paul Furiga is president of WordWrite Communications LLC, a Pittsburgh-based
virtual agency. He is the former editor of the Pittsburgh Business Times, and
has also covered Congress, the White House, edited magazines and written for
publications ranging from Congressional Quarterly to Frequent Flyer magazine.
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
What Makes an Entrepreneur?
Rupert Steiner in his book 'My First Break' attempted to define the secret of becoming an entrepreneur and following interviews with over one hundred entrepreneurs, Steiner concluded that there was not one defined path. He has, however, drawn out observations of an entrepreneur's personality traits. They have a tendency to be rebels, outsiders, original thinkers, risk takers and break new ground. Entrepreneurs are always on the lookout for new business opportunities and have the guts it needs to start up a business. They have total commitment to what they are doing, which verges on obsession behaviour.
The Risks of Entrepreneurship
The "spark" for many entrepreneurs is seeing an opportunity that doesn't yet exist. Ted Turner, for example, launched CNN because he perceived that people wanted more television news than they were being offered. It took a lot of patience on Turner's part to realize the vision, but he had read the market in a way that few "experts" did at the time.
My Nemisis
Living in the twilight zone has its advantages. In the early days of starting my business, I found the limitations of living in a rural area to be restrictive. However, later I realized that those limitations were not an obstacle that could stop me; they were only a challenge that would strengthen me. Since my business would be smaller, I would have the advantage of fewer employees and less strife in the processes of doing business.
Do You Have What it Takes to be a Successful Entrepreneur?
Print off this page, take the quiz and find out if you've got what it takes! See the scale at the bottom to mark yourself.
Competing With The Big Dogs
You run a small consultancy. You're well qualified, experienced and dedicated. Yet you can't get a meeting with the corporate decision-maker.
How You Can Earn $1000 A Week Part Time
About 6 years ago I started to notice that certain friends of
mine had quit their jobs but continued to live very luxurious
lifestyles - seemingly without doing very much. I thought they
must just be using up their savings until I discovered they were
all making a fantastic living by spending just a few hours a week
doing something I had never heard of before - "financial spread
betting".
Creativity & Entrepreneurship: The Secret to Discovering Your Purpose in Life!©
Hello Creative Entrepreneurs!
Compensating for Your Entrepreneurial Style-or Lack of Style
I recently took an entrepreneurial quiz which evaluated my answers and informed me I would do best as a hired hand! So why am I a successful home business owner? Because I've learned to fill the holes in my entrepreneurial style, and compensate for my deficiencies.
Entrepreneurial Traits that Drive Sales
Frequently overlooked and hidden deep within our marketing tool box is the ultimate marketing vehicle for your business ? you! Many small business owners are so busy figuring out how to increase sales and revenue they forget to grow themselves as business owners. If you aren't evolving yourself, aren't you being counterproductive to your business development? Marketing our businesses isn't just about what ads to buy or what networking event to go to next; it's about us as people, as entrepreneurs. The following marketing traits are often overlooked by entrepreneurs but are pivotal to your long-term success. What's more, they cost very little yet earn a savvy entrepreneur a lot. Show Your Personality -- Customers want to know who you are. That's great that you offer the fastest tax services in town, or your gift baskets can be custom-made and delivered anywhere in 24 hours. But who are you? Your customers and prospects want to know. Especially if you're facilitating business on the Internet, building trust is key to making a prospect feel comfortable buying from you. One of the most effective ways to build trust is to express your personality.
Documenting Partnerships in Your Business Plan
Forging partnerships to improve market penetration has become commonplace, particularly for "new economy" businesses. And, most companies proudly mention their many partnerships in their business plans.
Can a Microbusiness Help You Enjoy a Better Retirement?
Not having enough money for a comfortable retirement tops the
list of financial concerns among aging Americans, according to
a recent Gallup Poll. It even outweighs peoples' worries about
having a serious illness or accident.
Is Running a Business for You?
Not everyone is cut out to run a business. Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. It takes a special talent. Some owners of small businesses have it and some don't.
Adding a Service After You Buy a Business
When you buy a business, you should have a plan. Why have you chosen that particular business? Why that particular time to buy a business? What can you bring to the business? Some of the most successful business stories are of people who buy a business with the intention of bringing their specialized set of skills to it, and using them to grow the business.
The Danger Of Hate
As you have shown an interest in starting a business of
your own it would be safe to assume that you want to change
your life. You want more money - more control over your
life - more respect. But just as we each have a dream, we
also have a reality.
Expand Your Resourcefullness!
The success and failure for the entrepreneur is largely dictated by the ability to gain access to resources, both personal as well as those of others.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Public Domain Info, but Were Too Afraid to Ask!
What to Look Out For:
Health Insurance for Solo Entrepreneurs
One of the most important benefits employed people enjoy is health insurance coverage. It is also the single most costly expense for self-employed entrepreneurs. So what can you do to reduce ever increasing costs of health care coverage? Here are a few tips.
From Employee to Entrepreneur: Taking the Plunge
Before you decide whether or not running your own business is right for you, start by pinpointing your area of expertise and assessing your aptitude for business.
The 7 Major Reasons Businesses Fail and How to Overcome Them
This year, over 800,000 of the approximately 2,000,000 start
up businesses will fail!
What Makes An Entrepreneur Tick?
It is only natural that when you start a business, you are doing something different than most people. They not only will look at you because you stick out like a sore thumb _ but human nature will cause people to naturally ridicule what you are doing. They will tell you all types of things like: "You're not business material." "You can't make a living working for yourself." "You'll fail because nobody can ever make any money that way."
|