Is this a job or is this a business?
I am a coach who delves into the beliefs of my clients in order to help them 'get un-stuck' and over the recent week there seemed to be a theme in my conversations ... and that is thinking about your business as a job.
Seems harmless enough because many of us move from being employees into the world of business because we felt we could do it better or why not make money for ourselves rather than the owner or simply being sick of working for someone else.
Yet this seemingly harmless statement does not prepare you for the realities of being a business owner. As Michael Gerber said in his book 'The E-Myth Revisited' a technician works in the business (... and this is the employee) while the Entrepreneur works on the business.
Technician versus Entrepreneur
A technician has the skill to make a business happen but not necessarily the vision needed to take it to the dizzying heights similar to the WA business. A vision takes a dream and brings it into reality, it ignores the boos and hisses from the hostile audience and delivers the dream in totality.
This drive and determination comes from deeply held beliefs about why you are doing what you are doing.
If the reason why you are creating this business is big enough ... and by big enough I mean stretches you beyond your comfort zone, then what I have found is that you are more prepared to learn how to cope with what is uncomfortable.
For example, a Personal Trainer getting up at 4.30am to do the administration side of their business in order to maximise the time they spend during the day talking to potential clients or helping existing clients change their lives.
A more personal example, for me learning to write ... using correct grammar, when I failed english (twice) at school. One of my dreams is to write a book so in order to achieve this dream I have to write. What better way to learn than to practice in blogs for an online business (and ... now... I do realise there is a difference between writing a blog and writing a full-length book).
So what is your WHY for being in business? What wakes you up at 2 am in the morning excited about the idea of making it happen. Having spoken to many successful business people I have found that the Entrepreneur is always thinking. Thinking about how to bring this idea, ... this dream into reality.
If for some reason the Entrepreneur doesn't know how to make it happen I have found from experience that they either go and learn how or find someone who can do it for them. I think this might be one reason we have all joined the WA community.
All the best with your dreaming
Matu
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How funny, I hadn't read this yet and I posted my why in my blog. Number one reason is that want to bring in enough money that my husband can take a job in the local market (jobs don't pay much out here) or not have to work at all.
So cool and I wrote it because the thought about WHY you do things seems to be a popular topic of conversation. One thing I suggest to my clients is to identify the emotion behind the reason why (because this makes it more powerful) what would the emotion be behind your reason?
Because I love him and we're happiest when we're together. I actually posted other reasons too... I want to be able to help people because doing that makes me feel good and would relieve some of their stress. All of my reasons are important, but the primary reason is selfish... I want my family in one place again so we can all be happy and enjoy our time together.
I love it! My main why is so that I can never work a job a day in my life again. I'm doing what I love, and eventually it will be how I make my living. I get goosebumps at the idea of freedom at that scale. :) Thanks for the good read. Good luck!
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I want to help people. Pure and simple. Always have. I can write, so that part isn't all that hard for me. What's hard for me is the technical end of things. Very willing to learn, though. My end goal is retirement for me and the husband. We're getting up in years and no backup. It WILL happen! Thanks for an inspiring post!
Thanks for sharing Carla :-)