Being an Entrepreneur

At the age of 16, I was making a little money for myself cutting grass. I decided to advertise on telephone poles and welcomed 12 new clients in my first season while working from the trunk of an Olds Delta 88 sedan. 25 years later, the business is still in operation with a team of 18 and a loyal customer base.

For as long as I can remember, I have been entrepreneurial-minded. I love the idea of seeing a product or process and thinking of how it could be better. Participating in many different life experiences (jobs) has helped me develop my mind and what I choose to focus on. I have been a bus boy at a local restaurant, picked nightcrawlers, taught drivers ed and sold clothes in a department store to name a few. Most of us have held odd jobs at one point in our lives which brings enrichment and clarity in knowing what we want. If you've held a job that rivals picking nightcrawlers, share in the comments and maybe we could get Mike Rowe to host a Dirty Jobs eposide on your behalf!

The more things we try, the more we know what we don't like. And the more we know what we don't like, the easier it is to develop passion. For some of us, this leads to more than one passion which can be difficult to juggle, depending on how well we focus and keep track of it all.

An entrepreneur's mind works different that most. We see the potential and believe it is possible...whatever it is we have out sights on. When new ideas come to mind, we must decide on which we are going to give attention to and how much. Consequently, we also need to recognize the ideas that need to be let go.

Consider these 3 types of entrepreneurs...

1. First, there are people who hone in on one idea, one business, or one niche and have a high probability of mastery in that topic and may become successful faster than most.
2. Next, there are people who have various interests to pursue, but run the risk of spreading themselves too thin and becoming a jack of all trades and master of none.
3. Then there are us who work for someone else, have lost interest or desire something new and try to make a go of it "on the side". This group goes through some of the most challenging transition as there can be very deeply inbedded beliefs and habits in the subconscious mind that need alteration. For example, the gap between being someone who has followed directions to becoming the one who has to call all the shots is often times a wide span to bridge. This is being recognized by entrepreneurs today who are developing a community-type atmosphere that allows learning to be had on a whole new level. I've found WA to be a great example of this with a high volume of member interaction which shortens the learning curve while creating new relationships at the same time.

My passion has certainly shifted a few times in the past 25 years, causing me to bridge some gaps. While I maintain some interests in the gardening niche, I have also been building on my education background. I have a long standing interest in how the mind works and what helps people learn most effectively. I attribute my years in operating a business as well as openmindedness to this development. Being open to change puts an entrepreneur in a place where they can objectively consider options and become an effective decision maker.

Some things to consider as you sift through ideas in your entrepreneurial mind:

• Is this related to something I am already thinking or doing?
• Is it a whole new venture in which I have no current experience?
• What makes me passionate about this topic or business?

From what I have read in the bios of many WAs is that we are "starting something on the side" or continue to pursue an "earn from anywhere" venture. The temptation to want passive and residual income from an on-line business is strong. We all know it is possible, but who is able to really connect the dots and persevere through thick and thin to get what we want? It is most often those with an entrepreneurial mind. If you are interested in learning how your characteristics match up with an entrepreneur's mind-set, pick up a copy of Strengthsfinder or visit their website to take the assessment.

Thanks for reading and I welcome your comments! What type of entrepreneur are you?

"It is because so many others will benefit that you should reach your goals" NT

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