Before you read this article, I want to point out that it isn’t the ramblings of a narcissist or a man absorbed in his own self-importance. (OK, for those of you that know me I have no excuse!) Moreover, it’s a reflection of life and the challenges many people take on their “Entrepreneurial Journey.”
I was always the one at school with the big dreams, big ideas, and exactly no idea what I wanted to do as a career. Perhaps that’s the typical journey of any successful entrepreneur, all I know is that my entrepreneurial journey has taught me lots of lessons (so far).
Let’s get started…
Entrepreneurial Journey Lesson #1 Be Goal Orientated
At 15 years old, I wanted to be a Millionaire and a Karate Instructor.
My school careers teacher in her infinite wisdom laughed at my notion of stepping away from the 9-5, 45-year plan, the one that she had invested in. Instead, she suggested I should take my head out of the clouds and consider a career in the Police Force.
I had given some thought to the Police during those ‘Serious conversations’ with mum and dad, but I was still unsure what I wanted to do. I had no real fixed goal, and without a goal, you end up swept along doing a job you don’t like because getting a job was what you did back in the 1980s.
Not so much an “Entrepreneurial Journey”, but more a road to a dead-end job.
In swift contrast to this was when I began property developing. My goals were mapped out, and I developed a plan of action. The plan was to work 16 hours a day. Half in the day job as a Police Officer (I hope you made the link here…) and half in building and property development.
We often talk about developing your reason why which in turn develops your focus for building your business. My reason why was a strong one, and 18 months later I had made multiple 6-figure businesses.
Lesson #2 Work A Plan
Having a plan is essential.
Too many people fail to make a plan because they don’t know what they want.
When you have defined what you want, work on your business plan.
When you first start your online business, leverage a proven business plan. This is why affiliate marketing works well, utilising existing marketing systems rather than building your own from scratch.
Lesson #3 Leverage & Invest
During the first 12 months of my property developing career I was close to burning out. Working 16 hours a day doing everything myself. After my first couple of developments sold, I had the money to hire people, but it wasn’t just other people’s time I was hiring, it was other people’s experience, tradesmen that were much better than me.
This gave me time to negotiate more deals, work less and earn more money.
When you start an online business, you’ll do everything yourself first. A short-term goal is to leverage other people’s time and skills to move forwards.
You have to invest in yourself. Every successful entrepreneur has invested in education and learning. The statement ‘knowledge is power’ is never so prevalent as with self-education.
As Jim Rohn said, “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”
If you’re reading this right now, then you’re investing your time to learn more. I’m no different from most Online Business Owners who have invested in my business education and I have no plans to change that, as learning never stops.
Lesson #4 Embrace Change and Technology
You may remember the brand Woolworth. A company that was established in 1924, despite its longevity, failed to properly embrace the Internet and closed down due to aggressive online competition.
Many people are cautious of change and new technology, but if you fail to embrace it then you limit your chances of success.
The Internet changes quickly, marketing methods change, and whether you like it or not, you have to embrace change and adapt to them.
Lesson #5 Focus On Helping Others To Succeed
Zig Ziglar said, “You will get all you want in life if you help enough people get what they want.”
Your focus should always be to help your audience get what they want. They should be the star of the show.
Help people who want to take action and give your time to those serious about their future.
Lesson #6 – Grow A Thick Skin
The journey of any successful entrepreneur is always met by the nay-sayers. The people who try to tell you your business won’t work.
The actual process of growing a thicker skin is building confidence, self-belief, and self-worth in your own skills and abilities. Let me tell you that there is nothing more enlightening and empowering than showing your vulnerabilities and not giving a hoot about people’s opinions or what they have to say.
Every Entrepreneur on their entrepreneurial journey has suffered from loss and being accountable for making mistakes and bad decisions. This experience develops your resolve, your mettle and your entrepreneurial mindset
If lesson #5 doesn’t work, try lesson #5a – Grow A Thicker Skin.
Lesson #7 – Balance, Timing, Effort & Spirit
This final lesson is a concept I have adopted since I was 12 years old when I began Karate back in 1983. The concept is interpreted physically, spiritually, and metaphorically.
Balance
Balance is equilibrium, a state of equal measure. In business, balance can be the work-life balance, the effort and reward balance, or understanding the 80-20 rule where 80% of your results come from 20% of the effort.
Timing
If our timing is wrong, our opponent will see weakness and attack. Timing in business is crucial… When is the best time to post on social media? When do you release a new blog post for the biggest impact, and when do you release your product to the market? Timing is crucial.
Effort
Take massive action, because developing a business takes effort As Zig Zigler said:
“Potential minus commitment equals nothing.”
– Zig Zigler
While it takes effort to build a business, when you build the foundations right in the first place, your business will experience the ripple effect. In time, those ripples expand and turn into waves.
Spirit
There is nothing better than the human spirit. We see moments of greatness all the time; During times of adversity and celebration. Spirit is having the courage to continue on when you don’t want to, feeling the fear and doing it anyway.
Spirit is pushing yourself outside your comfort zone and the exhilaration of pushing your boundaries to a degree where your original fears are a feather bed…
“Nature loves courage. You make the commitment by removing impossible obstacles. Dream the impossible dream and the world will not grind you under, it will lift you up. This is the trick. This is what all these teachers and philosophers who really counted, who really touched the alchemical gold, this is what they understood. This is the Shamanic dance in the waterfall. This is how magic is done. By hurling yourself into the Abyss and discovering it’s a Feather bed.”
– Terence McKenna
Your Entrepreneurial Journey
Now it’s time for you to make it happen. Wherever you are right now – know you can and will achieve more. Remember that when you put your mind to it, anything is achievable & I hope the insight into my entrepreneurial journey will help you on yours.
