So how many really successful entrepreneurs do you currently know? Ever had a chance to personally interact with them?
Besides reading their excellent books or listening to their highly inspirational and informative podcasts or attending their online webinars or paid offline events etc.
Have you had a chance to actually spend any real quality time with them? Because when you do, you’ll quickly realize and come to appreciate how and why really successful entrepreneurs, view long and short term success differently, than the average cash starved small business owner and or service provider does.
They view temporary failure as mere stepping stones to even greater future successes.
And they don’t let the fact that others around them (including) well meaning families and friends temporary or total lost faith in them, derail their short or long range goals! Meaning, once they decide on a specific plan of action, their ship is sailing with or without well meaning family or friends blessings!
So In The Eyes Of Successful Entrepreneurs Do They See The Glass As Half Empty Or Half Full?
(And Why Does It Matter?)
Ladies & gentlemen, I want you to be extremely honest about this next case study type of example. Suppose you’re one of the most respected board of directors of this local bank.
And you;re asked to lend your evaluation skills and expert (analysis and) opinion on the current and future potential viability of this one particular business.
And to make matters worse, a very good -and well respected-friend of yours, has been recently approached (not really, it’s strictly for theatrical purposes!) Anyway, this particular company is trying to secure private investor funding, to help with their expansion goals.
But here’s the thing, although the cash strapped small business is really struggling to get a foothill in their particular highly competitive niche. To date they haven’t really made any inroads worth mentioning, or had any major impact to this point in just their third year of existence.
And of course the owners (two young) extremely driven hard working blue collar type of entrepreneurs, are really struggling and just barely hanging on. Here’s what they managed to do to this point.(See how impressive or unimpressive you feel they’ve been to this point.)
Year one believe it or not, they only sold one unit! And no (just in case you wondering?), they’re not selling some really expensive computer software or hardware and maybe have some highly lucrative government contract etc.
It’s Not Where Or How You Start It’s Where You Ultimately End Up That Counts!
In year two, now their hard work (and extremely long hours) are finally starting to pay off! (Not really!!) But in years two & three, they sold three units in both years! And in year four, (look out world!) they’ve sold a grand total of seven total units (or widgets.)
Now ladies & gentlemen, here’s your particular dilemma. If you were one of the people in charged of ultimately deciding if this (hypothetical) small business, with local roots, was going to qualify for a small business loan.
Or if your well respected friend, who definitely values your expert opinion and business evaluation skills, asks your honest opinion about whether or not, they should invest (speculate) their hard earned dollars into this -entrepreneurial story in progress- or perhaps they should be more conservative, by investing in a more established (translated) less risky business venture. What would your honest advice to them be?
Successful Entrepreneurs See What Will Be! Not Just What Is!
Knowing that a staggering 88% of all start ups fail within the first five years (60 months) or less! And not wanting to unnecessarily risk the banks funds. And without knowing anything more about this mystery company case study and not knowing how much money they actually grossed (or didn’t gross) in their first four years of being in business.
Entrepreneur, here is the $64,000 dollar question. If you hold the final deciding vote about whether or not this cash starved struggling small business gets this loan from your bank or whether your friend should invest in it.
And without knowing anything more, other than what you’ve read thus far. What say you? Thumbs up or thumbs down? If you said no, that’s certainly understandable! But here’s what you need to know!
Believe it or not, entrepreneur those extremely dismal -real world- gross sales numbers, belong to a little known small business that ultimately created a well respected worldwide brand known as Harley Davidson! Yep! That’s correct!
That’s all they had done after their first four years in business! So the main point is simply this; successful entrepreneurs see past the current rather dismal reality! And have the vision, courage and passion to see what is to become! Don’t you agree?
So don’t let the the fact that you’ve stumbled right out of the gate or the fact that you’re not currently grossing eight figures per year yet, discourage you! Keep learning, failing and correcting, until you ultimately succeed!
Please list at least two simple spin off concepts (in the comments section below) that you can apply to your business, product or service in the next 30 days or less! As always, if you got any value out of this post, please Digg or tweet this. Thanks!
And be sure you grab your explosive free 22 step small business marketing idea kit series, because it will help you increase your profits by at least 25% in the next 90 days or less. And help you master your effective communication in marketing skills.(No matter what your particular niche market is.)
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Hey Mark,
Now you know you weren’t really being fair here because you said based on just what you know from what you shared what would we do. You gave us nothing, absolutely nothing to go on so of course most people would say no.
I didn’t know the history of Harley Davidson but that’s really pretty cool. Oh I firmly believe that if you have a vision and refuse to give up then the drive alone will probably get you to the end. Sounds like that’s exactly what they had and thank goodness for that right!
Thanks Mark for sharing this with us and hope you’re having a great week.
~Adrienne
P.S. I forgot to tell you the last time that I’m glad you got rid of your captcha! Yay!!!
Adrienne recently posted…How To Learn From A Superhero
Absolutely coach!
Because we both know if we knew ahead of time it was Harley Davidson
or any other successful company, that would have swayed our opinion!LOL!
And isn’t it quite scary to realize that if we had been asked to make
an early assessment of this new start ups chances for long term success!
We would have probably voted no! And thus the world
may have never heard of and enjoyed Harley Davidson!
Kinda scary isn’t it?
Hi Mark,
The statement that it is not where you are but where you end up resignates with me. In this online business we can struggle quite a bit in the beginning but if we keep a positive mindset and apply ourselves to learning from others who have been there done that, we can take the above statement and make it ring true in our business.
Additionally, I agree that successful entrepreneurs see what will be. They have a vision. They look forward to the future and not necessarily where they are at that moment. It is articles like yours that keep us moving forward and propelling us to success. Thanks for sharing.
Nathaniel Kidd recently posted…Non-Frugal Habits That Can Make You Go Broke
Awesome Nathaniel!
My friend, unfortunately, not every cash starved small business owner and or
service provider can see it!
But it’s entrepreneurs such as yourself that make this all worth while! Thanks for
your kind words and and continued support! Both are greatly appreciated!