Being An Entrepreneur: So You Kinda Of Sort Of Think You Understand What It Really Takes!
(Time Will Most Certainly Tell If That’s True !)
So let me guess, if asked the question, are you working extremely hard?
And giving (at least) a 110%!
Your answer will no doubt be, absolutely, correct?
Because you (unlike) so many others,(claiming to be entrepreneurs) totally understand and accept, being an entrepreneur is not a temporary mindset thing, you simply turn on or off, wherever it’s convenient!
You get you’ve got to mentally be prepared (at times) to attempt to deal with, (as best you can) certain unexpected things, you totally didn’t prepare for, (and unfortunately to this point) in your entrepreneurial journey, you may not have actually developed all the necessary skills you definitely need! Or will need in the not so distant future!
And on top of all that totally inspirational news, you actually have little or no control over how these negative situations will ultimately turn out anyway,right? 
(You’d better hurry up and know it!)
And in spite of this and other potential (financial) and emotional risk, you’re still willing and able to forge ahead!
And by doing so, sometimes, you find yourself, especially in the beginning, standing (both) physically and philosophically alone!You got that right? If so, my friend, you seriously might get, what being an entrepreneur is at least partially about!
So How Does Being An Entrepreneur Help Or Hurt Your Chances For Long Term Success?
It’s not an easy question to answer, especially within one measly blog post! But here’s the short of it! First of all, ladies & gentlemen, you, me and everyone else walking the planet, now or in the not so distant future.
You either get and embrace the opportunity, to work extremely hard working for yourself! Pursuing your dreams!
Or you reluctantly punch the time clock, helping someone else build and pursue theirs! Thank goodness, there is no in between here! It’s yea or nae folks.
Being An Entrepreneur Is More Of A Specific Type Of Mind Set Than Anything Else!
Truth told, if you’re currently working for someone else, full or part time, or both. As in the case of those individuals needing more income, in order to pursue the lifestyle of their choice.
If your ultimate intentions, is to become your own boss, or just work for yourself, in a service rendering capacity.Who’s ultimately (responsible), in your humble opinion, for making that transition finally become a reality!
Being An Entrepreneur Doesn’t Mean You Automatically Score Some Brownie Points Just Because You’ve Finally Decided To Try And Work For Yourself!
After all, you already work X amount of hours per day, X number of days a week, for someone else, right?
You gotta have to time to sleep, because without the proper rest, you’re no good to your employer(s), family, friends, spouse,kids and or live in significant other! Correct?
And of course, you definitely need on average, at least 15 to 25 hours per week, wasting time on Facebook or watching Netflix or network TV,correct? So where’s the extra time needed to work on building your dream, supposed to come from?
And “who’s” ultimately responsible for seeing that it’s allocated every day,week and or month etc!(Hint:The correct password is you!)
Being An Entrepreneur: So You Kinda Of Sort Of Think You Understand What It Really Takes!
So When Is This Entrepreneurship Thing Of Yours Supposed To Finally Take Place?
(Is It When You Can Finally Spare A Few Additional Hours Here And There? Or What?)
So does the name Tom Kulzer (by any chance) ring a bell?
I didn’t think so! Who is he you ask? Tom Kulzer (or Tom K.) as he’s often affectionately referred to as.
Why he’s none other, than the founder & CEO of Awber email marketing services. Now get this, ole Tom founded, (that is) to say, started Aweber, initially in his garage!Back in 1998.(Kind of sounds a little Steve Job- ish wouldn’t you say? )
Which means, before he got it up and going, Tom was busy punching the time clock for somebody else!And when he wasn’t busily on the job or dealing with life in general, like the rest of us!
He and (eventually) his initial team of renegades, built one of the most respected, paid email marketing service providers, in the entire industry!Which just happens to have, an over 99% deliver -ability rating!Thank you very much!
So When Does Being An Entrepreneur Officially Start?
And while this is all certainly impressive stuff, right? And today, Tom ‘s vision, of an extremely efficient, well managed, cutting edge, paid email service provider, currently employs just north of 100 extremely dedicated, and highly skilled individuals, from all types of extremely diverse backgrounds!
They’re all well educated, knowledgeable and extremely courteous, professional and customer centered and focused! Enough with the shameful plugs already!
Anyway, here’s my point (aspiring) entrepreneur.Back when Tom initially started his entrepreneurial journey.
Don’t Think Just Because You’ve Decided To Become An Entrepreneur Things Automatically Start Following Into Place!
How many other aspiring entrepreneurs, who (truth told) were better educated, had more initial start up capital than him, and had far more, real world business/entrepreneurial experience than Tom.
Ventured into the same industry, but for any number of reasons (you can think) of, didn’t make it, and are no longer around!Wanna take a wild guess?
Think about all the former search engine like businesses, which are now gone! Names like Alta Vista and others readily come to mind!Sure some got bought out, while others simply went bankrupt!
Does Becoming A Successful Entrepreneur Mean All The Stars Have To Aline Your Way First!
And how many well meaning friends, family members, and possibly spouses, live in significant others, or ex’s, do you think, tried unsuccessfully to warn ole Tom, now was (just not) the right time, to be trying to go out on your own!
Speculating, and gambling your future on some type of new venture, involving this (still) yet to be proven entity, called the Internet!
And how many of his initial employees and or managers, do you think are still with him? And how many individuals, including some really close personal friends, Tom, or his management team, (unfortunately) has had to let go since 1998!
Being An Entrepreneur Definitely Means Experiencing More Than Your fair Share Of Ups And Downs!
And how many of them, do you suppose, quit and, (and tried) or may have actually succeeded, in getting a few disgruntled renegades to go with them, vowing to create an even better rival service, only to bite the entrepreneurial dust, not soon after their bitter departure!
And how many of his truly closest, well meaning friends, family members, relatives and or former co-workers, and maybe even his last official employer as well!
Secretly (behind his back), predicted his little side project would ultimately fail!
There Is No Easy Buttons In Sight Once You Decide To Become A Profit Seeking Entrepreneur!
And within six months to a year, after he burned through his initial seed capital, and all the other money, and credit he begged, borrowed and stole, ran out!
He’d come crawling back, (hat in hand) looking for his old job, or some form of employment! And yet, here the guy is, 18 years later, still going strong and constantly getting better!
Becoming An Entrepreneur Takes Being Able To Effectively Deal With It And Then Some! (Don’t You Agree?)
By constantly responding to, and effectively dealing with, an entrepreneurs never ending array of challenges and or would be challengers!
His company has also managed to survive (intense) new,(not to mention) smarter, more cutting edge younger competitors!With fresher, new cutting edge ideas, than when he initially started his highly speculative venture with!
He’s also had to (both) endure, and learn and grow from some extremely harsh criticism from other vendors in the market place!
If You’re Not Dedicated To Constantly Growing! (Being An Entrepreneur May Not Be For You!)
Ex (major) customers, with huge list, (and tons of influence) who were paying his company top dollar monthly usage fees!
Because at least one of their lists totaled somewhere over 100,000 subscribers!Or more!
Who suddenly moved on to other, more robust, customized paid email service providers etc! And highly recommended their customers, their major corporate consulting clients, affiliates and subscribers do the same! And some of them did!
Ladies & gentlemen, the only point I’m attempting to make here is this! That’s just (merely) a small sample, of what being an entrepreneur is really about!
It’s Easy To Get Started! (But Not So Easy To Make Things Work!)
And it happens on a daily basis!
Long after your employees, managers and or associates, either go home for the day or quit altogether! You (and I) still have to deal with it folks!
Or you can punch in and punch out, and let others deal with it! But when you’re the employee/associate, your options are extremely limited! The choice is ultimately yours!
So what’s your conclusion? Is attempting to be an entrepreneur, and dealing with all the potential up & downs worth it to you?
Don’t Expect things To Be easy And Or Convenient! (Because It definitely Won’t Be!)
Or do you prefer, being at the mercy, of those that do? Now as is customary during this part of our show.
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