What’s the Biggest Lesson Learnt in the Last 12 months?
The question was asked of entrepreneurs and business owners. What is your biggest lesson learnt in the past 12 months? More than 1,300 individuals replied. I’ll share excerpts.
You’ve gotta push beyond your comfort zone
Just do it. Don’t think too much, and don’t let your fear overcome you and stop you from taking the step
Money is just an illusion
Humility
Gratitude
Appreciate and value people in your circle
Patience
We become what we think
Don’t trust people
Reduce your debt. Dont borrow to buy luxury
You are responsible for everything, including most importantly yourself
Life will hit you with a brick on the head at the most unexpected times. Don’t panic, stay positive, and move on.
A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. ~John A. Shedd
The Quest for Entrepreneurship has risen to new heights. 101+ Quotes For New Entrepreneurs contends that with over 25 Million Americans starting or running new businesses, entrepreneurship has become incredibly attractive, yet extremely difficult to sustain. Adding to the excitement, the Gig Economy’s Freelancers comprise over 35 percent of the U.S. Workforce. Even with the traits of fearlessness, risk-taking, passion, resilience, and creativity, difficulties arise, and Entrepreneurs need to keep going.
Keep The Dream Alive
Here I share my 5 top books that can help New Entrepreneurs keep the dream alive.
Good To Great By Jim Collins shares the result of a study about businesses that were not born with great DNA. Can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? My own research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders…
Giving up is common. Not only among Entrepreneurs but also among all of us as individuals striving to achieve our goals. I looked deep into this pictogram to assess what I’ve come across as a coach. Here’s the detailed list clearly extracted from the picture.
Entrepreneurship improves productivity, spurs innovation, and creates jobs. This is the notion postulated by the Center for American Entrepreneurship. Thriving for independence and financial growth, many are the aspirers who long for the zeal of owning and managing their own business. But do you have what it takes to dive right in?
In a Shark public forum the question was asked” What three skills do you think Entrepreneurs need to be successful? Hundreds chimed in sharing both skills and traits.
Society has changed since the Pandemic and so has work. With the world-wind of changes as society continues to evolve, many are left struggling to catch-up.
So How Do You Survive?
So how do you survive? Here are a few ways that SHRM encouraged organizations to update and/or create policies that address the new norm at work.
If and how the organization will conduct temperature checks, whether it’s done directly, through a third party or by self-reporting.
Cross-training the workforce to accommodate more employee absences.
Social distancing in the workplace.
Essentially, employers should have employees sign policies that address safety at work to lessen the potential spread of the virus at work.
Employers should provide employees with face coverings if they can’t remain at a safe distance from each other or those who travel.
Keep in touch and Communicate with temporarily laid off or furloughed employees. Some suggest providing at least 36-hour notice if calling employees back to work.
Here’s a hug for you, and for you, and one for you.
But Hold up! With the advent of the Corona virus we are not supposed to be hugging right? It’s called keeping your social distance. We are now forced to find new ways to greet others at social gatherings such as in the networking sphere.
5 Ways To Greet Safely
Here are 5 Ways:
Look the person in the eye and use your feet to greet (shown in video). It’s called the Wuhan Shake.
Wave to say hello
Fist Bump
Head nod
Just say hello
There are tons more circulating but for now as we battle the Corona health pandemic, these should help bridge the gap.
You spend most of your day doing exactly what you wanna do when you wanna do it.
Alana has a craving that she wants to fill real time but she can’t leave the house. She gets on her Uber Eats App, orders ice-cream. 20 Minutes later a delivery person shows up with a bag that she’s able to indulge and satisfy her craving.
Going to the airport and can’t be bothered with the parking headache? Enter Uber. You call a cab on your App and within minutes a driver shows up. You get to the airport and what’s more you do the reverse on your return.
A full-time employee messes up, they’re fired at will and an immediate skilled replacement is contracted until the employer chooses to fill the position long term. Alas often it seems workers in the Gig economy are ‘hired‘ to work on demand for a revolving period, then exchanged for a replacement for yet another short term. The perceived benefit —no payment of fixed benefits costs.
Gig Economy Defined
In a Gig economy, temporary, flexible jobs are commonplace and companies tend toward hiring independent contractors and freelancers instead of full-time employees. ~Investopedia.
We could go on and on. Convenience is the order of the day. We want it done and right away. In our microwave society everything is almost immediate. If that need is not met, we scream in complaint, throw a fit, become enraged, cancel orders and more.
Autonomy
A young millennial smiled in response to a news-reporter’s question. She spends most of her day doing what she wants… when she wants. She commutes around town charging scooters. This is a common comment from this generation. Autonomy is the order of the day. Gone are the days when they leave school and get a life-time job. They want autonomy. They want to work when they want to work because they enjoy tremendous flexibility, independence and rid themselves of monotony.
Susan Milligan in a Society for Human Resource(SHRM) article asserts that there are two types of gig workers. Those who have no desire to work full-time and those who are in the midst of a job search for full-time opportunities but will work to get an influx of cash while they search. I dare say there are still those who work full-time but need to increase their income to save for a specific goal, as an Uber cab driver shared with me in New Orleans. Her daughter needed to travel for a school event so she was driving at nights to give her the opportunity to attend.
As this phenomenon becomes more widespread, the downsides of a lack of sustained income, benefits, responsibility for their own taxes sometimes attracts stress. But it seems the supplemental income drives the benefits for temporary or long term gain. The ideal getaway can be had by doing some gigs on the side or on a sustained basis. No need to be turned down due to scheduling issues. They go when they want and where they want.
The Change. The Times.
Signs of the times. Caution to employers or older generations who want to hold on to tradition. A career that lasts a lifetime – work for years with the same company then move on when retired or sadly these days, are replaced by the rapid changes in technology and innovation.
As I have always cautioned, to stand still is to be left behind. Embrace the changes, do what you must and survive the long haul. Thoughts? Do share. We would love to hear.
You’ve got to work hard for your success and you’ve got to have a steady presence. That’s the secret. ~Kid Rock
Must. Go. Faster. So said the Ad. But in this case they were talking about getting away from a tyrannosaurus chasing themin the movie Jurassic Park.
But I’m thinking if it from life as we strive towards our goals. Must. Go. Faster.
The Difference
But there’s a difference. Seeking goals is not about speed but steadiness…as in studying to getting an education. Just stick to it. Speed create mistakes as in microwave marriages these days. Jump in before knowing the person. What of education? Would you like a surgeon to operate on you knowing he got his degree in a month? One would question that.
And even a stellar athlete /Olympian. It takes years of practice to achieve the success that lasts.
So today be mindful of your goals. Speed is not the real deal …unless you’re running to save your life from creatures like a tyrannosaurus.
Start doing what is necessary. Then do what’s possible. Then suddenly you’re doing the impossible. ~St. Francis of Assisi
Many are the dreams of entrepreneurs. Those new who are brave enough to start and those who are still dreaming keep the momentum going through 101+ Empowering Quotes For New Entrepreneurs. If you are among those who wish to make the move, the Admin Cove shared 10-ways to safely and Successfully leave your 9-5 Job. Here I share their tips:
1]. Start with a goal and make a decision. This can be a goal of when you want your last day to be or what you would like to do. Written goals are more likely to be accomplished than non-written goals.
2]. Redesign your life. Begin to become conscious of your budget, your spending habits, and put together a plan of where you can cut corners in the meantime.
3]. Pick up a side hustle. Picking up extra work can help you save but more importantly, can provide you with a back-up plan for when you are ready to leave.
4]. Save up 3-months of salary. In the event that your business/backup plan takes longer to get off the ground, It’s good to have at least 3-months worth of salary saved up and ready to go for spending needs.
5]. Become laser focused on your plan. Keep your vision front and center DAILY and make sure to stay focused on the end goal.
6]. Work weekends, nights, and through lunch. Take advantage of the time you have outside of work and Budget your time wisely based on your lifestyle/family life. Always make sure to set aside ample time to focus on building your business/perfecting your craft.
7]. Master 1 skill. Focus on 1 skill which you’re already good at. Then, work on improving it. Stick to what you know in the beginning and become the best.
8]. Keep quiet about your goals. When possible, try to avoid sharing your goals with too many people especially those you work with.
9]. Don’t burn any bridges. Maintain healthy relationships with everyone you work with includes your boss. You never know when your paths will cross again and you may need their help or vice versa.
10]. Jump! Basically when you’re ready, make that leap. The more you think about it and worry about job security, the less likely you’ll make the decision to leave.
There you have it. Prepare your plans. Step our and realize your entrepreneurship dream,
Years ago I decided to publish my research on Success Strategies. This after interviewing heads of organizations in healthcare, media, aviation, politics, education, and such industries. I was thrilled! Hurrah I had published my first non-fiction book that was professionally edited and peer-reviewed!
Then came the hard part. I was now an author, but how could I let others know that I had written something they may benefit from? Something that if the right person receives, it would help them to succeed in business and new career ventures. Not to mention that it would drive them to take the leap and make that change in their goals, aspirations and ability to manage themselves and others?
That set me on a path... to learn what I don’t know. It’s a quest that I am still on. Tons of hard work but I’m loving it! Fast forward several years later I have published other books on success and career change, personal development and motivation.
So if you find yourself thrust into the unknown and being faced with a situation that you must confront or be left behind, take the time to assess these 7 things new entrepreneurs lack that causes them to fail to succeed.
The 7 Lacks Of New Entrepreneurship
1.Lack of Vision. Do you understand how your dreams fit into the big picture?
2. Lack of Planning. Do you know where you want to go and how to get there?
3. Lack Execution. If planning is important, execution is everything.
4. Lack of Funds. No revenue.
5. Lack of Marketing. How will others know that you exist?
6. Lack of good people. Hiring the bad. The cheap. The uncommitted.
7. Lack of Resilience. Giving up too early.
Are you a New Entrepreneur? Did any of the above resonate? Any that you think should be a part of this list? Do share. We would love to hear.
Good To Great By Jim Collins shares the result of a study about businesses that were not born with great DNA. Can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? My own research on 
Success Strategies 