Living Your Passion: What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur
Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?
Many people dream of leaving their job and starting a business. They daydream about being their own boss and living their passion.
However, only a few ever take the leap to explore their entrepreneurial yearnings.
For the majority, the perceived risk involved in starting a small business is just too great of an obstacle to overcome.
The stumbling block most of us can’t get over
So, what does it really take to be a successful entrepreneur?
Well, first let’s look at what it means to be an entrepreneur in general.
Entrepreneur – one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.
~ Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Many of us have the organizing and managing part down. We’ve done that for others for years.
We’ve created budgets, tracked expenses, managed resources, lead people, organized projects, conducted meetings, made decisions and been held accountable for results.
Most of us know how to run a business because without realizing it we’ve been doing it forever already. We’ve just been doing it for someone else.
The kicker in the definition above is the part about assuming the risk.
We keep holding back from going into business for ourselves because we aren’t sure we want to take the risk.
Basically, we are afraid that we might fail to earn a living as an entrepreneur. Furthermore, we fear that we might make some bad decisions and wind up worse off than we are now.
That’s the stumbling block holding most of us back. Agreed?
The most important thing you need to become an entrepreneur
Okay, so we’ve identified the stumbling block that is holding us back.
It all goes back to the question I posed at the beginning of this article. Do you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur?
We’ve already covered the part about organizing and managing. We already know that we are competent at that or other people wouldn’t pay us to do it.
What else is there?
Well, I’ve had the opportunity to be in business for myself and I worked with a lot of other entrepreneurs over that eight-year period.
As a result, I believe I have identified the remaining key ingredient to becoming a successful entrepreneur and I think that the word that sums it up best is GRIT.
Grit – firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.
~ Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
It takes an incredible amount of grit to decide to win at being an entrepreneur.
The ways that grit helps an entrepreneur succeed
An entrepreneur with a healthy does of grit does the following:
| Goes all the way - | The successful entrepreneurs that I’ve met are willing to do whatever it takes to make their business succeed. They get up early and work late. They make a ton of cold calls. They leave no rock unturned. They are firm in their commitment to making their business a success. |
| Refuses to lose - | Good business owners refuse to lose. They won’t take no for an answer. They are bulldogs, not in a pushy, obnoxious sort of way, but with a calm and persistent determination about them. They drive on until they get what they want! |
| Inspires others - | Entrepreneurs that achieve their goals know they can’t do it alone. They inspire others to join the fight. They rally the troops motivating those they need and letting their passion sell customers. Their enthusiasm is contagious and everyone that comes close catches it. |
| Takes responsibility - | Entrepreneurs that do well know that the buck stops with them. They do not make excuses about the economy or their suppliers or an employee’s bad behavior. Instead, they assume responsibility and make the situation right. They accept that the business rests on their shoulders and wouldn’t want it any other way. |
Living your passion as an entrepreneur is possible if you have grit
What do you think? Do you have the grit needed to be an entrepreneur? Are you willing to commit yourself and lay it all on the line?
It truly is a move that will make you feel more alive and excited than you’ve felt in a long time. What is holding you back from pursuing your passion?
Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts!
Photo by Niklas Hellerstedt
Hi Jeff,
I love the GRIT! Sound advice and easy to remember. I’ve recently completed a list of The 77 Traits of Highly Successful people.
These are the traits that separate the winners from the losers and I believe they’ll be very helpful to people who are looking to succeeding in life.
As an online entrepreneur myself, I find they’re especially useful to an entrepreneur.
Feel free to hop over to my blog to take a quick read. I believe you’ll find some value in it.
Cheers~
Mark
Read Mark Foo | TheBigDreamer.com´s latest article – The 77 Traits Of Highly Successful People – The Full List
Hi Jeff,
I love the mnemonic GRIT! That’s brilliant. I had taken the plunge to start my own business when I decided to stay home full time to raise our kids. It was scary initially but you’re exactly right I felt alive, excited and was super driven. In the end what ended it for me was a law change requiring so much product testing that it just wasn’t feasible. I’m not crushed though and I hope one day to do it again. Fow now I plan to apply GRIT to my life and see how it goes. Thanks!
Read Sherri (Serene Journey)´s latest article – How You Can Become A Catalyst For Change
Well Jeff, I think you summed it up accurately.
Creating your own business will test your grit, there is no maybe about it. Chances are it will test it in a lot of different ways. But I love the challenge, it really helps you discover who you are and what you are made of. This article is absolutely true, so if you are considering taking that step make sure you are committed to seeing it through. If you can embrace the four points in the box, you should be fine.
Read Jonathan – Advanced Life Skills´s latest article – 30 Ways to Quickly Improve Your Life
Good information! I always urge people to find their passion, and pursue it. Regardless of what it is… if you are passionate about it you will ultimately be successful. And this doesn’t only apply to entrepreneurs. It can be applied to your 40-hours-a-week job as well.
Keep it up!
Read Blake´s latest article – blakeamick: 5 networking connections every entrepreneur should make: http://ow.ly/2QW9
Jeff,
Nice article. GUOA: Good Use Of Acronym
One thing that constantly comes up on my TV show is resilience. Top entrepreneurs I’ve interviewed always talk about a struggle and how they got through it: No money, no business, no customers, etc. Those that are the most resilient and get through the inevitable problems, seem to consistently be the most successful.
Keep up the great work!
-D
Jeff,
Thanks for the tips. I have had a lot of ideas in my life on ventures to start up. Your advice helps a lot to sort out the important stuff first. Thanks!
Jake
Read Jake|Revive Your Life´s latest article – The Challenge of Change – Fear of the Unknown
GRIT indeed sounds cool. You ought to get a trademark on this before anyone does.
I am an online entreprenuer and there is nothing like running your own show.
Read Troy´s latest article – When Are Government Rebate Checks Being Mailed
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You’ve summed it up wonderfully. As the owner of a brick-and-mortar business, your acronym aptly describes the skills I try to muster for success in my own life. Nice work!
Read Dustin | sageprofit.com´s latest article – GOOD WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT: PIRATE FOR RANSOM
Love the term Grit! the best one is we refuse to lose. There is nothing that can stop an entrepreneur.
Read Jared O’Toole´s latest article – 3 Things A Business Can Do To Grow In A Down Economy With Stephen Balzac
GGGRRRIIIITT! Nice wording on this post. Risk is never fun, but a necessary evil in business. Thanks for the interesting tips and info. Keep up the good work! Thanks!
Read Jake | Revive Your Life´s latest article – Identifying and Overcoming Career Burnout
[...] What have you done lately to move toward your dream? Have you given up? Do you have the grit necessary to achieve your dream? Look at what might be holding you back and be sure you have the tenacity it will take to [...]
[...] Living Your Passion: What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur – by Jeff Nickles. I thoroughly enjoyed Jeff’s article on being an entrepreneur and the “grit” and determination needed to achieve our goals, ignoring the self-doubt or fear of success and just going for it! We really are our own worst enemies when it comes to creating and building our own success stories. [...]