Being an entrepreneur is tough. Being a successful entrepreneur, even tougher. Lots of people dream of being running their own business and being The Boss but that’s all. They just dream. Maybe dabble a little with a business at some point and give up when it isn’t wildly successful right away. What separates the “also rans” from the extraordinary?
For a good part of my life, I alternated between working for other people and entrepreneurship. Some of my ventures turned out pretty well, others went down in spectacular flames. Those “failures” weren’t much fun, but they opened doors to learning and growth. And to be honest, there were times when I went through those doors kicking and screaming.
For years I’ve studied what makes some entrepreneurs successful while others limp along or throw in the towel. What characteristics are key to passing ordinary on the way to EXTRAORDINARY?
1) A vivid image of where they want to go and what it will be like when they get there. A dream that’s so clear, so compelling that it’s worth the work it takes to achieve it. Coupled with that image is the belief that it’s possible even when facing huge obstacles. They believe in themselves and their dreams.
2) A willingness to try and risk failure. And a willingness to learn from those mistakes. Read the stories of successful people and you’ll find that every single one had setbacks and disappointments. As Michael Jordan, arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time said, “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” Henry Ford tried several businesses and went bust five times before establishing the Ford Motor Company. Risking failure, learning from mistakes and trying again -- and again -- and again. That's what makes someone extraordinary.
3) Action-oriented. They’re self-starters who don’t wait for conditions to be perfect before they begin. They don't wait for permission. With a plan in place, they focus on what’s going to move them closer to their goals. Procrastination is fear wrapped up in excuses. Those who achieve their dreams show up every day and do what’s necessary. They understand that small steps, taken consistently, eventually result in success.
Does it take more than just these three traits to be an extraordinary entrepreneur? Yes, and I’ll be writing more about them in the future but without these traits no one can be truly successful.
About the Author: Bonnie Pond, author of The Power of Three: How to Be Happy and Get What You Want in Life (Without Doing Anything Illegal, Immoral, or Unethical) has founded several small businesses. She knows building a company takes hard work and that having a life outside of work often takes a back seat. A double cancer diagnosis a few years ago led to Bonnie's commitment to live like she really means it and make her life count -- and to help others do the same. As the "Live an EXTRAORDINARY Life" expert, she's worked with hundreds of people around the globe focusing on happiness, confidence-building, purpose, overcoming fears and doubts, and action vs. procrastination. In her work as a speaker, author, and host of a weekly radio show, Bonnie shows people how to step up and take their lives from ordinary to EXTRAORDINARY.
BONNIE POND
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