In 2007, I left my finance job as a VP and opted for an entrepreneurial career as a Business/Life Coach, Speaker, and author. This meant saying goodbye to a good salary, bi-monthly pay checks, a life in New York City and living 15 minutes away from my mom and brother. I moved to California in 2009, wrote a book, Living in YOUR Top 1%, and this past week spoke to over 400 people at three different companies ranging from real estate to a Fortune 500 company in healthcare to an investment company. I never regret my decision because I wake up the majority of mornings being excited about my work and the opportunity to make a difference.
As an entrepreneur and the CEO of my own business (like every entrepreneur), I am in charge and directly responsible for developing new coaching programs, marketing, business development, giving talks to various companies and every other area. Some days are great and other moments are frustrating but I know this is my path.
Here’s what I’ve learned along the way both from my experiences and coaching other entrepreneurs and companies to help them excel. I hope these are helpful and feel free to share your takeaways so we can all improve:
1. Belief
We all have moments when we doubt ourself. But entrepreneurs are hopeful and optimistic and therefore understand that these moments are temporary rather than permanent. You will need a top 1% team but at the end of the day, every entrepreneur needs to be his/her own biggest fan. At first, others may laugh at your idea until it becomes the standard and a way of life. People laughed at Ted Turner when he started CNN –- it’s now the standard to have news 24 hours/7 days a week.
Do you have the determination and belief in yourself to succeed even on the most challenging days?
2. Resilience
Setbacks or dips are part of the process. The best and most consistent companies have products that are flops (ie, think about how many drinks Starbucks has tried and discontinued). There’s nothing surprising about having a product that doesn’t do well, being rejected, experiencing a setback, or having a client tell you “NO.” That’s all part of the process and is par for the course. The true entrepreneurs look beyond these temporarysetbacks and realize that each dip is an opportunity to grow. The good days are easy but you will be measured on how you deal with the difficult days.
What rituals do you need to practice to manage the most challenging parts of your business?
3. Vision
True entrepreneurs have a vision others don’t see – whether it’s for yourself or the company. Regardless of the industry, you must have a craziness about you and the ability to expand the world’s view of what’s possible. We have visionaries in every industry Oprah creating her own network, OWN, with uplifting programming (which is still in the early phases) to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, changing the way people communicate globally.
What’s your vision you want to share with the world?
4. It’s A Process
Success is a process and, by definition, a process has different phases. The media showcases people who are selling their business for lots of money so it’s tempting to think that success is overnight. But in the headline they never mention that these same people worked for upwards of 5-10+ years to make it happen and worked many late nights. That part of the story is rarely the focus. So if you just read the headlines you will believe a very different story.
The path to mastery is through practice. Too many people I meet and speak with want success overnight. They expect results without putting in the time and effort and then get disappointed when things take a while. Just like losing 20 pounds takes time and happens one pound at a time, building a successful business happens over time by writing one more blog, making one more presentation, coming up with one new advertising idea and getting one more client. And yes, after putting in the time and effort consistently over time, success will be overnight (over many late nights)!
What does success mean to you?
Photo by Chiara Cremaschi
Excellent post. For me the two most important skills for any entrepreneur are Resilience and Resourcefulness. Resilience you mention here but Resourcefulness is a must – when we don’t have the things we need to hand we must find them or create them. Until we succeed we need Resilience. As for success, we all have a different opinion of what that is and even then it probably changes frequently. :)
Energetic, Now I can see myself where I am. Thanks
I suppose you’re ready when you take action and for me sucess as an entrepreneur will be doing business that is fun as well as “paying the rent”.
This is a good article. To be a good and successful entrepreneur, you need to have a clear vision and also believe in your self and the vision. The resilience will keep you going in the face of challenges and obstacles.
Thanks Alissa for your grounded reminders. The road to success is never easy or straightforward but it is always worth it. I agree with both Stuart and Peter resilience and fun are key to keeping going through the more challenging times. But it is remembering how much fun it can be because there are just days when the fun sees like a distant memory.
Thanks for the reminder, I am ready but really needed the reminder about it being a process!
Success to me means to live my truth, live a life of purpose and authenticity!
Thanks Heather for sharing. I like your definition of success and feel the same way!
As an entrepreneur in the early stages (6 months) I can really relate to your blog. I liked your explanation of the Path to Mastery = Practice.
I have a saying that I apply to my business and life which is “if it’s not fun it shouldn’t be
done”.
If I’m not enjoying something I feel it’s my belief and passion that I need to evaluate.
Great post,loved it,,,,
thanks….i ll be keeping learning from you!
I think it would be better if everyone started with a vision. Something that got them up every morning. I think it’s the only thing that can keep people in the game through all the struggles.
that’s so right
you just mentioned the most essential traits each and every entrepreneur must have
i think persistence is the most important one since the road to success is always full of failures
Excellent post! There are many people who assume that being an entrepreneur and going out on your own means freedom and power. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen over night. You’ve done a great job of pointing out what’s really involved.
As a fellow life coach, speaker and entrepreneur who like you went from the safety (if one can say that anymore) and security of a wage to take the entrepreneurial path, i can say it was the best, most empowering choice i’ve ever made. We get to work our passions and make a difference. It’s not an easy journey but the destination and events you will go through are worth it. Great, honest post!
Hii Alissa, Very Brilliant Inputs.
My definition for Success is “You do WHAT YOU WANTED to DO with utter-most SATISFACTION”.
Thanks.