Being an entrepreneur is an exciting and challenging journey, but it’s not without its difficulties. I’ve learned many lessons along my own entrepreneurial journey and will continue to learn more. One common struggle many entrepreneurs, including myself, have faced is maintaining focus. Let’s look at five key reasons entrepreneurs often need help to stay focused. From having too many ideas to trying to do everything themselves, understanding these hurdles can help them develop strategies to overcome them and improve their productivity.
Too Many Ideas
One of the most prominent challenges entrepreneurs face is having too many ideas. While creativity and innovation are crucial for success, an overload of ideas can hinder focus. Entrepreneurs often have a mind buzzing with possibilities, making committing to a specific path difficult. The constant influx of ideas can create a lack of clarity, leading to scattered efforts and limited progress.
To combat this, they should prioritize their ideas by evaluating their feasibility, potential impact, and alignment with long-term goals. By narrowing their focus to critical ideas, they can allocate their time and resources more effectively, ensuring progress on tangible goals. They should also consider creating an idea bank or a vision board to capture and organize their ideas, giving them a sense of control and a structured approach to pursuing their most promising concepts.
Undetermined Objectives & Goals
Another reason entrepreneurs need help with focus is understanding and knowing the specific objectives and goals they want to achieve in their business. Without a clear direction, they can chase multiple avenues simultaneously, resulting in a lack of progress and wasted resources.
To address this issue, entrepreneurs should take the time to define their objectives and set achievable goals. Understanding your goals involves breaking down long-term goals into smaller, actionable tasks. By setting milestones and deadlines, they can create a sense of urgency and structure that fosters focus and accountability. Regularly reviewing and reassessing these goals will help them stay on track and adjust their focus when needed. Tools such as goal-tracking apps or project management software can aid in organizing and monitoring progress toward objectives.
Imposter Syndrome “Imposter syndrome, characterized by self-doubt and the fear of being exposed to fraud, can significantly impact an entrepreneur’s ability to stay focused. When entrepreneurs question their capabilities and feel undeserving of their success, it can lead to a constant struggle for validation and perfectionism.”
To overcome imposter syndrome, entrepreneurs should acknowledge their achievements and remind themselves of their expertise and skills. Celebrating small wins and documenting positive feedback can help counter self-doubt. Seeking support from mentors or joining entrepreneurial communities can provide reassurance and perspective. It’s crucial to recognize that everyone experiences self-doubt at some point, and success comes from taking action and learning from mistakes rather than striving for perfection. Engaging in regular self-reflection and practicing self-compassion can also help entrepreneurs overcome imposter syndrome and maintain focus.
Past Business Failures
Entrepreneurs who have experienced past business failures may need help to maintain focus. The fear of repeating past mistakes or facing another setback can be paralyzing. The weight of past failures can distract entrepreneurs from focusing on their current ventures, limiting their progress.
To overcome this hurdle, entrepreneurs should view failure as a learning opportunity rather than a personal reflection of their abilities. It’s essential to analyze past failures objectively, identify the lessons learned, and apply them to the current endeavor. Seeking guidance from mentors or business coaches who have overcome similar challenges can provide valuable insights and support. Additionally, implementing risk management strategies, such as conducting thorough market research and creating contingency plans, can help them feel more confident and focused on their current business venture.
Trying to Do Everything Themselves
Entrepreneurs often need help delegating tasks, leading to an overwhelming workload and a lack of focus. Many entrepreneurs have a hands-on approach and find it challenging to trust others with critical aspects of their business.
To address this issue, they should embrace the concept of delegation. Identifying tasks that can be outsourced or handled by a competent team allows entrepreneurs to focus on their core strengths and strategic decision-making. Delegation not only lightens the workload but also frees up time for critical activities, such as planning, networking, and exploring new opportunities.
Entrepreneurs can start by assessing their strengths and weaknesses and identifying areas where they can benefit from external support. Building a reliable team or hiring freelancers and contractors with specialized skills can ensure that essential tasks are handled efficiently. Implementing clear communication channels and setting expectations with the team can foster trust and enable entrepreneurs to let go of control gradually. By leveraging the expertise of others, they can enhance their focus, productivity, and overall business performance.
Brief Recap
Staying focused is vital for entrepreneurs who apply themselves throughout their entrepreneurial journey. By understanding the reasons behind the struggles with focus, such as having too many ideas, undetermined objectives, imposter syndrome, past business failures, and the urge to do everything themselves, they can develop strategies to overcome these obstacles. Entrepreneurs can enhance their productivity and achieve long-term success in their ventures with a clear vision, defined goals, effective delegation, and a resilient mindset.
Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Entrepreneurship demands high levels of focus, creativity, and problem-solving. However, the stress, long hours, and constant decision-making often lead to
Hi JáSki! Welcome to our Creator Series Q&A – Tell us a bit about your background, creative mission, and why Art & freedom of expression are priorities for you. (Creator Series)
A: As a child, I created these Abstract pieces that resembled the stained-glass windows in churches. I’ve always had a love for colors and beautiful spaces.
I started at the Art Institute of Washington as an Interior Design student. After being offered a low-paying interior design internship, I decided to look at other options to generate income. It was important for people to be surrounded by beautiful things in beautiful spaces, so I wanted to inspire colorful and vibrant spaces for people to live and work. My professors loved my Abstract artworks and thought they were unique enough to be viewed publicly. I decided to take it further and explore providing original art pieces and paintings to influence and complement design and decor. I knew I wasn’t going to be an Interior Designer – I didn’t want to anymore – but maybe I could provide items and inspiration to the world’s designers.
The more Abstract Artwork I created, the more I realized that the creative process was transforming me and my thoughts. I had to think beneath the surface when viewing my paintings. I had to ask myself, what did I see? How did I feel about it? It made me better, and I identified a pretty complex person within. Art has been a catalyst for me to explore my thoughts. Art, in all of its forms, should be something that causes everyone to take a look within. It doesn’t matter if you are the creator series or just observing and enjoying. It’s something that happens automatically. I wanted to invite people to take a moment away from all the world’s distractions. Those distractions drown out the little voice inside of us. To connect with their inner selves, to hear what that voice was saying.
I started having Art exhibitions in some of the local galleries and got an idea while walking past a rug store in downtown DC that I could turn my Art into rugs. I wanted to see how my Art would look on the floor. Couldn’t the floor be Art? I created the AmberRugs, and they sold out! That was my 1st successful Entrepreneurial debut. It came with errors, lessons learned, and a hefty price tag. But the clients that own these rugs are beyond happy with the product. I like to say that they are the best Abstract designer rugs! (Creator Series)
Q: How does creativity play into your goals as an artist and what do you enjoy most about creating new artwork? (Creator Series)
A: Creativity is everything. It’s a spirit that requires boldness to follow, and the nature of creativity has genuinely been a blessing in my life. As I navigated Art school, my confidence increased with each piece of artwork I completed. Some liked it, and some did not. I listened to those who “got it” and developed a style encompassing the best aspects of my work that they reacted positively to. Those were my people.
With creating new artwork, I find it best to create when I feel inspired strictly. I don’t want to be paid to paint a particular thing or way. I want to create what I feel inspired to see. I can’t rush or force creativity because it’s a slow journey unfolding before me. I never have an idea of what I will paint next. I truly enjoy and thrive on freely creating things, especially CRAZY-looking things people like and relate to. I love to hear what people see in my Art. The viewers often give me different definitions that they believe apply to my Art, and I love hearing the feedback. It gives meaning to my thoughts and creations.
Q: Tell us about your latest collection! Abstract Eye Art Collection (Creator Series)
A: The Abstract Eye Collection is a creator series of 40 original works dedicated to examining the human eye at a microscopic level.I always felt that creating a cohesive body of similar but not the same artworks was important. The thought of examining a human eye and how different each eye would be fascinated me. It’s the attention drawn to the various colors, lines, and shapes that could make up the windows of the soul.
It’s one of those things I imagine I would see under a microscope. Then there’s a spiritual element in it relating to eyes. Things in space look like eyes to me. It’s an open-ended concept.
Because no two eyes are the same – not even your own, each artwork is uniquely different. The color contrast is fun to follow in every piece, and when shown together in a pair or more, their uniformity – amid each singular expression – can be awe-inspiring.
Q: What’s your go-to exercise or an inspiration tool that you use to stay motivated on the days you don’t feel inspired? (Creator Series)
A: A good love life, high kicks, good music. Being constantly surrounded by Art keeps me inspired. I also read and listen to inspirational and educational things daily.
Q: As a creative, I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of challenges – how did you overcome any obstacles that have gotten in the way? (Creator Series)
A: Every day can be a challenge sometimes, right? I remember dealing with little to no money early in my art career – the normal struggling artist! My car broke down once, and I had to travel to Eastern Market in DC on the train with my Art. My young daughter and I trekked on the train with my canvasses, hoping to get lucky enough to sell a piece of Art to get us through. A few times, I remember leaving the Go-Go in DC late at night and going straight to Eastern Market to sleep in my car for a few hours to get the best spot for my Art to be seen by the most people. The earlier you got to Eastern Market as a vendor, the better your spot. We would start lining up at 5 am. That grind shaped my career and allowed some prestigious eyes to view my Abstract Artwork.
A certain grit is required to keep going and creating, whether you sell your work or not. I’ve stood outside with Art under a tent in the hot summer and even in the cold of winter. I believed in it that much. You must show up for yourself and your Art every chance you get. I’ve embarked on creating things with no idea of how I would fund the project, but with boldness and determination, everything is possible. You have to keep going. (Creator Series)
Q: We appreciate you visiting with us on the Creator Series! Before you go, tell us your favorite quote or mantra and why. (Creator Series)
A: A quote I developed very early in my Art career is, “My Art is as Abstract as life is…”. Different things can look very different when you look at them from varying distances and perspectives. An onion looks one way in the store, another way when you cut it, and yet another way if you were to put a sliver of that onion under a microscope. It’s best not to judge anything that you see until you can examine the different aspects of it. (Creator Series)
Hashtags: #theabstractprincess #jaskiwatkins #Creator Series
Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you want to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Entrepreneurship is one of the most rewarding careers out there, but it can also be one of the most stressful. You’ll need to embrace your inner entrepreneur if you want to make it in this competitive industry, but taking that first step can be challenging. Being an entrepreneur is the first step toward financial independence, but many people are unaware of what entrepreneurship does for your health. It turns out that being an entrepreneur has positive effects on your mental and physical well-being. Here’s how entrepreneurship changes your life for the better.
1. You learn to let go of the word “busy.”
Becoming an entrepreneur will teach you that it’s okay to say no. You won’t have time for every event and social gathering, no matter how much fun they sound in the beginning. It also gives you more time to relax and enjoy life.
In addition to this, entrepreneurship forces you to make better use of your time so that even if all day long feels like busyness and chaos, at the end of each day or week, month or year, one can look back on what they’ve accomplished and realize how much they’ve really done instead of feeling like nothing got done because everything took so long.
2. They tend to spend more time with their families.
Entrepreneurs tend to spend more time with their families. Entrepreneurs are often thought of as workaholics because they’re always working on something and rarely take vacations. However, most entrepreneurs are not like that at all.
Entrepreneurs understand how to balance the demands of family and business. They may not have as much time for their friends or other interests, but since their work provides a way for them to provide for their family (and sometimes even friends), it doesn’t seem like a big sacrifice for them.
3. You get to see your own vision come to life.
Being an entrepreneur takes commitment and persistence. Well, most entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs because they want to make their own rules and do things differently. So, when you start your own business, you get to see your vision come to life. You get to be as creative as possible without having someone else tell you what works or doesn’t work for them. It’s liberating!
4. You see things from a different perspective.
You start to see things from a different perspective. You learn to see the big picture and what’s possible. You can spot potential in people and ideas that others might miss because you’ve become more aware of their perspective.
You also start to understand that sometimes you need the right tools or mindset to progress with your goals, so seeing things from another viewpoint helps give us insight into how we can reach them.
5. Entrepreneurs tend to be healthier than average.
You are more likely to be physically active as an entrepreneur. You’re also more likely to eat healthy, and less likely to smoke. In fact, you can generally expect higher self-esteem and satisfaction in your life as a result of being your own boss.
Entrepreneurs are also more likely to have strong support networks, which makes sense because they’re working hard at something they love. They have the opportunity to meet new people every day, and these relationships can contribute to better finances, too (such as through networking events).
If you’re considering entrepreneurship, we strongly recommend Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear. It’s a practical guide to building positive habits and breaking negative ones. The book explains how small, consistent changes can lead to significant improvements in your life and provides a step-by-step approach to making lasting changes.
7. You get to be your own boss.
Being your own boss means you get to make all the decisions. You decide when and where to work, what hours to keep, how much money you want to earn, and even how your business should operate.
This means that if you want a long weekend off or even a week-long vacation with no contact from anyone at all—you can do it! And that freedom is something many people dream about but never actually accomplish in their current jobs.
Unlike traditional employment, where there may be limits on when you can request days off, entrepreneurship allows you the freedom to self-manage.
There will be more ups and downs than you’d probably like, but you’ll learn how to appreciate each one for what it is.
When things are going well, you’ll have plenty of time to celebrate on your own terms—you won’t have to wait until your boss gets back from vacation or gives everyone Friday afternoon off because they’ve hit their sales goals for the quarter.
8. Your relationships become stronger and deeper.
Your relationships will be the first to change. Entrepreneurship is incredibly rewarding and exciting, but it also means that you will have less time for your loved ones.
Your friends might feel slightly neglected or even abandoned as you begin working full-time on your business. This can leave them feeling hurt or confused—and often leads people to question whether they should continue being friends with you.
But if you take things slow, be honest about what’s happening in your life, and communicate openly with them about it (not just when something comes up), there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be a positive experience for everyone involved.
In fact, many entrepreneurs report that their friendships become stronger and deeper once they work on their own businesses because they have more free time available to spend with those who matter most in their lives—people who aren’t necessarily interested in entrepreneurship themselves but still want to hang out with them anyways (and vice versa).
Entrepreneurship has been shown by researchers like Dan Pink at Stanford University School of Medicine as well as other business experts like Simon Sinek or Jack Ma himself (founder of Alibaba) that it improves empathy levels among entrepreneurs due to increased self-awareness which makes one more aware of how others feel around them too.
9. You’ll inspire others to pursue their dreams.
When you start your own business, you’ll inspire others to pursue their dreams and show them that there is a path to success. When someone asks how you made it, it will be easy to share with them the steps that got you there—and why they, too, can follow in your footsteps.
Not only will entrepreneurship make people feel inspired, but it can also bring happiness into their lives as well. It doesn’t matter if they don’t have any money or experience; entrepreneurs begin with nothing but an idea and end up becoming successful because of their determination and drive. They’ve seen what people thought was impossible become possible through hard work and perseverance.
Being an entrepreneur can change your life by making you happier and healthier while working on your own terms.
If you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, we highly recommend it. Even if you aren’t sure which path to take or what kind of business to start, it’s never too soon to start planning out your future! Entrepreneurship has been shown again and again to change people’s lives for the better. So give it a shot: we’re confident this article will help inspire some plans for you.
Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you want to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!
If we had to agree on one factor that makes human beings unique, it would be the gift of individual creative expression. No matter how small the gift or talent may seem, we each have something special to share that sets us apart from anyone else. Although many of us share similar gifts, we each have our own way of expressing them. Many of us can inspire, motivate, empower, or encourage others without being aware of it.
Sharing your gift is a way to give back to the world, not because you have to but because it allows others to learn, grow and advance in ways they have yet to experience.
Throughout history, we have heard of people from diverse backgrounds who have shared their gifts or abilities and later become well-recognized for their contributions. Not that recognition should be your primary motive for sharing your gift although public recognition and appreciation from others can happen.
From novice writers who have found their calling in writing books or poems to talented athletes who have pushed performance boundaries within their sport, we all have something to offer. When these talents are shared, we allow others to enjoy the uniqueness of our gift.
Whatever sets you apart from others is the source of your creative abundance. Your gift and your creativity serve as fuel for others. Taking action will inspire others to do the same. And as the old saying goes, gifts are meant to be shared. Again, you’re not seeking appreciation or validation for sharing your gift – your main focus is to share it. Those individuals drawn to experience your creative talent are the ones who will appreciate it most. But, no one benefits if you’re unwilling to share it first.
Sharing your gift also provides knowledge for others. So in sharing, we help others navigate their journey.
This is why we need to move beyond whatever self-doubt or fear we experience. We fuel self-limiting emotions even more when we debate whether we’re talented or good enough to share our work or ideas. By highlighting your gift, you eventually move beyond the fear of being judged and criticized. And again, more importantly, we allow others to experience what it’s like to share in those gifts, which can encourage them to do the same.
1. Create a Space Online
You could start by creating a blog, social platform, podcast, or YouTube channel that focuses on a topic or subject that lights you up. Any outlet where you can express your ideas through your talent is an excellent place to start when sharing your gift. If you feel stuck when trying to determine the best option for you, ask yourself these three questions:
Who is my audience?
What platform(s) do they use (where can I find them)?
How will using this platform help me reach my audience? One of the biggest benefits of creating an online space is that it’s something you can do from anywhere in the world. This means you can create a blog from your bedroom or a website from your local coffee shop. A space online allows you to share your work with a broader audience.
Check out organizations in your area that are involved in events or discussions that allow you to contribute your gift in some way. This could be through a speaker organization that can help you cultivate your talent or an animal shelter that allows you to work within their organization and work directly with animals waiting to be adopted.
Volunteering is also a great way to flex your creative muscles. You’ll be working with people with different talents than you, which can give you a new perspective on how to approach problems. You’ll also work toward a common goal, which can help you think outside the box and make connections between seemingly unrelated topics.
Consider the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data (2022): a staggering 23.9% of Americans volunteered their time. This translates to millions of people sharing their gifts and making a positive impact.
3. Start Performing – Take Action
Whether a speaking engagement or open mic comedy night, putting yourself out there through action is a great way to share your gifts. Consider performing. Even if you’re hesitant about getting on stage, do it in fear, knowing that you’ll get better and better over time.
Talent is like a muscle: it will atrophy if you don’t use it. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t practice and hone your skills, you won’t get very far. Your goal is to stop sitting on your gifts and start giving them.
Benefits of Sharing Your Gifts
1. Personal Fulfillment
Sharing your talents allows you to express yourself authentically and pursue your passions. This can bring a sense of personal satisfaction and joy as you engage in activities that resonate with you deeply.
Sharing your gifts not only enriches your life but also positively impacts others. Our Creative Strategy Sessions offer expert guidance and tailored strategies to help you effectively share your talents. Unlock your full potential and showcase your creativity with confidence by joining us for a session today.
2. Building Connections
Sharing your gifts isn’t just about expressing yourself—it’s also about building connections and forming meaningful bonds with others who share your passions. Whether you’re collaborating on a project or simply swapping stories and insights, your gifts have the power to bring like-minded people together.
In doing so, you not only create a sense of belonging but also foster a vibrant community where everyone’s contributions are valued.
3. Personal Growth
Stepping beyond your comfort zone, embracing risks, and challenging yourself are essential for sharing your gifts. This journey of personal growth involves learning new skills, overcoming obstacles, and expanding your horizons.
By daring to explore the unknown, you enrich your experiences and evolve into a better version of yourself.
4. Developing Creativity and Innovation
Sharing your gifts not only stimulates creativity but also prompts fresh exploration of diverse viewpoints and ideas. This fosters innovation by inspiring you to experiment boldly, embrace calculated risks, and challenge the status quo.
As you push the boundaries of conventional thinking, you open doors to unprecedented possibilities and pave the way for transformative breakthroughs in your field.
5. Making a Difference
Sharing your gifts extends beyond personal satisfaction—it’s about making a difference in the wider world. Whether it’s sparking inspiration, advocating for important causes, or fostering positivity in your community, your contributions have far-reaching impacts.
By embracing your talents, you play a vital role in creating a brighter future for all.
6. Happiness and Well-Being
Research demonstrates a clear link between assisting others and utilizing your abilities intentionally to enhance happiness, self-worth, and overall life fulfillment. By leveraging your talents to make a positive impact, you cultivate a sense of significance and direction in your life.
This connection between giving back and personal well-being highlights the profound benefits of sharing your gifts with the world. (source:APA PsycNet)
7. Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Helping others and feeling connected to a community can have a calming effect. Studies indicate that it lowers stress hormones and induces a state of relaxation.
This connection underscores the therapeutic benefits of both giving and belonging. (source:NCBI)
Conclusion
When we have something – a talent or gift – that gives us an endless flow of creativity, peace, freedom, or empowerment, it shows that others could benefit too. When we decide to share, we support the potential for the endless opportunities our gift affords others.
Also. when we keep our gifts to ourselves, we end up diminishing our creativity because we’re not putting anything out to receive new creative energy. Stifling creative energy often leads to dissatisfaction and frustration in our lives. We end up with a surplus of drawings, crafts, and other skills that never see potential.
Many of us tend to discredit ourselves when it comes to our gifts. We agree with the inner critic who often taunts us with the internal noise of doubt, unworthiness, indecision, and fear; These are common characteristics that keep us from advancing our talents to the next level.
Are you ready to ignite your creativity and share your unique gifts with the world? Don’t wait any longer: schedule your Creative Strategy Session today! Let us work together to develop personalized strategies that will help you reach your full potential and succeed.
Are you feeling less than satisfied with your life at the moment? Would you like to learn about some excellent method for turning your situation around and building a future you will cherish? Then take a moment to consider the three tips published in this article. Each of these ideas will help you to identify and achieve your life goals, and they will also help you to remove any harmful elements that might have an adverse effect on your mood and existence. None of these ideas are complicated, and you can make use of them all without spending lots of money.
Tip 1: Broaden your mind with travel
There is no getting away from the fact that travel is often the best way to expand your horizons, find new opportunities, and learn more about yourself as a person. If you can afford to take a break from work and visit a foreign country for only a few days; you will arrive home feeling revitalized and filled with new ideas. People who don’t travel often see life through horse blinkers, and they never witness the endless possibilities that rest just outside of their narrow view. You never want that to happen to you, and so you must travel as much as possible.
Tip 2: Take some “me” time
Do you make time for yourself to relax during your busy working week? Going to the gym or drinking in a local bar on Friday nights doesn’t count. “Me” time should involve doing something alone so you can gather your thoughts and come up with lots of new ideas and dreams. If you don’t do that at the moment, now is the best time to make space in your diary so you can walk around a local park, drive out to a spot with a fantastic view, or something like that. Your goal is to spend some peaceful and quiet time with yourself.
Tip 3: Read as much as possible
Most people think their education stops when they leave school or university. However, the truth is that’s when your real learning begins. Adults who read about world history, different cultures, and just about anything else that sparks their interests will always find it easier than most to create the life they want. As the old saying goes, knowledge is power, and you are never going to come up with the perfect solution to your issues if you don’t learn as much as possible.
Those three tips, while straightforward, could make a significant difference to your life during the next few years. So, if you’re out there trying to come up with a perfect new business idea or something similar, be sure to make use of the advice from this article because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Even if you don’t have any particular ambitions right now, the tips listed on this page might assist you in forming some. If you never have a dream; you’ll never have a dream come true, right?
If you are looking for a mastermind group to push past a problem and start thinking creatively, you will need to think carefully about the kind of people you recruit. Problem solving is always about something in a new and creative way so it follows that your process will need to be new and creative too.
Always Recruit Diversely
Diversity is getting more and more attention but unfortunately, it is always more about being inclusive and looking good rather than creating the perfect team. The truth of the matter is that diversity comes in many forms and the more you can tick off the more likely your team will be able to solve any problem put in front of them.
So don’t just think about skin color, think about where people have been brought up and how, what their life experiences are, what their skills are, what their outlook is, how they communicate, what their specialisms are. Businesses are fast realizing that hiring the same people over and again isn’t working. Hire someone who doesn’t think like everyone else and with some encouragement, new ideas will blossom.
Search Near and Far
Technology has well and truly changed the way that we do business now and remote workers are now just as easy to access as those in your hometown. This means that you can broaden your search for the perfect team members and focus on what you are looking for not where you are looking for it.
Conference calling is a good way to host the meeting and you can use tools like Trello to monitor what everyone is doing, even if you are spread across the continents. However, there is something to be said for all sitting in a room together so you should think about whether you are really looking for someone who can come into the office.
Look for Potential and Determination
It is always tempting to hire for experience but this isn’t what a mastermind group is about. Instead, you should be looking for potential, someone who might not have the experience yet but certainly can bring new and fresh ideas to the table. Young people are often overlooked because they lack experience and yet they are often the ones with a new perspective you need.
The other characteristic that shouldn’t be overlooked is determination. Some people are determined to overcome the odds to succeed and they are definitely the type of people you need to inject some enthusiasm into your group. Rather than shrugging at a problem, determined people will approach it from every angle until the problem is cracked. And that is a mastermind approach if ever there was one.
When you create your own mastermind team, you need to look past what you have already tried and go for something new. Put people who wouldn’t usually sit together in the same room and let them figure out the best method for solving the problem. All you need to do is let the magic work.
Running your own business is extremely challenging. To be a successful entrepreneur, you need much more than the love of selling. You need to be passionate about your business, stand by your products or services, and stay motivated.
We’ve listed the top 5 movies that will inspire you as you make it through your entrepreneurial path. We hope these movies will motivate you to persevere, ignore the naysayers, and get you in the right mindset for business success.
1. The Pursuit of Happyness
“You got a dream. You gotta protect it. People who are unable to do something want to tell you that you are incapable of doing it. If you want something, go for it. Period”.
Based on the true story of Chris Gardner, this movie is filled with heartbreaking scenes, and it doesn’t seem like things will ever go right for the main character. Will Smith plays Gardner who has to support himself and his son during an unpaid internship.
With barely any money, they end up sleeping in shelters and at one point, on the floor of a subway station bathroom. We don’t want to spoil things for you by giving away the ending but the takeaway is never to give up, and that passion and sacrifice are essential to success.
3. Forrest Gump
“I just felt like runnin’.”
While many would think that Forrest Gump’s phenomenal business success was purely accidental, it’s his good-natured spirit behind it all.
People will tell you how cutthroat the world of business is. While that’s true, some people succeed by doing what they feel is right, giving credit where credit is due, and that your most brilliant ideas can come to you when you least expect it. This movie epitomizes how good things happen to good people.
3. Jerry Maguire
“Help me help you.”
Yes, Jerry Maguire is a romantic movie, for the most part. I think the beautiful lesson that this movie teaches any entrepreneur is that you define what success means to you. Success doesn’t mean having high-profile clients, multi-million deals, or the biggest billboards. Stick to your values, have a vision for yourself, and don’t lose them in the hustle.
4. Steve Jobs
“The musicians play their instruments. I play the orchestra.”
Every entrepreneur needs to see the reality of failure in business. This movie shows its viewers just that by being both an inspirational yet cautionary tale for entrepreneurs as Steve Jobs struggles to keep Apple a leader in the tech industry.
5. The Social Network
“If you were the inventors of Facebook. you would’ve invented Facebook”
Let’s excuse the fact that The Social Network was an overdramatized version of how Mark Zuckerberg went from a Harvard student to launching the biggest social network in the world. Watching this movie will give budding entrepreneurs a look at what it takes to get a startup rolling and how personal relationships can often get in the way.
Are you an entrepreneur? Is there a line from a movie that’s been particularly inspiring for you? Is there a movie that made you want to go into business for yourself? Tell us about it.
If you have ever had a dream to start your own business, it can really eat at you and your current career life. This is a good thing because all the daydreaming about being your own boss and doing things your own way will solidify your transition to entrepreneur. What a lot of people don’t realize about being your own boss is that it could absolutely be more time-consuming than the 9 to 5 work life, and not as stable, especially in the beginning.
We know that there are so many reasons why people do hesitate to start your dream business, and it is understandable. You may feel as if your idea has already been done, or if you are an artist, that of course, you may just “not be good enough to cut it.” These fears could always influence you, but every month in America, millions of people go through some type of job loss or change. One of the best things about starting your own company is that even though there will be plenty of change there as well, at least you own it, and it will be your entity.
Getting downsized is a bummer, and as long as you can sustain some life into a product line, you may embark on your most exciting journey ever. Here are some great reasons to start a company and put your idea in motion today!
Freedom and its Perks
Truly having time to spare is one thing that has been valued by many more than ever lately. Once you have a few talented individuals working for you and they can contact you when they need to, becoming the CFO is really what most end up doing. If you are superb at your craft, you’ll be able to monitor the financials and get free time at some point. On some days you will experience complete overload, but once you have a system in place for the usual inquiries, getting products out efficiently, and keeping customers around with social media, you may not feel as hurried or burdened as an hourly worker for another corporation.
Eventually Having More
Even though fear is still rampant and you may not hit the jackpot right away, if you do create something, own property, and offer goods or services, you could eventually have more. Even with the other layers of support, you’ll need to create something epic, drop-ship businesses, people who sell collector’s items, and personal coaches are doing very well. There really are great monetary rewards after you’ve toughed it out for a while!
The Feeling of True Flexibility
Having the time to do what you want when you want to will feel immaculate to you, especially since you were thinking about being your own boss in the first place. Website owners and product line designers may eventually have more time in the long run than coaches and salespeople, but after you have the foundation lain for your business, you can always turn some obligations down if they aren’t feasible. Other people that are excited and optimistic about what you are doing will be more profitable and easy to deal with in the long run.
Having a Life of Greater Extremes
In recent studies over 80 percent of respondents said that if the business in question was their very own, the passion they would display would be on a much higher level than if they were working for someone else. It’s not just the bottom line, the clout, or the freedom, you really feel as if you are branding yourself. If you have created something that you have already been passionate about all of your life, monitoring it, tinkering with it, and gaining more followers is always going to feel like blissful and passionate overload. You will truly own what you are doing, and if the long hours and endless prospecting ever get to you, it could still be better than doing all the work for someone else.
Letting the Difficult Fish Stray From your Hook
There are definitely reasons that letting difficult customers go is healthy for you. Some of them are so demanding that the time it would take to satisfy them will really drive you off your desired path as CEO. Because after all when you choose to start your own company, your dreams will best be fulfilled and you will be happiest when working with people whose ideas are close to your own. It can be a very difficult and long road to travel, but real organic business is done with those who are not only impressed by your ideas but want to travel the wonderful and prosperous road with you.
One of the best pleasures about being in business for yourself is finding others who want to see you succeed, not fail at your competitor’s heels. In the global business realm, if you are talented enough to take your own route in the first place, you will have your day to never deal with anyone that is aggressive or rude again.
