Archive for the ‘Business Design’ Category
Self-Control is Exhausting…
Maybe it’s the psychologist part of me, but this video makes a ton of sense. Spiritually, however, I’m not so sure.
I think a few reasons are:
1. People can only change so quickly – I don’t think it is God’s intention to hold us back from change, but I do think there is something about lasting change when it takes place over time. If I would have been given a list of things I needed to do once I became a Christian, I surely do not think I would still be one today. I would have given up. Not due to the lack of desire, but do to the lack of ability to live up to a standard. I think this is a constant battle, at least for me.
2. A reward system – While I don’t think we are righted anything in this life, I do think that we have to lay off every once and a while. I don’t have a whole lot of Jesus quotes for this one, but I think that was built strongly into Jewish culture…I mean who else has 12 crazy Christmas Nights?
3. Like it or not we are human and flawed – We best have a time to release mental stress or we are going to fry our brain. I feel like there are some days that you can see the stream rising from my scalp. On those days, I need the extra trip around the block to unwind and release. And yes, we need to establish planned times during our days to release…even when we don’t think we need it. After all, you don’t know what mental energy tomorrow will require until it gets here.
Realist by day, Idealist by night
I’ve often thought of myself as an idealist. Hope about what the world is destine to become seems to be always on an Idealist’s mind. I remained exactly that way until I started my first company. For two years I ran everything like and idealist. At times I paid 80% out in payroll, took no profits or pay. Sure my employees loved me, but my bank account said I was crazy. I was crazy. I thought if you put together a system that rewards hard work and provides great pay with flexibility, then the company is destine for success. Just because things are noble, it doesn’t make them good.
What the Idealist side fails to recognize is that people are, by nature, variables. As a species, we are inconsistent. Our dreams change from season to season in life. I’ve wanted to be a counselor, a trombonist, a pastor, president, and at times enjoy the simple life of garbage man. In a few short years in college, I switched my major 4 times. Maybe you are not as fickle as that, but I certainly doubt you went on to be a ballerina or a race car driver. The Idealist gathers attention most often for being controversial, while the Realist focuses on completion. Dreams are basically nothing more than descriptions. Realism is nothing more than working. Put them together and you will find something extraordinary.
Small and Quaint
Here I am living in a what I would call, small coastal city, and trying to grow a national brand for independent music. While certain things would be easier in a much larger city, I enjoy the corporate absence. Small business has always been my goal sized company to work and build. I’m not looking to answer to a board or an excutive council. All those things look good on paper….scratch that. They look exactly the way they are; complex, boring, and wasteful. The guys I have the most faith in to create something great are the ones focused on the exact opposite. Corporate tells you to systemize and build distribution channels, while the next group of successful entrepueners tell you to personalize and get intimate with things. That doesn’t mean you act on every suggestion and tailor make everything. It means that your focus is becoming more knowledgable and producing a more knowledgable product. I’m not sure that this type of system will ever produce another Bill Gates, but I’m sure it will eliminate a lot of system errors and blue screens in the long run.
It takes being a little off to keep my lights on.
An entrepreneur is a person who has possession of an enterprise, or venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome. [thanks wikipedia]
Wikipedia is an idiot. This is probably the worst definition. Try something like this:
An entrepreneur is a crazy person who takes on a venture and directly responsible for its outcome takes huge risks sacrificing family, friends, and finances with nothing more than a slim chance of success.
the content:
There are developers, investors, creators, and inventors. Although I don’t feel equipped to be any of them. So when people ask me what I do and what my title is, I often find myself at a lack of self description. A blank reply of entrepreneur will suffice, although it makes me sound like I make infomercials and sell things on eBay.
Titles are barriers. Once you are cast in a role, it becomes your Alcatraz. Take my advice, make sure you like the food before accepting the sentence. The only reason we have titles in business is to make people feel special and to keep them from stepping on each others toes. Both reasons remind me of a kindergarten play.
the risk:
Most people consider me risk taker, but I didn’t ride a roller coaster until I was in high school. It took every ounce of courage within me to ask a girl to the senior prom [a good friend who laughed before saying yes - jerk]. Even today I’m very much an introvert that is comfortable with the limelight. The combination makes me difficult to read at times and a pretty awesome poker player.
the knowledge:
Education makes sense in the medical field, nuclear science, and law. You would think it would be a part of an entrepreneur’s definition. In my opinion it is the foundation, but our grading systems is very different. Profitable A+ businesses could be complete failures if they fall short of the intended goal. At the same time, losing your life savings on a failed business could earn you the field’s highest degree. The important thing is you remain a student. One that is ever changing, ever learning, and unafraid to confront your inner fears.
the lifestyle:
What makes an entrepreneur goes beyond ideas and their development. It’s calculation. It’s gut. It’s about confronting yourself and battling with your limit. It’s about knowing when to quit and knowing when to start. Your success as an entrepreneur is dependent upon living a life without regret yet filled with mistakes. Your search is for balance where what you create consumes and refuels you all at the same time.
the return:
In fairness to the fine folks at Wikipedia, I am sure they were attempting to be more concise. I am trying to paint an accurate picture of what it really means. I questioned for years if I was cut out for this. On a bad day the thought can still creep up, but there is something primal about pressing through. Then there are the days you make a lot of money and say it was worth, but after a few times you realizes money isn’t everything. It’s actually closer to nothing. As result of all the reasons above, entrepreneurs are about 35% drive, 25% fear, 10% genetics, 10% experience, and 120% faith…leaving us with 200% crazy, working twice as hard, and over-budget. But it sure is a heck of a ride!
