From June 11th until July 11th most people of the world only have one thing in mind: soccer. With the FIFA World Cup now in its third week of competition, everybody in the world, from the Polish to the Portuguese, the Algerian to the American, and the British to the Brazilian, is watching.
In addition, Americans are also focusing on one of the most anticipated sports events in the NCAA: the Men’s College World Series that is taking place from June 19th until June 30th.
This year, June is the month for sports. And as hundreds of athletes are gearing up for their time to shine, we, the entrepreneurs of the world, are watching.
Thinking about these buff players could take us back to a time when athletes were off sweating on the field, getting all the girls, and receiving praise from schools everywhere. In the meantime, we, the non-student-athletes, were busy cramming for the next accounting exam or polishing up on our drinking skills.
And although in high school and college, we may have felt different from the student-athletes, today, we actually have a lot more in common with those national heroes than we may think…
First of all, in the entrepreneurial world, just like in the athletic world, everyone loves when the underdog wins. Nothing can be more fun than watching a Cinderella Story unfold. Although we all root for our favorite team in the tournament, we all find ourselves leaning towards the team that started at the bottom and built their way up to the top. We also find ourselves cheering for those entrepreneurs who started with nothing and made themselves into something great. Take Chris Gardner, for example. A homeless man who was self-made into an extremely successful businessman is a story that everybody can smile about. It’s a story good enough to make into a movie (The Pursuit of Happyness), just like the sports stories that are good enough (Remember the Titans, Miracle, Friday Night Lights, etc.) as well. All of these movies have the exact same plot: the underdog wins.
Secondly, both athletes and entrepreneurs need to visualize. Both need to see themselves as a success each and every day. When athletes close their eyes just before a game, match, or meet, they are visualizing themselves reaching their goals. In essence, entrepreneurs are doing the same thing when they write out their long-term goals and business plans then strive for them in every minute of every day.
Finally, both athletes and entrepreneurs must have a support system. Although both types of people should be self-starters, they always need a support team to back them up. For athletes, this may be their team, their coaches, or maybe their families. Entrepreneurs may get support for their start-ups from family and friends. Either way, both athletes and entrepreneurs need tons of support in order to achieve their dreams.
So the next time you are watching an athletic event, whether it be Michael Phelps breaking another record, Tiger Woods sinking another putt, or Venus Williams smashing another serve, remember: you have more in common with these athletes than you may think.
Written by Allison Way, Writer for Think Big Partners
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Will You Make Your Longest Day of the Year Count?
Time is nature’s universal truth. It is the one unbiased equalizer among all businesses and entrepreneurs, giving only 24 hours in every day to its time-challenged but demanding master.
Every entrepreneur dreams of their business becoming a fantastic success, but the truth of the matter is, only about 50% of all entrepreneurs will survive the first five years. There is an old adage by Lord Chesterfield, “I recommend you take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves.” Entrepreneurs, you must live each day by these words.
So what will you do with today? It’s summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Will you use these precious hours to make your entrepreneurial dreams count?
Summer solstice can act as a perfect starting point. You have the most time to start what you have been meaning to start – perhaps dreaming to start. So quit coming up with excuses and stop with the mental road blocks. There is no time like the present. And since today just so happens to be the longest day of the year, it is also the perfect day to start up your business.
Every entrepreneur is motivated by different things, but we all have the same universal challenges. Maybe it is the burden (and stress) of financial responsibility to make your investment of time and money pay off. Perhaps it is the isolation (and loneliness) of working on a project at your kitchen table with no one else is there to bounce ideas off. For many, it is the relentless ticking clock on the wall, an invention that does not keep score each day as the time flies by and the to-do list seems to grow longer instead of getting shorter.
Whatever your challenges are, make today count. The only better time than today to launch your business is yesterday. And let’s face it: there is no way to rewind the clock or squeeze another hour into our already short day. So listen up, aspiring entrepreneurs. Today, take the initiative, just like we did. Make each day count like the rest of us. And as always, be sure to Think Big!
When was the last time that you began something for the first time?
Every entrepreneur dreams of their business becoming a fantastic success, but the truth of the matter is, only about 50% of all entrepreneurs will survive the first five years. There is an old adage by Lord Chesterfield, “I recommend you take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves.” Entrepreneurs, you must live each day by these words.
So what will you do with today? It’s summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Will you use these precious hours to make your entrepreneurial dreams count?
Summer solstice can act as a perfect starting point. You have the most time to start what you have been meaning to start – perhaps dreaming to start. So quit coming up with excuses and stop with the mental road blocks. There is no time like the present. And since today just so happens to be the longest day of the year, it is also the perfect day to start up your business.
Every entrepreneur is motivated by different things, but we all have the same universal challenges. Maybe it is the burden (and stress) of financial responsibility to make your investment of time and money pay off. Perhaps it is the isolation (and loneliness) of working on a project at your kitchen table with no one else is there to bounce ideas off. For many, it is the relentless ticking clock on the wall, an invention that does not keep score each day as the time flies by and the to-do list seems to grow longer instead of getting shorter.
Whatever your challenges are, make today count. The only better time than today to launch your business is yesterday. And let’s face it: there is no way to rewind the clock or squeeze another hour into our already short day. So listen up, aspiring entrepreneurs. Today, take the initiative, just like we did. Make each day count like the rest of us. And as always, be sure to Think Big!
When was the last time that you began something for the first time?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
American Idol is like being an Entrepreneur: You win some, you lose some
Although not every entrepreneur was watching the finale of American Idol, I was. As the winner was being announced, I was tempted to throw my remote at the television. Not only did the entire two hours focus on the fact that Simon Cowell was leaving, but Lee DeWyze, an average-singing paint salesman, beat out Crystal Bowersox, and, to my regret, instantly became every teenager’s next obsession.
Every season, American Idol produces a winner. But unlike American Idol, not everybody can be a winner in a start-up business. Ideas will be shot down, proposals and plans may be frowned upon, and in some cases, innovations will be laughed at. Few make it out on top, but when they do, they tend to hit it big.
Such is the life of an entrepreneur.
There is not a step-by-step process to become a successful entrepreneur; however, by looking at past successes, we may come to find patterns that emerge. Here, we can classify entrepreneurs in terms of American Idol winners.
The Carrie Underwoods: The Not-So Overnight Sensation
Carrie Underwood, the most successful Idol with multi-platinum records and multiple Grammy awards, became a national phenomenon when she won American Idol. However, her success did not happen overnight. Underwood had been singing since childhood in church, musicals, and talent shows. Forced to break past many years of shyness, Underwood sang in Branson-style shows in college and finally tried out for American Idol. Although many start-up companies may seem to be overnight sensations like, most have years and years of work under their belts. According to Think Big Kansas City, entrepreneurs must generate ideas that are not only profitable, but ones that are also scalable, sustainable, defensible, and repeatable. These people must also be patient when waiting for results. This is the formula for a successful business.
The Chris Daughtrys: The People Who Never Give Up
Chris Daughtry finished fourth place in American Idol, a standing that seldom makes a performer famous. However, with hard work and determination, Chris Daughtry pursued his dream. He started up the band Daughtry and produced the fastest selling debut rock album in history. “Chris Daughtry” entrepreneurs may not succeed at first, but continue pushing towards their goals. The more they push, the more lessons they will learn along the way. This also reminds me of Chris Gardner, our keynote speaker at Think Big Kansas City’s 2010 Conference, who spoke on the challenges of rising to the top after failing many times. He is the perfect example of a “Chris Daughtry”
The Taylor Hicks: “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There”
There are ideas that have extreme potential; however, they may not make it in the business world. Taylor Hicks, American Idol’s Season 5 winner, may have had potential, and he may have worked hard and prepared, but he was not a success in the music industry. “Taylor Hicks” entrepreneurs may have great potential, but do not realize that it takes more than hard work and preparation to make it big. Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, tells readers about habits to avoid when making big leaps in the entrepreneurial world. These habits range from failing to give recognition to making excuses. It takes a lot more than preparation and hard work to become a success.
The Lee DeWyzes: Preparation Meets Opportunity
Finally, there are the “Lee DeWyzes” of start-up businesses; those who find luck at just the right time. Lee DeWyze may not have been the most talented on Season 10 of American Idol, but he had vocal preparation and the opportunity to perform for the entire nation. Oprah Winfrey once stated that “luck is preparation meeting opportunity”. For many entrepreneurs, the preparation they’ve put forth eventually meets with the opportunity to shine, and a successful idea is born.
Although American Idol may produce a winner every season, winners in start-up businesses are hard to find. Potential idols and potential entrepreneurs both dream big and pursue their innovations, however, it takes preparation, talent, determination, and many other characteristics to make it out on top.
And remember to also Think Big!
Every season, American Idol produces a winner. But unlike American Idol, not everybody can be a winner in a start-up business. Ideas will be shot down, proposals and plans may be frowned upon, and in some cases, innovations will be laughed at. Few make it out on top, but when they do, they tend to hit it big.
Such is the life of an entrepreneur.
There is not a step-by-step process to become a successful entrepreneur; however, by looking at past successes, we may come to find patterns that emerge. Here, we can classify entrepreneurs in terms of American Idol winners.
The Carrie Underwoods: The Not-So Overnight Sensation
Carrie Underwood, the most successful Idol with multi-platinum records and multiple Grammy awards, became a national phenomenon when she won American Idol. However, her success did not happen overnight. Underwood had been singing since childhood in church, musicals, and talent shows. Forced to break past many years of shyness, Underwood sang in Branson-style shows in college and finally tried out for American Idol. Although many start-up companies may seem to be overnight sensations like, most have years and years of work under their belts. According to Think Big Kansas City, entrepreneurs must generate ideas that are not only profitable, but ones that are also scalable, sustainable, defensible, and repeatable. These people must also be patient when waiting for results. This is the formula for a successful business.
The Chris Daughtrys: The People Who Never Give Up
Chris Daughtry finished fourth place in American Idol, a standing that seldom makes a performer famous. However, with hard work and determination, Chris Daughtry pursued his dream. He started up the band Daughtry and produced the fastest selling debut rock album in history. “Chris Daughtry” entrepreneurs may not succeed at first, but continue pushing towards their goals. The more they push, the more lessons they will learn along the way. This also reminds me of Chris Gardner, our keynote speaker at Think Big Kansas City’s 2010 Conference, who spoke on the challenges of rising to the top after failing many times. He is the perfect example of a “Chris Daughtry”
The Taylor Hicks: “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There”
There are ideas that have extreme potential; however, they may not make it in the business world. Taylor Hicks, American Idol’s Season 5 winner, may have had potential, and he may have worked hard and prepared, but he was not a success in the music industry. “Taylor Hicks” entrepreneurs may have great potential, but do not realize that it takes more than hard work and preparation to make it big. Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, tells readers about habits to avoid when making big leaps in the entrepreneurial world. These habits range from failing to give recognition to making excuses. It takes a lot more than preparation and hard work to become a success.
The Lee DeWyzes: Preparation Meets Opportunity
Finally, there are the “Lee DeWyzes” of start-up businesses; those who find luck at just the right time. Lee DeWyze may not have been the most talented on Season 10 of American Idol, but he had vocal preparation and the opportunity to perform for the entire nation. Oprah Winfrey once stated that “luck is preparation meeting opportunity”. For many entrepreneurs, the preparation they’ve put forth eventually meets with the opportunity to shine, and a successful idea is born.
Although American Idol may produce a winner every season, winners in start-up businesses are hard to find. Potential idols and potential entrepreneurs both dream big and pursue their innovations, however, it takes preparation, talent, determination, and many other characteristics to make it out on top.
And remember to also Think Big!
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