I've been thinking about what it takes to be a solo entrepreneur lately. You who have already taken steps, even a baby one, know there is always something you thought you knew that you don't. Same for me. Just when I get all 'Happy Dance' over something, damn if something else doesn't come up to give me a reality check.
The post I was going to make for today can wait, because I want to share something I wrote to someone from one of the forums I'm with. This person, let's call him BF for short (stands for Brain Fart, but that's another story in itself). Mr. BF 'used to' so he claims have a business in a country other than the one he currently lives and yes, he was what Michael Gerber calls a 'technician' - one man band with no life.
Any who, BF was looking for members to join his mastermind group. So far, so good. After-all, he was on a forum for small business - it made sense, for about the first 2 emails. What BF wants from his 'mastermind group' is amazing: Put up his website, add the content, also write his newsletter, create his blog and post to it, add the subscriber forms for all his sites and manage the emails.
See a pattern forming here? It gets better. What does BF bring to the table? Must be big bucks, right?! Not in this lifetime it isn't. He wants the 'mastermind group' to do it for him for free because (hold on to your lunch) he wants all this done so eventually he can do a television show (for free). What is the nature of his 'business'? People who want self improvement. Huh?! WIF????
I wish I was making this up but it's the truth. So why am I telling you folks this - if you have to ask, you're definitely at the wrong blog!
Those of you still waiting for Prince Charming, the Tooth Fairy, Oprah's millions to drop into your lap so you don't have to do what every one else with a successful business does to make money => Keep Your Day Job and Find A Part-Time Night Job if anybody will hire your dumb ass!
Life isn't fair, sorry to disappoint you and there are some things about building a profitable business that aren't fun! Free left with the Tooth Fairy.
Please, let me keep the illusion that those of you reading this blog are:
1. Smart and intelligent people
2. Seriously want your financial picture to be better without killing your dreams in the process
3. Know that you will have to give up something, not necessarily money to grow your business, and
4. Can think for yourself!
Sheesh!
Here's the email I wrote to BF after recommending he purchase a book (gasp! I wanted him to spend money to learn a certain step in his business! Shame on me...Bad Georjina!). The book costs $18 US and where I sent him it was only $12 - go figure. Anyway, here's the email I sent this DF (yes, I do know the letter 'B' from the letter 'D'). It's a bit long, but worth thinking about if you are sitting on the fence waiting for 'Perfect Timing' to come along.
1. What are you willing to give up to have this business succeed?
2. How comfortable are you with failing?
3. How much are you willing to invest in making this business a success?
Until you have the answer to these questions and take an honest look at yourself,
you are not ready to do what you want to do. Not criticizing you, just want to
be very clear about what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
If you are not willing to invest in educating yourself on being an
entrepreneur/business owner until you have money, then your best
bet is to stay an employee.
Every entrepreneur, from Donald Trump to Richard Branson is a constant reader.
They have to be! Neither one could wait to make money before
they started their business, neither can you.
However, if you want me to continue to make suggestions and offer ideas
to help you, the whining must stop - get off your butt and take some
action and responsibility for whether you want to succeed or not
with your own business. (This goes for those of you subscribed here who
after 2 years are still looking for the Holy Grail of Free Money!)
It takes commitment, learning, making mistakes, learning from the mistakes,
trying something else, see what is working and keep going.
If $12 is beyond your current budget, then learning about
cash flow is going to be a huge part of your education. The same book
cost me $18 and it wasn't a hard decision for me to make - education
comes with the territory in business.
If you are not willing to do the same thing, spend money to learn how to
make money - you are in for a very short and frustrating journey as an
entrepreneur.
//end of email
Told you it was going to be a long read! Hope it helped some of you get
moving and for those of you in motion - keep going!
That's it for today and I leave you with this
Even when people are more successful than they had
imagined, nothing is ever achieved without giving something
up. " - Judith M. Bardwick
