Do You Have a Passion For Your Success?

I've just opened a store in a "new" town -- the town's not new, but I am new to the town. I'm trying to get to know the other merchants, so I took a walk around the main street the other day, talking to some of the business owners. It was an interesting experience. Right away a picture started to emerge: there were those that were serious entrepreneurs and then there were those that were ... no so much shall we say.

One store I visited started out the conversation by telling me how much they hated the downtown and that they had security cameras everywhere due to a "dangerous element". Another store informed me that I had no right to park on the city street -- that was for HER customers. Okay. Where do my customers park I asked. She simply shrugged. Many of the stores are only open part-time: by appointment only, and catch me when you can.

Then, I found several other businesses who "get it". They are open 7 days a week, from early in the morning until well past 5 pm. They give other merchants discounts to keep them coming back to the downtown area instead of going out on the highway to the big box stores. They get to know you, calling you by name when you walk by. They are active in the merchant's association and plan events and activities throughout the year. The Chamber works with these businesses and helps promote their events, their sales, whatever is needed. It's a good group. I hope I can be part of that group.

All too often I see business people that don't really seem to want new, or repeat, business. Seems they just like to have someplace to go or something to do when they get up in the morning. I story about customer service -- bad customer service -- that I often tell happened to me several years ago when I was still in big city world (versus small town country). I went into a sign shop to order vinyl banners for my storefront. I ordered black banners with yellow lettering. I placed the order 3 weeks before my grand opening and was told that they would be ready a week before I needed them. On the assigned day, I went to pick up my order; I was really excited because this was my first storefront. I had been homebased prior to this. When I got there, the banners were yellow, with black lettering. I was devastated. I must have let out an involuntary groan of "oh no!" -- and immediately realized I had to duck as a pair of vinyl cutting shears (with very long, and very sharp blades) went flying past me, the owner of the company screaming that I had no right to question her choices. I had already paid a great deal of money for these (and there was NO return coming my way), so I wound up taking the signs and going. Do you think I went back there again? NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More recently I have been consulting and training small business people on marketing, customer service, creating value in their businesses and growth for their companies. Most people have told me that what they learn has helped them and they are grateful for the services. However, I also have come across a few who say things like, I've been doing this for over 20 years. I don't need anyone to tell me what I should do -- I've done it all already. But when I ask them what they are looking for for their businesses, they reply "More customers." OR "more money". My response then is, but you're doing everything the right way? Guess nobody wants what you have to offer. I"m sure if they've been doing this for 20 years, and making money at it, someone has wanted what they offered. But perhaps they need to look at new ways and new technologies to "grow with the flow". You think maybe?

Entrepreneur Magazine a few months ago had a discussion about the difference between an entrepreneur and a small business. It was interesting to read what they had to say: a true entrepreneur has passion for what they are doing and the willingness to see it through (http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/startupbasics/article190986.html). A small business person, however, is someone that perhaps is not a risktaker, or someone who is more prone to consider themselves a worker (http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/83764).

I think that for someone to truly succeed, they need to have the characteristics discussed above and be willing to "be in it for the long-haul." I plan on being there -- what about you?

Dream the Work

You're not always going to be successful, but if you're scared to fail, you don't deserve to be successful" -- Charles Barkley

For many, the idea of running their own business never enters their mind; they are happy and content working in a good paying job where they have benefits and know what will happen every day when they clock in. But for others, the dream of being their own boss is uppermost in their thoughts. Whatever the reason, they have the goal of being a success at something that has their hand print on it. Like me, many have known from childhood that they wanted to control their own lives based on being their own boss. Each day would be a new day with different challenges and excitements.

But what really comes with being the boss is a lot more than excitement: it's hard work, long hours, persistence in the wake of adversity and a never give up attitude. Anyone thinking that they're going to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is probably going to be out of luck. Nothing worthwhile ever happens without hard work, planning and time. But even then, there are other issues that need to be taken into consideration.

One of the biggest challenges, I believe, that people run into when they're starting out (and even later in the cycle) is fear. The fear of failure is that irrational fear that we will not succeed, and unfortunately, it is often something that we all experience. It's human nature. And with that fear comes an inability to more forward. There's the dream, and then there's the fear of not being able to succeed. What happens if no one wants what you're selling? What if you can't make a living at your desired business? Will you lose your home? What about the benefits you may be giving up by quitting a job? These are all fears that may crop up to stop you from moving forward.

In order to get past these fears one needs to figuratively "bite the bullet." Success or failure is in your hands -- you just need to do your homework, set goals, figure out what your customers want, and work towards creating the perceived need for your product or service. Most of all, you need to understand that it is going to take time, effort and money to get where you want to be. How to do this? There are lots of people and books out there that show you maps to accomplish this work; it's up to you to find what resonates with you -- what makes sense to you and what seems doable for you.

Don't try to do it on your own, but search out those that believe in you and your product/service; those that are willing to help mentor you and guide you along the path. Keep an open mind -- listen with your ears, your mind and your heart. But be wise; listen to your gut as well, making sure that what you're being told makes sense to you. Don't try to be everything to everybody. Stay true to your goals and your vision. It will see you through.

Are You Really Cut Out To Be An Entrepreneur?

You hear lots of discussion everyday about the personal "failure rate" amongst those who "work for themselves". It's a pretty popular subject for forum discussions. There's plenty of sad stories passed around. Note: some stories are definitely legit, don't get me wrong here. But often there's "more to the story" as Paul Harvey would say.

Folks complain about their "lack" of results (notice I said "their" lack), blame everything but themselves (usually), constantly search for "the" way to turn things around (e.g. "the right system"), and/or routinely jump to the next "thing" because the last "thing" didn't work.

Now hold on their Cowboy (errrr....Cowgirl too).

"You" need to step back....breath deep....and take another look.

I believe there are some who are cut out to be their own boss and some who are not. We come across people everyday looking into starting their own business....using all kinds of models and business types. But unfortunately many don't really know if they have what it takes. Too often they're coming from the "give my boss 40 hrs/wk, collect a paycheck" mentality. Or worse yet..."sit on the couch eating Doritos 'cuz it should be so easy". That just doesn't work.

Before they/you get started into business for themselves/yourself there's a simple test called the “Self-Employment Test”.... specifically designed to measure your prospects for success. This is the perfect self examination to get people thinking about "working for themselves".

Self Employment Test

The test is from the book, “Is Self-Employment for You? by Paul Casey (you can get it at Amazon.com if interested). This book goes beyond the ABC’s of how to write a business plan but examines the potential entrepreneur’s emotional readiness and personality traits that ultimately make the difference between success and failure.

This test is very simple. Read the questions and assign yourself a number between 1 and 5, where 1 is the lowest score, and 5 is the highest. For example, in the first question, "Are you a leader?" A score of 1 means, "I have absolutely no leadership skills whatsoever. My dog doesn’t even follow me on walks." A score of 5 means, "I am an experienced leader in every sense of the word. If not for my dream of starting my own business, I would be running for president."

As Paul says....you need to be completely honest with yourself on this test! Do not make yourself out to be more or less than you really are. Again, this test will help you to determine your prospects for success, but only if you are honest in assessing your own strengths and weaknesses.

Anyway don't despair if you don't score well it just means you may have a few things to work on. If you're willing to that is.