Unearth and Unleash Your Hidden Entrepreneur
I’ll bet you didn’t know that you were really an entrepreneur in denial. You’ve just been afraid to come out of the closet. You’ve been too terrified of taking that leap. But it’s there…whispering in your ear. What if I just worked for myself? What if I could just make money without going to a 9 to 5 job? What if I could just do something I love and get paid for it?
Then that other ego and fear-driven voice kicks in: But what would I do that I’d be any good at that people would pay me for? How can I know that I could really pay the bills? How do I dare let go of security when I have to support my family or pay the mortgage? How do I know I wouldn’t make a mess of things if I’m on my own?
Well today’s economy may have just “out-ed” you. You may have little choice but to get out of your security zone and start looking for new alternatives. Even if you haven’t lost your job, you may just need to start earning some money from new sources to augment dwindling reserves.
You may not be a “natural” entrepreneur like I am—a serial entrepreneur who has only worked for others for four of my nearly 60 years—but if you have the passion, the creativity, the committed work ethic (note I didn’t say hard work, just commitment to work!) and the faith that the Universe will assist you, then you can do it, too. And you can be successful at it.
So let’s look at those four factors individually.
Passion—What do you love? What burns in you and ignites your dreams? Entrepreneurs start businesses for two reasons—they want to do something that they love or know well, or they see a void in the marketplace, something they can offer that is in demand (we’ll address this more in creativity.) But the entrepreneurs who succeed most quickly and at the highest levels are those who are in love with what they are doing. That passion can take several different forms:
· A hobby or professional pursuit that engages them and their interest
· A love for serving others and helping those people be happier or more successful
· A general love for people and working with others
· A passion for the process, the kind of work they are doing
· A joy for just being on one’s own and not taking direction from others
· A knowledge that he or she has a better way or a better widget and that there are people just waiting for it to help make their lives or jobs better
So ask yourself: where does your passion lay?
Creativity—A successful entrepreneur always finds a way to be distinctive in the business world. This is called your Unique Selling Proposition (USP).
For example, you can be a real estate agent just like a lot of other real estate agents, but you can creatively set yourself apart in many different ways—the way you market yourself, the kinds of properties in which you specialize, a special gift you give your buyers and sellers, a unique service you provide that others don’t, a certain market you serve, etc…
If you are selling something, your product is different that anything on the market, or you package it differently, or sell it bundled with other products. What product can you offer that is unique?
If it’s a service business, perhaps you offer a service not available in your area. You create a service that few are doing and that serves a distinctive niche. Or you do it better than the competitors and can prove it.
Your product or service doesn’t have to be completely different than what is already in the market—it just has to appear to be different by virtue of how you position it in your marketing. And then it will resonate with those people who need it or who are perfectly attuned for what and how you are offering it.
For example, there are many other people in the spiritual self-help genre that address manifesting as their core value, but they are not me! They don’t build their premise around Conscious Creation and the fact that you can actually create a blueprint and make it happen in your life. That’s my USP.
So get creative…what can you offer, create, serve or position that is unique to you? What market can you serve that is now underserved?
Work Ethic—Yes, entrepreneurialism takes work. And sometimes it can be more than 9-5. But it’s not necessarily hard work. When you are doing what you love and embarking on something of your very own, it can be easy work, because the doors will just begin to open. However, if you go into it tentatively, half-heartedly or fearfully, than the Universe can’t support you. Give it your heart. Even if you don’t have much money. When you show the Universe you are committed and willing to work, than you will find answers to your challenges, people to help you, customers to buy your product or service, and money that will begin to flow your way.
So what kind of a commitment are you ready to make? This doesn’t mean that you have to quit your day job immediately to start your new venture, perhaps it’s something you start on the side and grow. But whatever it is, nurture it fully and completely so that it will eventually sustain you.
Faith in the Universe—This element is often overlooked in the harsh light of the business world. Even if you don’t initially have faith in yourself, if you have faith in the Universe to support you, than you will begin to succeed. If you are living in confidence that the Universe has your best interests at heart, and you are open to its gentle guidance, then your business will thrive. The opposite of faith is fear, and the need for control. Yes, you need to have a plan and be firmly acting on that plan, but feeling desperate to maintain “control” is just another way of expressing the fear that you are on your own and that you no one or no force is there to help you. Let go and trust. Surrender to the Universe. Have faith in the Source Power to be your co-pilot in your new venture. If you have faith, all the answers to your questions and challenges will come forth easily and quickly, and you will be guided to take the actions that will be right for your growth and maturity as a business person.
So, how can you expand and practice your faith in the Universe? Start by trusting your intuition and the messages you are receiving. Then remember that everything happens for a reason and allow yourself to be re-directed if you are gently nudged in a new direction. Keep your eye on your goal and don’t be fixed on how you get there. The Universe may have other great ways to ultimately get you to your desired success.
An entrepreneur with these four—passion, creativity, willingness to work and faith–is nearly unstoppable. These are the bedrock values of a successful entrepreneur. Certainly knowledge of the market, financial resources, marketing savvy and other business tools are valuable and can increase the rate of success, but you must first have these four core values to create a satisfying and successful entrepreneurial venture. Start by finding, instilling and cultivating these values in your work life—and you’ll be on your way.
Oops..was that you peaking out of the entrepreneurial closet?
