Most people entering the entrepreneurial game don’t fully appreciate the pace of the industry. They hear stories of young professionals—or budding amateurs—making millions of dollars seemingly overnight, starting companies in their dorm rooms or the basements of their parents’ homes. While these stories do exist, in my experience, real entrepreneurship is much more of a long game. It takes time to develop your professional skills and establish professional networks. These stories of instant success, although attractive, tend to lead people to believe that they can make it in the industry without hard work and time.
As an entrepreneur myself, I find that there are a few important things to remember when getting your feet wet:
Entitlement does you no good here. In entrepreneurship, everyone is on equal footing, and in fact htat is one of the best parts of the industry. Anyone can make a name for themselves if they have the skills and it doesn’t matter where we came from. Especially for those, like myself, who have branched into other industries, starting over is attractive and it is immediately clear that only results and accomplishments matter in this industry.
You have to pay your dues. Whether it’s now as you spend long hours in front of your computer, running around the city—or even the country—making professional connections and getting your product or service out there. As Gary Vaynerchuk said in his articles “13 Thoughts on Being an Entrepreneur”, “I always paid my dues. The amount of 23-25 year old entrepreneurs who are being introspective right now is laughable.” My career has only gotten more exciting and productive as I’ve gotten older because experience often counts for more in this field.
Money cannot be your goal. Of course, there is nothing wrong with making money. But what’s more important is making a difference. You have to find out what matters in your life and leave a legacy with your career. Entrepreneurs are leaders in the business world and beyond so focus in on what you think the world needs and the rest will follow. I have always been drawn to the creators, the thought leaders, those people who were making a difference in the world. With that as your goal and focus, like I did, you will one day wake up and realize that you’ve made a difference.
Of course, there are other equally important things to being a successful entrepreneur. However, these are some of the most consistent lessons I try to impart on the individuals I’m mentoring in their careers.
For more on the realities of entrepreneurship, click here: deankosage.us
As an entrepreneur myself, I find that there are a few important things to remember when getting your feet wet:
Entitlement does you no good here. In entrepreneurship, everyone is on equal footing, and in fact htat is one of the best parts of the industry. Anyone can make a name for themselves if they have the skills and it doesn’t matter where we came from. Especially for those, like myself, who have branched into other industries, starting over is attractive and it is immediately clear that only results and accomplishments matter in this industry.
You have to pay your dues. Whether it’s now as you spend long hours in front of your computer, running around the city—or even the country—making professional connections and getting your product or service out there. As Gary Vaynerchuk said in his articles “13 Thoughts on Being an Entrepreneur”, “I always paid my dues. The amount of 23-25 year old entrepreneurs who are being introspective right now is laughable.” My career has only gotten more exciting and productive as I’ve gotten older because experience often counts for more in this field.
Money cannot be your goal. Of course, there is nothing wrong with making money. But what’s more important is making a difference. You have to find out what matters in your life and leave a legacy with your career. Entrepreneurs are leaders in the business world and beyond so focus in on what you think the world needs and the rest will follow. I have always been drawn to the creators, the thought leaders, those people who were making a difference in the world. With that as your goal and focus, like I did, you will one day wake up and realize that you’ve made a difference.
Of course, there are other equally important things to being a successful entrepreneur. However, these are some of the most consistent lessons I try to impart on the individuals I’m mentoring in their careers.
For more on the realities of entrepreneurship, click here: deankosage.us