In The Know Radio Show: Cultivating An Entrepreneurial Mindset
I’ve been an entrepreneur for over five years now. And to be honest, I didn’t grow up wanting to do that. After watching movies like “Baby Boom” and “Secret of My Success” I was 100% certain that I wanted to major in business in college, then graduate and get a corporate job in a tall, sleek office building in the heart of some city’s downtown. So, when I entered the workforce, that’s what I set out to do.
Looking back over my early career, one thing I was intentional about was volunteering for projects around the company that connected me to middle and upper management. I wanted the visibility and the experience. Working closely with those individuals, I realized that the most successful managers were not the ones just taking orders. They weren’t playing it safe. They were pushing the boundaries by exploring new ideas and proposing alternate ways of doing what’s always been done. While they were not the owners of the business, they tapped into a founder’s mindset to introduce creative ideas in hopes of adding value to the company. I’m sure some ideas worked, and others didn’t. But what is most impressive is that they went for it. They put their ideas out there not knowing how they’d be received. That’s an entrepreneurial mindset.
You don’t have to be an entrepreneur to tap into an “entrepreneurial mindset.” Be it for your job or person endeavors, thinking like an entrepreneur permits you to think outside the box and potentially deliver amazing results.
So, what are some of the traits entrepreneurs have that you can harness? Entrepreneurs are:
- Visionaries – entrepreneurs can see opportunities no one else can see. Driving down the street, some see run-down buildings and boarded up houses. Entrepreneurs see office buildings and restaurants. So, don’t be afraid to think beyond your current situation. Dream big. Your only limit is the one you put on yourself.
- Adaptable – flexibility is key to be an entrepreneur. The fact is, not everything is going to happen as you plan it. You must be able to pivot with the market. Pivot when an employee up and quits. Pivot when a big client doesn’t renew. Learn how to think on your feet and keep moving forward.
- Self-Motivated – you don’t have to tell an entrepreneur to get up and get to work. They are present and accounted for. Entrepreneurs are self-starters because they have to be. If we’re not out there producing, our businesses will not survive. So, stop waiting for someone to come and pep you up or nudge you forward. Move! Go get what you want.
- Have a strategy – entrepreneurs use strategy to help them launch their business and sustain the momentum. Those who are successful are not winging it. They have mapped out a plan they think will work. So, what are your goals? Get clear about what you want to do and need to do it, then map the strategy to get you there.
- Risk takers – risk is part of owning a business. We never know what’s going to happen. Entrepreneurs conduct research and perform SWOT analysts, but it’s impossible to plan for every scenario. But we’re willing to take the risk because we believe in what we’re doing. So, what are you willing to bet on? Are you willing to apply for that promotion or ask for a raise? Believe in yourself and take the leap.
- Build tribes – entrepreneurs do not operate in silos. We depend on other entrepreneurs to help us execute our work and lean on them for support and encouragement. You need a tribe to champion and challenge you. Despite what many of us think, yes, you do need other people in your life to make things happen.
