February 2014 – Page 5 – Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2024

entrepreneurfailtop10

New Webcomics series brought to you by #entrepreneurfail and GetEntrepreneurial.com. Enjoy!

The term “wantrepreneur” may have a derogatory connotation, indicating someone is wannabe entrepreneur. I think every successful small business owner was once a “wantrepreneur, ” so it’s not really a bad thing to be a “wannabe” for a bit.

Now, when a “wantrepreneur” claims to be an entrepreneur – that’s when the trouble starts! So here is a little pop quiz to see where you stand and you let us know if you have been truthful. Please tally how many of these refer to you:

10. I love missed opportunities.

9. My business is not my baby.

8. It’s all about me.

7. I can shut out the world on vacation!

6. What a cushy job!

5. I’m so bored!

4. Keep the change, IRS.

3. Luck has nothing to do with it.

2. There are plenty of hours in a day.

1. What’s a little equity between friends?

If you checked more than 8, congrats, you are a “Wantrepreneur”! This is fine – especially if you are at the beginning of your journey. Just don’t stay here too long and get stuck.

You may love the concept of owning a sustainable business, but you aren’t quite there yet. You are not convinced about the idea and business model you are working on, so you are procrastinating.

You perhaps aren’t ready to leave your day job and you are unexcited by about any potential opportunities that come your way and enjoy the “relaxation” and flexibility that entrepreneurship provides. Or perhaps you are working on a business, but you may by trying to do it all yourself. Financially, you do not equate time with money yet. Don’t worry, with some months, effort and learnings you may actually be an entrepreneur!

If you checked 2 or fewer, congrats, you are a bona fide entrepreneur!

You strive to get find every opportunity. You know that luck can help a business but opportunity and perseverance make it happen. Nothing is dull for you as you pursue your venture.

You know this is not a ride for the freeloader. As an entrepreneur, you are productive, and know that sometimes sacrifices are necessary to make your business a reality. You feel your business has to be an extension of you, just like a baby! It does take an army, a village, and a team effort for your to accomplish success in your business.

Keep pushing ahead! We know we’ll see you on the cover of a magazine one day!

What was your score? Do you agree with our assessment of being a wantrepreneur? Let us know in the comments below.

Half of Success is Just Showing up!

I run Mastermind groups and several clients asked this question, “Why are people late or they don’t show up when they register for an event?”

A variation of that same question is, “Don’t they understand how much time, energy and money we invest?”

We can expend this question to include: Why won’t people return phone call, especially where a business relationship exists? I am not talking about a cold call.

I do not believe these are time management issues. I think they are behavioral issues: lack of focus, lack of clarity on what is important, maybe laziness.

Those questions are legitimate and in my opinion they reflect very badly on people who exhibit this behaviors.

When I have a sales call with a prospect I try to never be late. I believe it is a sign of disrespect when I am late. There are times when I am late. It may be a traffic accident, a call running longer than expected, etc. When I am in that situation, I call the person I am planning to meet and ask them if they want to continue with the meeting or reschedule.

I was on a radio interview promoting my latest book, Make a Difference: From Being Successful to Being Significant, and I was on the call exactly at 3 PM. She commented on my time management. I told her if I were not on time it would be the ultimate of disrespect to her and her schedule. She is busy. She has a radio program to run. She is dependent on the time slot the radio gives her. If I am late it puts her in the rough spot.

I was watching 60 Minutes and they were profiling Alabama football coach Nick Sabin. One of his player was late for a team meeting and Sabin asked him why, “I could not get my earring out,” was his response. Sabin asked him this question, “Do you care more about your earring than this football team?”

Sabin was interrupted by someone who could not get his earrings out? Really. Shows you where his priorities are!

When you are late or do not show for a meeting or event, think of the message you are sending about who you are? Think of what the prospect thinks if you are late: are you dependable, can I trust you to do what you say you will do, will you blow me off again in the future, what will happen when I share with you my problems? They have a busy day and you are negatively impacting their schedule.

There are four rules all (sales) professional should implement daily:

Do what you say you will do.
Do it when you say it will be done.
Don’t be late.
Be a good listener.

As the old saying goes, “half of success is just showing up.”