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Destination
Inspiration
August 2007
Being An
Entrepreneur
By Lisbeth Anne
Marín
Motivational
Speaker
Professional
Development Consultant
As a little
girl in my Long Island, New York backyard, I directed amateur musical
theatre. A diverse group of neighborhood children were cast as the
players and I enjoyed the role of the star. These summertime
productions would feature home-made sets, costumes, tickets and a
concession stand for intermission. How I loved being creative and in
charge of the flow of imaginative activity. Even then, I knew what it
took to do a great job and I wasn’t afraid of hard work or long hours.
Cleary, I was a natural at being the boss.
For as long as
I can remember, I’ve wanted to work for myself. There was something so
satisfying about being immersed in a project that was born of some
artistic or academic vision. I delighted in giving it my all, perhaps
doing more than was expected but I enjoyed setting my standards high.
The resulting products were reflections of an inner drive to succeed.
Nobody really challenged me the way I’d challenge myself.
In the
workaday world I found that there was something that didn’t quite click
within the boss-employee relationships that I encountered. Typically,
I’d climb the company ladder quickly but simultaneously alienate my
fellow employees with chronic enthusiasm and achievement. Beyond that,
there was habitual conflict when employers attempted to wield authority
and power incorrectly. It was evident that most people disliked being
treated disrespectfully or worse, becoming invisible at their job. It
wasn’t long before I began to compile a long mental list of things that
I didn’t enjoy experiencing as part of my 40 hour work-week
environment. They included negativity, unresolved conflicts and a
distorted mindset regarding customers. I vowed to alleviate these
constant demotivators from my work life; it was clear that they would
eventually deplete my spirit and morph working into a lifetime of
punishment.
For years I
repeated this unpleasant workday experience in a variety of industries
until finally the light bulb came on… authority and power, when misused,
render employees insignificant and hungry for recognition. The ultimate
result was very unhappy people suffering through years of unfulfilling
employment. It was obvious that my career as an employee would not
stand the test of time because it frequently wound up turning sour.
Fortunately
these years of workplace demotivators became the life changing sparks
that inspired a significant self evaluation process. I decided to
compose a personal mission statement; after all, many successful
organizations utilized this tool to create the cornerstone of their
daily operations. I needed a template that would streamline my thinking
on these primary points:
·
What do you stand for
and believe in?
·
What things are really
important to you?
·
Who are your most
significant people?
·
Where do you see
yourself going?
·
Why do you want to be
there?
The answers to these questions contained
the fundamental components I needed to achieve true success in my life!
For me, it boiled down to a simple phrase; “I Don’t Need To Be
Rich, But I Do Need To Be Free!” There it was… my vision for
the remainder of the income earning years that lay ahead. I wanted to
spend my life doing what I enjoyed most, for the highest possible income
and the least amount of time, Wow, what a concept! Add to this an
essential goal of not sacrificing raising my only child for supporting
him and I had the building blocks for my business cemented in place. As
this process developed, I calculated the level of income required to
maintain a humble lifestyle while working from home in the company of
the miracle child God had blessed me with at 38 years young. Granted,
self employment is a difficult endeavor with endless, self imposed long
hours. It became evident that operating a successful business would
require the ability to analyze the empirical knowledge gained from the
positive and negative events I’d had as an employee and employer. By
sticking to the mission statement of personal freedom rather than
wealth, I’d found my life’s true calling. In fact, it was there all
along…I just needed to tap into the root of my personality style and
employment philosophy. It dawned on me that working should be a joyful
and fulfilling experience where people were upbeat, friendly and happy…
Yes, of course, sometimes it’s difficult, that’s why we get paid. But,
I sincerely feel these emotional conditions are achievable without
forfeiting productivity or professionalism.
This is how I ultimately arrived at the
inspiration for my business. I wanted to provide motivational training
that could inspire and encourage others to Change Their Workplace
Attitudes™ whether they were an employee or employer. For some, deep
enjoyment of their work may only be realized through self employment
while others can learn to refine their workplace persona and enjoy
smashing success as an employee. Let me submit, for your consideration,
that working should be an extension of your personality and reflect the
intrinsic you! Perhaps it is not our similarities that give us value,
it is our differences.
Living as a
self employed, home based entrepreneur represents victory over of a
lifetime of workplace challenges. My business engages me on a profound
level and fulfils my desire to be rewarded for doing my best. Just to
keep things interesting, I’ve had to factor in the responsibilities of
single parenting, home ownership, regular exercise, involvement in my
business community and dedication to volunteer work …whew!
So why do I do
it? I’ve found that within self employment lies a deep sense of
personal satisfaction. There is a genuine peace in knowing that you are
free from outside manipulation, proficient at setting your own hours and
allowed to prioritize your life as first a child of God, then a Mom and
all the while live in perfect harmony with your chosen career. I can
earn a living, plant my posies and be home when my son needs his Mom. I
enjoy a very full life. I may not be on the easiest road but I honestly
feel free!
Achieving
ongoing success will be commensurate with the ability to maintain
balance. You must be able factor your fundamental self into working and
be the star of your life rather than simply a member of the cast. For
me, the key is having very strong time and organizational management
skills along with frequent doses of motivation and inspiration. Every
time I give a seminar, I take that seminar. Practicing what you preach
is crucial to providing training that reaches people while keeping it
real. You see, most folks sincerely want to enjoy their work, feel
appreciated, be significant and receive recognition for having made a
unique contribution.
To achieve
self employment as an entrepreneur certainly requires dedication. It
also demands a great deal of self discipline. But, if you’ve dreamt of
being a self employed entrepreneur, I encourage you to follow that inner
motivation and allow it to lead you towards achievement of this life
goal. Sure, there’s a path of challenges you’ll face but perhaps you’ll
enjoy working harder in your business than you’ve ever worked for an
employer.
Consider these
five practical tips. In doing so, you can begin to develop the mind and
skill set needed to realize your business vision.
I invite you
to accept my challenge to Change Your Workplace Attitude™! You
just might find that you’re the best boss you’ve ever had.
ENTREPRENEURS TOP ~5~ TIPS
1. Join
Professional Associations
Strive to
collaborate and maintain relationships with like minded people.
Surround yourself with successful, upbeat and energetic professionals.
This will strengthen your business identify and encourage the changes
that promote deep personal growth.
2. Take Time To
Renew Yourself
An entrepreneur’s
life can be exhausting! Cultivate solid time and stress management
skills. Be sure to schedule ‘me time’ that includes exercise and time
off to manage responsibility overload and refresh your spirit.
Customize your schedule to include the pursuit of creative and
empowering endeavors.
3. Keep Up With
Technology
Computer skills are
no longer optional. Without these valuable abilities, you’ll soon
become a business dinosaur! If you’re lacking in this area, your
productivity will suffer. Enroll in a class or perhaps hire a
motivational training consultant to provide private instruction in
specific programs and applications. Give your business the gift of your
creative talents coupled with a strong grasp on technology.
4. Learn The
Difference Between Wants & Needs
Being a successful
entrepreneur means learning to say No to unnecessary expenditures and
pleas for your time. Some of the perks you may have enjoyed as an
employee are simple unrealistic when you are the C.E.O. Keep a sharp
eye on the cash flow and remember that time always equals money. Try
not to fall into the trap of providing free services to friends and
family. This is simply not a good long term business practice.
Instead, develop a pricing structure and services menu that accommodates
a variety of budgets.
5. Cultivate
Strong Relationships with Your Customers
Never forget that
without your customers there is no need for you or your business. Make
providing Exceptional Customer Service your company’s creed.
Always go out of your way to exceed your customer’s expectations and
remember to separate their feelings from their problems.
Lisbeth Anne Marín
is a Motivational Training Consultant specializing in interpersonal and
organizational development skills. She presents a wide array of staff
development training programs, motivational seminars and interactive
H.R. workshops throughout North Carolina. To view the topics and
courses on which training programs can be provided, Please visit the
website, www.lisbethanne.com
or call Lisbeth at 910.867.3163 to discuss your training goals. The
website also features a gallery of award winning designs along with a
schedule of complimentary Business Seminars that are presented to the
public through the Center for Business and Industry at F.T.C.C.
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