Optimism attracts great people, including customers. Without great people, you’ll fail. Optimism helps you push through adversity whilst others panic or pause. Without constance movement forward, you’ll fail. Optimism lets you be hopeful in times of trouble. Without hope, you’ll fail. Optimism is your greatest asset.
Sometimes the world can seem like its going pear-shaped. Crime, infrastructure, inflation, markets, whatever. The government it failing, what to do?! Do nothing. Focus on what you can influence, what you can control. The rest of world is outside of your control, so forget about it and focus on your mission. Keep your head down.
You’re unsure if you’re on the right path. You’re indecisive. You can’t see the way forward. You have doubt. Tough luck. That’s life as an entrepreneur. You’re going to have dips. Moments where your usual unflappable confidence deserts you. Push on. People are watching. Put on your game face. Pretend. Fake it.
You wouldn’t start something if you thought it was dumb. But sometimes, after you’ve embarked on a path, you realise, “this is dumb”. But you’ve already publicly committed, invested time and money. What will people say? You can’t go back, can you? Yes you can. The alternative is wasted time, money and effort. And even…
Cash for growth? Financial director to back you up? Anchor customer? Bank to lend you money? What are you waiting for? Go get it.
In entrepreneur-life, there is lots of waiting. Lots of treading water, staying alive, grinding it out. But every now and then you get lucky. Your venture is at the right place, at the right time. Suddenly it takes off. Don’t check your lipstick in the mirror. Get onboard the rocket! Don’t miss it! Everything else…
Business models, IT systems, company culture. It can all become legacy. Bogged down in “That’s how it’s always been.” Entrenched for fear of losing certainty in favour of the unknown. Legacy will destroy your business. If you can’t cut it out, get out. Legacy will kill you.
It could be a potential customer, or investor, or employee. You want her to come onboard. You pester, you badger, you do your best. But nothing seems to work. She’s not saying “no thanks”, but she’s not moving forward either. Why do you think that is? Fool, she’s being polite. She doesn’t want to hurt…
Don’t be devious. Don’t be cunning. Don’t be sneaky. Don’t be indirect. Go through the front door.
If you want to beat the competition, starve them. To starve them you need to ensure that you have created a structure that caters for all investors, lenders, customers, partners, that have a vested interest in your success. Otherwise they’ll simply go find someone else, ie: a competitor, and give them a leg-up. That’s just…
That explains bubbles, and scams, and frauds, all manner of irrational behaviour. If a person’s incentive is to believe a lie, even a lie to herself, she will believe it. Same applies to you.
Everyone needs help. Backers, supporters. But it starts with you. Start with yourself. Convince yourself. Believe in yourself. Back yourself. If you’re not sure of yourself, no one else will be.