There are three kinds of people. Dealmakers, dealbreakers and the crowd. The crowd is arb. The crowd follows. It won’t lead, it won’t block. Dealmakers make things happen. A combination of intelligence, creativity and perseverance allows these people to find a path when the crowd says it’s impossible. Once they’ve found the path the crowd…
Every entrepreneur goes through tough times. It all starts so excitingly! The dream is big, the energy is high, the people are with you, how can you fail when everything feels so right? Then, boom! One year later, no money, no prospects, no light at the end of the tunnel. You can hear a…
Read the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. It’s a story about a woods-guide who is tasked with a quest to save the world. He accepts out of a sense of responsibility, but feels wholly inadequate and is convinced he’s the wrong man for the job. Throughout the story he repeatedly performs unbelievable feats…
If you want to lead, you need to learn how to communicate (in writing). Here are five simple rules: Keep it short. Use paragraphs. No adjectives or adverbs. No more than one sentence per paragraph. Say what you want to say, say it, said what you said. A person’s writing is a window to his brain.Endless…
Many of the world’s greatest inventors, artists and entrepreneurs were creatures of habit.They realised that if they wanted to free up their creative juices and save their brain muscles for important matters, they must minimise time and energy spent on repeatable tasks, such as meals, clothes and daily chores.Steve Jobs always wore the same polo…
Every entrepreneur goes through tough times.It all starts so excitingly! The dream is big, the energy is high, the people are with you, how can you fail when everything feels so right?Then, BOOM!No money, no prospects, no light at the end of the tunnel. You can hear a faint sucking noise and can picture you,…
Dear Jane,I understand why you’re choosing to start your own business.The corporate beast is killing your soul, I get it.But is that enough to take the path less travelled?Perhaps it is because you know you can be great. I’m sure many people have complimented you over the years, and whilst some of it was smoke being…
You have a choice: Join a company and pursue a low-risk career, pay the bills, retire when you’re 65.Or, start your own business, have highs, have lows, flirt with disaster, hopefully make a lot of money, never retire.The former is a life where the days are hard to distinguish from another.The latter is a life where you…
Do you live to work or work to live?Entrepreneurs don’t understand the question.An entrepreneur is someone who loves his work. To an entrepreneur, work is not a sacrifice. Work is what he wants to do every minute of every day.Work is his way of living.Entrepreneurs work 24/7. If you have your own business there is no “off”…
Here is a short list for setting up your own business, especially for those coming out of big companies in the brave new world of start-ups… Do not hire an IT guy. Especially when coming out of corporate, the world of IT seems so intimidating that it feels absolutely necessary to bring in an expert….
At the change of seasons there is an inevitable outbreak of flu.Not only is it no fun to be sick, it’s not good for business. Especially if you’re an entrepreneur with a small team that can’t afford to stop moving.Here are the basic rules to stay healthy: 1. Boost your immune system with ginger tea, lemon…
Nassim Taleb in Anti-fragile talks about the importance of optionality. In an increasingly volatile and uncertain world, you always want to have options.That’s why an entrepreneur should always order a take-away coffee, even for sit-down meetings. Other than the consistent taste of coffee out of a cardboard cup, a take-away gives you options.What happens if you feel like walking and talking?What happens if…