What does one needs to take the first step?

Hi all
I’m Dylan 22 yrs old.
Having read few motivational books and reading most of the post from this great forum, I’m just wondering:
- does successful entrepreneurs / businessmen have similar characteristics, habits or principles?
- Is it important to cultivate them?
- If yes, how do we go about cultivating them? Any suggestions?

I would love to start my own business and start on the entrepreneur path, but it seems like something is lacking inside me. Is there anybody who share the same problems with me and how did you conquer them?

Thanks a lot for your time and response! Really appreciate that!

Sincerely

Dylan

Hi,

You need to start turning yourself into a warrior. Another word for warrior is "professional."

Some people, prodigies, are born professionals. Some people are born and raised professionals, such as Bill Gates. Some people finally become professionals at age 50 after years of remaking themselves; I'm a good example of this kind of person.

To become a professional you need to learn to enjoy fear, pain and hard work, as they are three of your best friends. You need to be humble enough to remake yourself (you could start by learning to write correct English). You need discipline and the willingness to sacrifice the pleasures of now for the rewards of later. You need to become very competitive--competitive to the point of ruthlessness.

I wish you good luck and good success.

Best,

- Boyd

Hi,

My comment about the correct English sounds harsher than I meant it to.

Another point about professionals:

* They are producers rather than consumers.

Actors aren't known as deep thinkers,but one of them hit the nail on the head when they said:

"Dahling, I don't watch movies... I'm _in_ movies."

Best,

- Boyd

Hi Boyd

Thanks a lot for pointing out my mistakes.
There are just so many things to be learnt in this life.

Again, thanks for your inputs!

Sincerely

Dylan

DNO
> Hi Boyd

> Thanks a lot for pointing out my mistakes.
> There are just so many things to be learnt
> in this life.

> Again, thanks for your inputs!

> Sincerely

> Dylan

Artists and poets are supposed to have suffered life's hardships to have inspiration to draw from.

As an entreprenuer, sometimes we also need to suffer as employees to be inspired. I know I never want to be an employee again.

But, more than that motivation, you will need a business, service or product that you are passionate about.

There may be many motivating factors in your "Want to", but some of those are only temporary and will need re-freshing from time to time. But having a product or service that you are passionate about can carry you through some of those times when you lack motivation.

You also need discipline. Working on your own, you won't have a clock to punch or a supervisor or boss looking over your shoulder.

You will need administrative and managerial skills, or else you will nee to pay someone to provide those for you. You may be great at what you do, but poor management and administration can cause your business to fail, even if your net profits are good.

If you are still in school, get at least two or three accounting courses. Then, you will have an idea of balance sheets, etc, so you can do your own bookeeping or check up on whoever you hire or contract to do that work.

And don't forget the old cliche', behind every successful man...

Mentoring - If you can find someone to act as a mentor to offer you guidance. They may or may not be in your career field. Another term used a lot online is "Coaching".

Goals - If you don't have an idea of where you are headed or even want to go, there is no roadmap that will get you there.

Good luck in finding your niche.

Dennis Bevers




The business and products that I'm passionate about!

I found this bit of wisdom in my Chamber of Commerce News Letter today and thought you might benefit from it.

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but a rather in a lack of will." Vince Lombardi

So, as another person advised here - You have to have Will Power or a "Want to". Look at why you want to start your own business. Only after you are certain of your inward desire or will to "be your own boss", will it be necessary for you to search for the how and what. Until you are ready to commit yourself to the investment of time, personal energy, & capital to make it successful, searching about for the means or method may be just so much wasted efforts.

But, even what you learn about various products and services may provide useful in going about establishing your own business.

Best wishes for your success.

Dennis Bevers




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Hi Dennis

Thanks a lot for your time in searching for that quote and most importantly, thanks for sharing it with us and especially me, this new baby on board!

This forum is really fantastic!

Sincerely

Dylan

> Hi all
> I’m Dylan 22 yrs old.

We've all been there. My 22nd year was in Viet Nam.

> Having read few motivational books and
> reading most of the post from this great
> forum, I’m just wondering:
> - does successful entrepreneurs /
> businessmen have similar characteristics,
> habits or principles?

Yes. The problem is to identify the ones that will be of use to you. No matter how many books you read, they can't teach you persistance or the WILL to make a start.

Neither will they teach you when, how, and to whom you need to delegate responsibility. Nor the ability to select and manage people. This is only learned through your daily interaction with people on increasing levels of authority.

You will also not learn to "Take the blame and Give the credit" for things that go wrong or right.

When you have assigned responsibility to an individual, if he screws up, take the blame. If he succeeds, give the credit.

> - Is it important to cultivate them?

Yes, it is important to have at least one good mentor in your life outside a structured learning environment. Someone you can pick up the phone and talk to about business, life, and whatever is on your mind. Someone who has been where youa re now.

> - If yes, how do we go about cultivating
> them? Any suggestions?

I forget which of the gurus said it, but he suggested you call up a local business man in a similiar business you intend to start and take him out to lunch. You pay. And use the lunch to learn more about the business. What pitfalls he had at the beginning, how long it took him to get his feet off the ground, what his biggest success was, how quickly it came, etc.

> I would love to start my own business and
> start on the entrepreneur path, but it seems
> like something is lacking inside me. Is
> there anybody who share the same problems
> with me and how did you conquer them?

Probably the only thing lacking is FOCUS. If you cannot focus on a single idea, then your ability to start a business is overwhelming.

For instance, I have been active on the 'Net since 1995. In the past 7 years I have tried my hand at webdesign, online MLM (and I hate MLMs) informational marketing, mall stores, internet programming, and a few others I can't think of now. I have been less than moderately successful. It was either feast or famine.

I know I want to work for myself. And I want it to be through the internet. But I didn't want to learn a new programming language, although I am struggling to learn PHP. So, I decided to take on a partner that already knows PHP and concentrate on the marketing end of things.

The end result is the link below - A fully integrated, complete turnkey internet business. Our official launch will be January 1st. While an internet business, it is also a real world business - and it helps people (an important aspect of Zig Zigler's presentations).

By helping someone like you to get started in business, this system will also allow you to help others in your community.

Now, I am not asking you to buy it. I am only using it as an illustration of what you can do when you focus.

You see, this product was started 10 days ago - the programming, for the most part, is finished and we only have 11 days to finish up the documentation.

That is FOCUS. Putting a complete package together in 21 days.

So, I guess what I am trying to tell you is the most important thing you need to learn is Focus, followed closely by Initiative, and Persistance.

Hope this helps.




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Hi Steven

I can't agree with you more regarding the importance of being FOCUS! A sure success proof habit that needs to be cultivated by each and everyone of us .. especially me!

Thanks again, Steven!

Sincerely

Dylan