It doesn't matter whether your business is 6 months old or you're celebrating your 25th year of operation- at every stage of the entrepreneurs' journey there are new, valuable lessons to be learned. Sometimes you learn the hard way (and consider packing it all in to find an 'easy', 9 to 5 job). Other times you dodge a bullet- and breathe a sigh of relief before carrying on that little bit wiser! If I were to think back over the past 18 months personally, one thing I've learned that stands out to me is the realisation that patience truly is a virtue. Although there may be times where going about your weekly operations feels sluggish and routine, I've discovered that staying optimistic and alert for new opportunities is the best attitude to take, regardless. Just one new person you meet, one new book you read or one 10 minute video you watch- one little change- can make a bigger difference to the setup and fortunes of your business than you ever expected it to! It's been nearly 20 years since I last donned the akubra hat and promised Akaela to "Do my best" but the echo of the Scouts' motto becomes increasingly relevant as I carry on this journey: Be Prepared.
Be prepared for wonderful, unexpected opportunities.
Be prepared for great expectations that turn into underwhelming failures.
Be prepared for weeks so busy you wake up on Wednesday morning and then discover it's actually Friday.
Be prepared for weeks so quiet (especially in the start-up phase) that you'll wonder if sacrificing your vision and dreams in return for a normal job and steady pay cheque would really be that bad?
Be prepared for fantastic changes that could be just around the corner- as the result of one new contact, seminar, book or program that lifts your business to another level altogether (but keep your wits about you in the process)!
Above all, be prepared.
Just last week, Jason Demers (Audience Bloom CEO and Founder) shared 10 more crucial lessons of great value to any entrepreneur, over at entrepreneur.com. His article is easy-reading, to-the-point, and serves as a great little refresher of the mind to anybody who is constantly working to grow their business into something greater:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237077
Is there anything else of great value that you've learned and is not on the list? Feel free to share it with us!
Be prepared for wonderful, unexpected opportunities.
Be prepared for great expectations that turn into underwhelming failures.
Be prepared for weeks so busy you wake up on Wednesday morning and then discover it's actually Friday.
Be prepared for weeks so quiet (especially in the start-up phase) that you'll wonder if sacrificing your vision and dreams in return for a normal job and steady pay cheque would really be that bad?
Be prepared for fantastic changes that could be just around the corner- as the result of one new contact, seminar, book or program that lifts your business to another level altogether (but keep your wits about you in the process)!
Above all, be prepared.
Just last week, Jason Demers (Audience Bloom CEO and Founder) shared 10 more crucial lessons of great value to any entrepreneur, over at entrepreneur.com. His article is easy-reading, to-the-point, and serves as a great little refresher of the mind to anybody who is constantly working to grow their business into something greater:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237077
Is there anything else of great value that you've learned and is not on the list? Feel free to share it with us!