Chapter 1

So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur?!?!

In this chapter:

• Reasons to be an Entrepreneur
• Enjoying the financial and professional rewards of being a successful entrepreneur

• Observing an average work week of an Entrepreneur
• Appreciating the success factors affecting entrepreneurs
• Understanding failure factors and risks affecting entrepreneurs

So, you want to be an entrepreneur? And not just any entrepreneur, but a profitable and professionally competent entrepreneur! Congratulations. This is the starting point in your journey to become a successful entrepreneur. Savor this moment, because your professional life in business will forever change from this point forward.  Another reason to savor the moment is to firmly establish your humbleness baseline from which you’ll draw your modesty later when great success beckons. That is, you’ll want to remember where you came from once you’ve moved a long way up the entrepreneurial wealth curve.

BEST PRACTICE: Right here right now on page one, let’s get one thing straight. I’ve said it once in the preface, and I’ll say it again. With the “new normal” economy being very different from the past, for many of us the only pathway to success is to create your own job as an entrepreneur. That is because there are no jobs for many folks due to an economic reset in existing business models, ageism, unemployment and the challenges of being from underserved communities. That answer is hopeful: become an entrepreneur. The good news is that the wealthiest people in the world are entrepreneurs and not wage slaves (a.k.a. employees).

Moving forward, the pace quickens from this moment for the balance of your career as a rock start entrepreneur. Believe it or not, starting with these introductory paragraphs, you’ve launched yourself as an entrepreneur (albeit a relatively new one).  As I’ve traveled the world preaching about business, I have seen time and time again that many, many good people want to become successful entrepreneurs in opportunistic segments (such as technology). However, few of these people truly accomplish that wonderful yet challenging goal. .. For most people, their entrepreneurial hopes and desires never progress beyond idle BBQ banter with neighbors, shooting the breeze over the grill on a sunny summer weekend when such talk is especially cheap. Others get part of the way through the process before things like family matters (aka the “life thing”) preclude them from reaching the promised land of being an entrepreneur. Others do in fact become entrepreneurs, but not truly profitable in their work, remaining content to eek out a spartan living, receive no client referrals, but otherwise enjoy their professional lives (and freedom). These are lifestyle entrepreneurs and there’s room in the big tent for these well-intended souls. Finally, a select class will not only enjoy being an entrepreneur but will thrive financially along the way and be able to look back many years and agree it was all worth it. I’m predicting the organic startup business opportunity will “beat the Street” in the new normal over the decade (the street is Wall Street). I’m going to try my best to get you to that safe and happy place — and you’ve taken the all-important first step by not only purchasing this book, but actually starting to read it! You’d be amazed how many folks buy books and then never use them.

So onward, one paragraph at a time, as we journey together through this book and reach the lofty heights of being successful entrepreneurs.