Entrepreneur Journal

Don't waste there time- whats in it for them If you want to learn more about an industry, it’s more efficient and effective to read about the industry first and then interview front line workers—not bother a CEO with general questions. Save interviews and interactions with busy entrepreneurs until you know exactly what you need. Suggestions for personal interviews 1 Do your personal soul searching and industry homework first. Take a personal inventory. Take aptitude tests. Ask those who know you well what you do better than most. Do whatever it takes to narrow your search to a few industries. Read about these industries and the leading companies and people. Personal interviews with teachers, entrepreneurs and executives should not be used to narrow your search or learn about jobs or industries. A stranger or casual acquaintance doesn’t know you well enough to map out your career. This is a very inefficient use of a busy person’s time. A great resource to guide you through y...

True independence of character empowers us to act rather than be acted upon. 7 Habits Habit 1 - Be proactive .  Main Idea We can choose our own response to any signals or information we receive. We have the ability to influence our own actions. Therefore, being proactive means to actively choose what our response will be in any situation rather than to react blindly.  Proactive people are driven by values that are both well thought out and internalized. proactivity means to control a situation from the inside out. Or in other words, to affect positive change, stop focusing on the immediate circumstances and instead consider your response to the conditions that exist.   Our response to the little irritations in life will also affect responses to disasters. Habit 2 - Begin with the end in mind.  Main Idea Beginning with the end in mind means using an image or paradigm of your character at the end of your life as a frame of reference or criter...

  External changes can provide great leverage for creative and nimble entrepreneurs. External changes, such as col apses in the price of real estate or en ergy, also create opportunities for entrepreneurs who speculate in out- of-favor assets. Sam Zell, the self- described “grave dancer,” and his now deceased partner, Robert Lurie, built a multi billion-dollar real estate and industrial empire through such opportunities. Their first big success followed the collapse of the real estate investment trusts in the early 1970s. Later they picked up millions of square feet of office space and shopping centers and tens of thousands of apartments and trailer-park spaces for mobile homes. During the early 1980s, the partners sold a number of buildings in the booming Southwest and invested in Rust Belt cities like Buffalo and Chicago. the entrepreneur merely anticipates that the confusion or panic that has depressed prices will pass. Nor does successful execution re...

MASTERY: SKILL, CHARACTER, OR LUCK?   Skills that lead to entrepreneurial success skill, and particularly the ability to sell have an engaging personalityThe ability to find good salespeople and manage a sales force. Having a firm grasp of which numbers are important. Knowing how to put together an assembly line or service delivery process. Being able to communicate clearly. Listening and questioning customers Being a problem solver; thinking. Being curious enough to uncover and unravel the strategies of competitors.  having enthusiastic customers and a smoothly running operation Character Character trumps skill-Perseverance(never give up)a little talent and a lot of hard work are the foundation for learning any skill, Basic curiosity   Fairness   Courage  A relentless pursuit of opportunity It takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. That’s three hours a day of practice, every day, for ten years.   Luck L...

How will you measure your life? Don’t reserve your best business thinking for your career. By Clayton M. Christensen First, how can I be sure that I’ll be happy in my career? Second, how can I be sure that my relationships with my spouse and my family become an enduring source of happiness? Third, how can I be sure I’ll stay out of jail? How to be sure we find happiness in our careers-The powerful motivator in our lives isn’t money; it’s the opportunity to learn, grow in responsibilities, contribute to others, and be recognized for achievements.   Allocate your resources- if value the relationships to family then invest in them.   You will have more learning opportunities if you realize everyone can teach you, even those who aren’t as smart as you . Generally, you can be humble only if you feel really good about yourself—and you want to help those around you feel really good about themselves,   too. When we see people acting in an abusive, arrogant, or deme...

Motives in the work place  Are building His kingdom including strong and valiant families. Are honest in your dealings with your fellowmen and using your God-given talents in their service;  and if you are filling your life with good works, that positively impact your community and world. Beware of Pride- care  whether your wages meet your needs, not that you make more then others. Always be a grade A company- Grade Primary Motivation Secondary Motivation A  Love of God and fellowmen  © Income   $ B  Money   $ Love of fellowmen © C  Love of money   $ Indifferent to clients or customers D  Filthy Lucre    $ Harmful to clients and customers  Questions to ask in the workforce Do you give an honest day’s work for your pay? Are you loyal to your employer? Are you honest with the customers? Are your products and service of the highest qualit...

Treat life as an experiment- Great thing doesn’t happen on the first try.  Keep trying and see what you need to improve.  Thomas Edison said I didn’t fail that many times I just discovered how not to do it that many times. Have direction, don’t wander aimlessly.  “As long as you don’t lose sight of your vision and values, you can make course corrections as you gain knowledge.” Don’t just have the goal get a good job but “Look around you. Take a fresh, hard, and uncompromising look at life as you see it. Ask this question, ‘What needs to be done?’ When you have an answer, and it may take some time to get it, then go and do what needs to be done. Do it better than anyone else does it and the world will beat down your door for your help. Then you will not need ‘a good job’; and you will have more than a career.  You will have a mission.”  Scientist and inventor R. Buckminster Fuller. The most successful and fulfilled entrepreneurs are always advancing toward...