How time flies!
I can’t believe it’s already been a full year since…well, last year…and a year that has come FULL circle, at that, in my business life.
Where are hearts are (and passion), the money and details will follow.
That being said…this past year has NOT been a cakewalk by any means (with many, many, many, MANY lessons learned ‘the hard way’ along the way).
In fact, being an entrepreneur reminds me A LOT of my college days—days where I learned MANY lessons, equally the hard way—often outside the classroom (school of hard knocks).
Things like:
- Don’t park in no-parking zones (you will get towed)
- Don’t use hand dishwasher gel to wash your dishes in the dishwasher
- Don’t let a random sorority guys borrow your favorite clothes (you may never get it back)
- Make sure to clean out your fridge before going on a long vacation/winter break
- Don’t sign a lease on an apartment or place to live before seeing it
- Study hard, yes; but don’t get so bogged down in the books that you miss out on all the fun times in between
Similarly, entrepreneur lesson life has looked something like this:
- No two web developers are the same—and just because they have some skills you may not have, doesn’t mean they know how to develop a great site
- Ask for photographer’s portfolios before hiring them for the job
- Don’t pay a web designer $500 before he has delivered on service
- Don’t continue to work with a marketing guru who is not delivering on their services
- Collect payment from clients you see upon delivery of service if no credit card on file
- Keep learning. Growing. Sharing.
- Don’t spend all day at the computer—get out and amongst people. Network. Be social. Work and connections can happen when you are living life—doing things you love.
- Do your research before you invest in anything—systems, programs, advertising. There’s alot of little expenses that come up along the way—be savvy.
- Keep your eyes on your mission, vision, purpose.
- Speak with authenticity.
- Don’t force things. Things will work out as they should.
- Never give up…never
Man.
School of hard knocks is right!
What lessons have YOU learned as an entrepreneur in your business?
The more we can band together and share the insights we’ve learned along the way…the better we are for the wear and tear of ‘hard knocks’ of the entrepreneurial life.
Hope you have a great 2016!!
