Entrepreneurs are by definition risk-takers. I remember early in my career, working as a magazine Art Director and assigning freelancers thinking: "Wow! I could never do that. They are so hungry." Yet, a few years later that's exactly where I was, fire in my belly, excited at the new adventures in my career.
The recent economic roller coaster has surely thinned the ranks. Those of us still standing are in a better position to succeed because we're the best! But the question now is ...
Am I a warrior or a worrier?
Worriers are immobilized.
They batten the hatches and huddle in.
They stop spending and seeking.
They dwell on the past.
Warriors are the opposite
They go where they haven't been before and find new resilience within.
They don't spend – they invest in their business.
They value intangible assets like branding and marketing, not just furniture and computers.
They are not afraid to sell themselves and don't take rejection personally.
They seek new opportunities ... which may be very different from the old ones.
They don't watch news broadcasts fostering fear.
They are eternal optimists and they make a contribution.
They know what they don't know. They find coaches and mentors for support.
They understand that missteps are part of the growth process and move on.
They do whatever it takes!
We are the recovery
The founder of IBM said: "The formula for success is quite simple: double your rate of failure."
It's not up to TARP, TALF, banks, Wall Street or government. It's up to each of us who run a small business – to lead, operate with integrity and fight the fear.
It's going to be different and it's going to be better.
Are you part of the solution?
