Entrepreneurship Here I Come

I recently read this quote in my favorite daily newsletter, Morning Brew.

“File this under records you’d prefer not to see broken: The US had ~172,000 layoffs in February, up 245% from January and the most in a single month since the Covid pandemic in 2020, according to a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas. That’s also the most job cuts in the month of February since 2009, during the financial crisis.”

For the past several years, companies have worked hard to improve their bottom line by laying off thousands of employees. And as you can see, they still are. Now, our government has joined the action using the same tactics. 

I don’t know about you, but it seems to me entrepreneurship is a viable way to address the government and corporate whims that have been and will continue to take place. While starting and maintaining a business is not for all, those who do so and achieve success spare themselves from the demands of companies and service providers who are only concerned with their bottom line, regardless of who is affected.

My blog post, Entrepreneurship Is Not For The Faint Of Heart, addresses facing personal, financial and faith challenges associated with starting a business. Another post, Seven Characteristics of a True Entrepreneur, talks about traits successful business owners possess.

Today I would like to add a couple of additional thoughts.

1. Successful business ownership cannot be achieved without creating, following, and, when necessary, revising your plan. 

Business owners who become profitable have earned the right to bask in the glory of success. But to get to this point, they needed self-confidence and resilience to endure difficult times. They had to have fortitude to move forward when they experienced self-doubt or had thoughts of giving up. The most effective way to address these roadblocks is to focus on your goals. Work and rework them until they help you attain the outcomes you’re seeking. 

2. Successful entrepreneurs must be decision makers. 

But simply deciding is not enough. I know potential business owners who have spent years mapping out ideas and considering the what-ifs but never take action to move forward. To those folks I say, get on with it. Don’t be afraid to start. The process will never be perfect. You’ll make mistakes. But if you don’t begin the work, you’ll never achieve your mission.

When I started my blog, I strived to deliver perfect posts, a process that inhibited delivery. I revised them over and over, only to still find typos and other minor errors after publishing the articles. A smart woman (thank you, Dr. Mitchell) reminded me I could edit and make corrections after printing. I’ve moved forward with this assurance in mind and, to date, have published seventy-eight articles.

3. Sometimes, you just don’t feel like it. 

When you feel discouraged or overwhelmed, think about the saying, 'I don't have to do this; I get to do this.' This injection of thankfulness gives you energy to keep moving forward with the knowledge you’re assisting others in their efforts or bringing value to their lives. 

I plan to publish an updated version of “The Heart and Soul of Entrepreneurship,” a book I wrote in 2008, which includes interviews with small business owners. The purpose is to celebrate those who took the leap and encourage others to do so. The older publication is out of print, but you can receive a FREE copy online by subscribing to my LitBizLife Blog. Then send me an email at litbizlife@gmail.com to request your copy. Current subscribers should request via email. 

Those of you like me who prefer a hard copy can send $5.00 via Zelle, along with your mailing address to cover shipping. My Zelle email address is hargrovesbw@yahoo.com. 

Kudos to all of you who are smart and brave enough to forge the path towards business ownership. Let me know how it’s going.