Tag Archive for 'courage'

The rare and wild entrepreneur

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on 9:40 am
in Business planning and Entrepreneurship
. 0 Comments

If you venture into the marketplace jungle, you may be able to observe that rare wild creature, the entrepreneur, in his or her natural environment (darting is not necessary, entrepreneurs are very gentle - just rub their stomachs). As you study them, you will find levels of vision, curiosity, courage, tenacity, and faith. Here’s what to look for in order to identify this elusive critter:


Vision: Entrepreneurs see things and consider the possibilities before they exist, even as the world is telling them, “It won’t work.” When entrepreneurs are deep into their vision they go into what their families call a “zone,” which is when it’s easiest to slip up on them.

Curiosity: Entrepreneurs ask questions other humans don’t. They can’t help it. If someone asks you a question and you have no idea what they are talking about, you are probably having a close encounter with an entrepreneur. Don’t be irreverent; you might be at ground-zero of the 21st century equivalent of Velcro or the microchip.

Courage: Entrepreneurs attempt things that other human species won’t. As you peer through the triple canopy at your subject, look for death-defying acts in the face of conventional wisdom. Entrepreneurs eat conventional wisdom for breakfast.

Tenacity: Entrepreneurs keep trying when other humans give up. They have a high pain threshold, which when combined with a visceral desire that can only be compared to the maternal instinct, delivers a primal display of tenacity which often is frightening to other humans. If the entrepreneur you are observing is crouching, lie down quickly. You probably aren’t in danger, but fainting is a possibility.

Faith: Entrepreneurs believe in themselves and their vision. The great writer and even greater curmudgeon, H.L. Mencken, once said, “Faith may be defined briefly as an illogical belief in the occurrence of the illogical.” That’s our entrepreneur! If you see someone demonstrating an inordinate commitment to an “illogical belief,” congratulations. You’ve found your entrepreneur.


Catch and release, please.

Only the courageous know failure

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on 7:00 am
in Entrepreneurship and Inspirational and Motivational
. 0 Comments

One of the most powerful words in the English language is courage; it’s also a characteristic unique to humans.

The reason courage is a uniquely human trait is because it is typically demonstrated for something other than self — a cause, a country, another human — which is abstract thinking, also unique to humans. And courage usually manifests itself after the courageous has had time to think about it. The great silent movie actress Dorothy Bernard once said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” If you’ve had time to pray, you’ve had time to change your mind.

Courage is certainly not unique to entrepreneurs, but it is a characteristic very much in evidence in our world. And the abstract that we are willing to fight for is our vision.

When you start a small business you demonstrate courage. When you persevere in the face of entrenched paradigms and small-minded naysayers, you demonstrate courage.

And what about failure? If you fail — nay, when you fail — welcome to the rarified air of the courageous. Since you can’t fail if you don’t try, only the courageous can know failure.

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Have faith in yourself, small business owner

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on 3:58 pm
in Inspirational and Motivational
. 0 Comments

As we continue the holiday season and move into the New Year, I encourage you to contemplate your capacity to have faith and how faith manifests in your life.  Not just religious faith, which is important to many of us, but faith in yourself and faith in others.

August Wilhelm Von Schlegel said, “In actual life, every great enterprise begins with and takes its first forward step in faith.” How many things have you accomplished in your life where, regardless of your research and experience, the first forward step was taken in faith?

Awareness of faith can be very exciting. William Newton Clark wrote, “Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see.”

Exercising faith can be very powerful. Sherwood Eddy once observed, “Faith is reason grown courageous.”

Faith can transcend mere facts and can actually be a lever for reason. Blaise Pascal believed that, “Faith is a sounder guide than reason.  Reason can go only so far, but faith has no limits.”

Have faith and take that first step. Have faith and dare to go farther.  Have faith and be courageous.  Have faith and leverage reason.

Have faith in yourself, and when you do anything is possible.  Because, after all, you’re a small business owner.

Check out more great SBA content HERE!

Listen to your spirit

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on 1:21 pm
in Entrepreneurship and Inspirational and Motivational
. 0 Comments

Do you think about the force that drives your protoplasm around; the keeper of your courage; the only thing that’s different about identical twins?

You know – your spirit.

Everyone should be conscious of their spirit, but it’s essential for entrepreneurs.

In Eternal Echoes, the late John O’Donohue spoke to entrepreneurs: “When you open your heart to discovery you will be called to step outside of your comfort barriers; you will be called to risk old views and thoughts. But your spirit loves the danger of growth.”

Let’s consider a few of John’s words.

Discovery: As a small business owner you “open your heart to discovery” every day. You discover that vision, hard work and planning have produced a new customer, a little more profit, or that you just might make it another year.

Sometimes discoveries aren’t pleasant: An employee doesn’t show up, equipment breaks down or you lose a customer.

Challenging discoveries are no respecter of businesses, large or small. But they hit a small business harder because there are fewer spirits, bodies and assets to absorb the shock.

John O. would say your success lies in the ability to “open your heart to discovery.” Do you dread problems, or can you turn a challenge into an opportunity? The answer to that question may depend on how well you discover and use the power of your spirit.

Comfort Barriers: These offer protection, but they also hold you back. The same wall that protects you from the world can also keep you from engaging the world.

You may have fewer surprises and dangers inside your comfort barriers, but opportunity is a camper; it likes to be outside. Listen to your spirit when it tells you to step outside your comfort barriers and camp out with opportunity.

And remember this wisdom from John Shedd, “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships were built for.”

Growth: O’Donohue said our spirit “loves the danger of growth.” Sometimes growth can be dangerous, but more often, not growing is riskier.

You can either be courageous or a weenie. Your spirit sees the power of courage in the marketplace, while the weenie in you sees the chance of failure. Your spirit says, “Let’s make something happen,” while the weenie in you craves comfort. Knowing how to manage these two forces is crucial to success in small business.

Listen to your spirit, trust it and leverage that force.

Click here to listen or download more of what I have to say about listening to and leveraging your small busiess spirit.

Check out other great SBA content HERE!

The Entrepreneurial Jungle (or How to Spot an Entrepreneur)

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on 1:41 pm
in Entrepreneurship and Inspirational and Motivational
. 0 Comments

If you venture into the marketplace jungle, you may be able to observe that rare wild creature, the entrepreneur, in his or her natural environment. (Darting is not necessary, entrepreneurs are very gentle - just rub their stomachs.) As you study them, you will find levels of vision, curiosity, courage, tenacity and faith. Here’s what to look for in order to identify this elusive critter.

Vision: Entrepreneurs see things and consider the possibilities before they exist, even as the world is telling them, “It won’t work.” When entrepreneurs are deep into their vision they go into what their families call a “zone,” which is when it’s easiest to slip up on them.

Curiosity: Entrepreneurs ask questions other humans don’t. They can’t help it. If someone asks you a question and you have no idea what they are talking about, you are probably having a close encounter with an entrepreneur. Don’t be irreverent; you might be at ground-zero of the 21st century equivalent of Velcro or the microchip.

Courage: Entrepreneurs attempt things that other human species won’t. As you peer through the triple canopy at your subject, look for death-defying acts in the face of conventional wisdom. Entrepreneurs eat conventional wisdom for breakfast.

Tenacity: Entrepreneurs keep trying when other humans give up. They have a high pain threshold, which when combined with a visceral desire that can only be compared to the maternal instinct, delivers a primal display of tenacity that is often frightening to other humans. If the entrepreneur you are observing is crouching, lie down quickly. You probably aren’t in danger, but fainting is a possibility.

Faith: Entrepreneurs believe in themselves and their vision. The great writer and even greater curmudgeon, H. S. Mencken, one said, “Faith may be defined briefly as an illogical belief in the occurrence of the illogical.” That’s our entrepreneur! If you see someone demonstrating an inordinate commitment to an “illogical belief,” congratulations. You’ve found your entrepreneur.

Catch and release, please.

For more on entrepreneurs and surviving in the marketplace jungle, go to SmallBusinessAdvocate.com.

Courage is a synonym for entrepreneur

Published
by
Jim Blasingame
on 7:31 pm
in Entrepreneurship and Leadership
. 2 Comments

One of the most powerful words in the English language is courage; it’s also a characteristic unique to humans.

The reason courage is a uniquely human trait is because it is typically demonstrated for something other than self - a cause, a country, another human - which is abstract thinking, also unique to humans.  And courage usually manifests itself after the courageous has had time to think about it.  Someone once said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”  If you’ve had time to pray, you’ve had time to change your mind.

Courage is certainly not unique to entrepreneurs, but it is a characteristic very much in evidence in the entrepreneurial world.  And the abstract that we’re willing to fight for is our vision.

When you start a small business you demonstrate courage. When you persevere in the face of entrenched paradigms and small-minded naysayers, you demonstrate courage. And what about failure?  If you fail - nay, when you fail - and then persevere, welcome to the rarified air of the courageous.  Since you can’t fail if you don’t try, only the courageous can know failure.

You don’t have to be an entreprneur to be courageous. But you can’t be an entrepreneur without having courage.

Recently on my radio program, The Small Business Advocate Show, I talked with my friend and Brain Trust member, Dave Anderson about leading with courage. Dave is president of Learn To Lead and author of several books, including How to Run Your Business by THE BOOK. Please take a few minutes to listen to what Dave has to say about courage, and, as always, leave your thoughts. Listen Live! Download, Too!< >< ><–>


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