Can You Learn Entrepreneurialism?
Do you know what Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Coco Chanel, Michael Dell, Walt Disney, Mary Kay Ash and Henry Ford all have in common?
Not one of them has a tertiary education.
My Google has been running hot while I have been searching for a hint of what makes these people tick. The only thing that I have found is that they have each challenged the conventional. They did not say, "there is no precedent so this cannot be done."
They were daring enough to dream, yet dreamy enough not to recognise conventional boundaries.
One article I found speaks about universities offering courses in entrepreneurialism.
What skills could be taught to turn you into an entrepreneur? Can you teach someone to dream, believe in their dream and never let anyone tell you it will never work?
I was once told by the founder of a very successful company, “I don’t know how to do anything here. I employ people to turn my ideas into a product. In a way, everyone that works for me is smarter than me… but I am richer than them.”
I tend to think that an academic background may have discouraged the willingness to take risks for these people, whereas a strong mentor would have been able to help them get things done, leaving them free to dream.
Dean Atkins
Small Fish Business Coaching
www.smallfish.com.au
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Paralysed By Indecision?
Then the truth of the matter is that the universe will make the decision for you.
Being in business is fun for lots of us. We love the hurly-burly of going forward, overcoming the obstacles, getting team alignment and a game hard fought. For us we sometime think all business owners are like us, but they are not.
Many businesses are coasting along, happy with the way things are and very content with just opening their doors each day and seeing what happens. Lady luck is their mentor.
Others have developed a winning formula based on past success that they are churning out day after day. Of course over time, like the frog in slowly heating water, they finally reach the end of their business life and at the end don’t even know it. See Business Life Cycles.
Some just can’t make any decision at all as they seek the RIGHT one, the one without risk, the answer. They often fall victim to the 'foolproof answer' charlatans for whom they are the natural prey.
For them, the good news is the answer has been found.
It is 42. I hope that makes a difference, but I am guessing it may not.
Then there are the ME TOO’s. My competitors have 1/2 price Tuesday, I have 1/2 price Tuesday; my competitors offer 42 days interest free (warning, look very carefully at the fine print). That’s for them as well. If you run a pub or club then the meat tray raffles, Karaoke, happy hour, badge draws, TAB, Keno and some of the cheapest nastiest wine by the glass this side of MIA.
Me Too’s share the available market and are trapped by their competitors.
There are those who run their business each day exactly the same as the previous day.
At 7.30am they put the key in the lock open the door, turn on the lights, put on the kettle, have a cup of coffee and settle down into “IT”. The day consists of what it always does. At the end of the day it is off with the lights, close the door, take the key out of the lock and head for home.
What is the colloquial definition of insanity....something like “repeating the same action again and again and expecting to generate a different outcome”.
I should mention those with the grand scheme or “build it and they will come” business philosophy. Grand schemes like golf courses, night clubs, restaurants a long way from anywhere, and of course Telstra. Of course the grand scheme has lots of associated costs and considerable investment and if they do become successful their business is pinched by low cost operators leaving them a bit like the Pasha Bulker.
Well you get the drift...... or maybe not (pun).
What I mean is getting good results for the business season may not be that hard. Put together a great team, get an innovative and experienced coach, practice the moves, add a touch of brilliance by thinking fast on your feet, be prepared to take the hard knocks and get up smiling (nothing unsettles the opposition as this), and be prepared to play the whole season and lose and learn from a few.
On the other hand sometimes it pays to try new stuff when you want a new outcome.
I wish Robbie Dean well in Christchurch.
Seamus O’Brien
Small Fish Business Coaching
www.smallfish.com.au
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One Fish, Two Fish
We have a new fish – Richard Everson in Murrumbateman, near Canberra, Australia, has joined us and already brings a contribution to our business blog. Have you heard of the book “Fish!” – the story of the Seattle fish market? It’s inspiring, even for a cynical pom like me. The book and the video Richard sent over talk about how enormous a difference it makes when people have fun at work.
The book gives some help on how to engender a fun work environment and how help can come from within. Your business' culture is a vital contributor to its success. Helping your friends at work have some fun while they work is a good place to start.
Jon Dale
Small Fish Business Coaching
www.smallfish.us
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Free Business Coaching Session
If you have been thinking about getting a business coach, but haven’t quite been sure how it might benefit you and your business - then why not “try before you buy” and take us up on our offer of a free business coaching session.
This is a genuine offer for a free business coaching session with your local business coach. Don’t worry, there is no high-pressure selling or anything like that involved (that’s not our style). If you get value out of it and you decide you want to continue with a business coaching program, then of course we will discuss that with you. However, if after the free business coaching session, you decide business coaching is not for you, we are still happy to have provided you with the free coaching session. To find out more about how it works, and to book your free business coaching session, click here. Go on, just do it!
Sincerely,
Small Fish Business Coaching
www.smallfish.us
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Franchising Expo- Melbourne, Australia 20th-22nd August
For many people (including some of our clients), franchising is the ideal vehicle to owning their own business. For franchisees and franchisors alike, business coaching is an invaluable tool to assist franchisees be successful in using the franchise system.
Small Fish will be exhibiting at the upcoming Franchising Expo in Melbourne, Australia from Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd August with the view of explaining to franchisors and franchisees alike the benefits of business coaching – the Small Fish way. We will also be using the Franchising Expo to showcase the Small Fish Business Coaching franchise opportunity.
If you are in Melbourne, and can make it, come down and see us at stand K22 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. We would be delighted to see you there!
Kristian Reiss
Small Fish Business Coaching
www.smallfish.us
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