How To Convince People That You Are “Insane”?
By Cheval John
Most of the people were raised to the drum of “If you want a really great and stable job, you need to gain a quality education.”
They go to high school and learn about subjects that they are not interested in.
They study really hard for the SATs and ACTs so that they can make a high enough score to get into the best universities that money can buy.
When they get over that hurdle and know that they are “college material,” they are looking through different colleges to see which ones will get them towards the goals of attaining the all illustrious degree.
If they are a five-star athlete, recruiters from major colleges are paying visits to their home to try and sell to them their school and why they should compete for them.
They are continuously counting down to the day when they are finally free from the rigors of high school and are out of their parents watchful eye.
For most, they have selected the university that they want to attend close to the day of graduation.
If they are a five-star athlete (a.k.a. football), they are making their announcement on the university of their choice in front of a large television audience dubbed as “National Signing Day” broadcasted on major national networks like ESPNU, Fox College Sports, Big Ten Network, etc.
Then that day arrives when they achieved their high school diploma and are excited about the possibilities of going to college.
Once they arrive on the college campus, reality sinks in of achieving “independence” and the opportunity to choose which major they want to study.
They put in the grueling hours of doing labs, homework, writing papers, studying for exams for the four years (six years for some) to achieve the elusive goal of a college degree.
They want to be among those who made it through the rigorous demands of the university and proclaim that they are a college graduate.
They do not want to be among the majority who failed to achieve the college degree because that would be a failure not only to themselves, but their parents who spent their hard earned money to send them to college.
If they make the 40% of people who achieve their college degrees according to this 2014 story by NPR.org, they believe they are set for life.
The day arrives when they walk across the aisle to receive their college degrees and are excited about the possibilities that are waiting for them.
When most of the college graduates achieve their first entry-level job, they are excited to start the track to promotion.
They are in the workforce earning the salary, living the “American Dream” that they grew up with.
All of a sudden, they got an epiphany that they want to strike out on their own and follow their dreams.
When they tell their family, friends, etc about the decision, they wonder if they have gone “insane.”
They are wondering why you left that great company that have the benefits to go out into the unknown world of entrepreneurship.
Most have probably tried to convince the aspiring entrepreneur that 8 out of 10 new businesses fail within the first 18 months of operation according to this Forbes article “Five Reasons 8 Out of 10 Businesses Fail” by Eric T. Wagner via Bloomblerg Businessweek.
Though they are well meaning, they try to bring you back from your “insanity” of starting a business and to reconsider your decision to become an entrepreneur.
However, you don’t relent and decide to start your very own business.
I highly suspect that Brandon Sobotka heard the same concerns from his closest friends when he started his company, “Integrity Human Performance.”
Many might not have understand his vision of helping people who are either entrepreneurs or business leaders, to increase their productivity and profitability without overworking themselves to death.
Even if you try to explain to them why you have to follow your destiny of owning a business and the desire to make the world a better place, they still believe that you are “insane.”
In their minds, the reasons are valid because you are the one who have to figure out a way everyday to make the venture work.
It makes sense to them that you are insane because you are going into unknown territory of entrepreneurship.
So what should you do if you have a tough time in convincing your friends and family of why you decided to become an entrepreneur and leave the perks of the company that provides you a “stable” salary?
Don’t waste your time explaining to them the reason why you became an entrepreneur.
What you should do is come up with creative ways to make your company a success.
When they see the results from your hard work to build your company into a profitable business the right way, they will understand to a degree your decision to become an entrepreneur.
Maybe they will get inspired by your success and decide to become an entrepreneur themselves and hopefully realize that you were not insane after all.
Are Entrepreneurs Really “Unemployed”
By Cheval John
I saw a commercial during the Super Bowl on how a loan company simplifies the process of getting a loan for a home.
The comedian played the person who simplifies the complicated questions in relation to the company.
Video courtesy of Quicken Loans
What got my attention during the commercial was when a lady asked about a dating account when she saw entrepreneur and the comedian said, “unemployed.”
The truth: entrepreneurs create work for themselves.
Everyday, they have to go and find customers or clients in order for the business to thrive.
For example, a public relations agency has to look for clients and make a proposal in order to convince the person or organization on why they are the right fit.
The unemployed is searching for work with an organization hoping to land the job of their dreams so they can be have a salary to provide for themselves and their families.
They will attend networking events, volunteer for non-profits,participate in twitter chats or even do a live stream show to build long lasting relationships.
Sometimes the entrepreneur who does not have consistent cash flow will have to find part work in order to keep their business alive.
That does not mean they have given up on their business.
It only means they are reducing the stress of running a business.
Barbara Corcoran mentioned in a episode of Shark Tank she had to take a part time job in order to meet payroll for her employees in the early stages of her former company, The Corcoran Group.
If you are fortunate to pick up a second job while you are running your business, you are in luck.
You can build relationships with customers at your second job because that is what they pay you to do.
The thing is you should know how to use your time wisely and also use your common sense because you do not want to create a conflict of interest.
You should also have a positive attitude and see your second job as a venture fund because the company is “funding your business indirectly through a paycheck.”
Meaning you spend the money wisely and save up for expenses or courses which can allow you to learn a new skills that can benefit your business.
Instead of complaining about how much money you are making or why you are not where you are in your business, just be grateful.
You will end up learning valuable lessons.
I will share from my personal experience.
I had worked in a small coffee chain for about two years mostly in downtown houston.
The environment was not great for growth.
Though I could have brought value to them with social media in addition to the regular work duties, they did not give me the opportunity to run their accounts.
They did not allow me the flexibility to run my business whenever I was off because most of the time, they would try and call me in to work and expect me to drop everything for them.
Despite those challenges, I managed to learn everything I can from the business and also build quality relationships with the customers because most of them worked in corporate america in the downtown area.
When I left the coffee chain, I still see half of them whenever I am in downtown and they would ask how I am doing.
I thought I would not be an employee again because I like the freedom of running my business.
The problem was I was not making money consistently.
So when I the owner of a lodging company offered me work, I knew it was the right fit because it would give me the opportunity to learn more about the travel industry since I decided to pivot my business towards this sector.
I was a bit hesitant to take the work because I knew I would have to cancel some shows I had set up weeks prior for my podcast.
After talking to a few colleagues, I decided to become an employee again and work at the lodging company.
Since this business sector is new to me, I had to train on the basics of working in the lodging company.
I can say I had completed one month of working at the lodging company.
Though I am working every day in the night shift, I am very fortunate because I am learning from the owners on how to run a business the right way.
I am also learning more about the tiny details of how a business works including being a great sales person, how to be a supervisor to a degree and how to get back to saving money from the paycheck I earned.
Working at the lodging company allows me to be super focus on managing my time wisely so I can keep the business going.
If you think you are going backwards because you decide to get a second job while you are building your business, you need to get rid of that thinking.
Just because the super successful entrepreneurs says, “you are not an entrepreneur if you work part time,” does not mean they are 100% right.
Everyone have their own journey to success and these same entrepreneurs will not pay your expenses when you are fighting to build a good business.
So do what you need to do to keep your business afloat and treat your internal and external customers right.
You will learn valuable skills which will allow you to turn your business into a cash flow machine.
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