Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work. – Seth Godin

The Lucky Entrepreneur

The Lucky Entrepreneur

If you ask me if there is such a thing as a lucky entrepreneur, I would without hesitation declare that many entrepreneurs are lucky.  That is because I define luck as preparedness meeting opportunity.  Or as Oprah would say “I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity”. Most of the population operates under the illusion that luck happens to some people while it eludes almost everyone else.

The smart entrepreneur understands that an open eye and an open mind are key to finding the success that others are unable to grasp and command.  The open eye is required to see when an opportunity is before them. 

“An open mind is necessary to be able to see opportunities where most other people see problems or obstacles”

An open mind is also the ability to place your ego and pride aside and have a very open mind to other ideas that people bring to the table.

Our brains become magnetized with the dominating thoughts which we hold in our minds, these magnets attract to us the forces the people the circumstances of life which harmonized with the nature of our dominating thoughts. If your dominating thoughts are those of success and opportunity, your life will attract those very things to you. For those entrepreneurs who are open and receptive, luck and opportunity will be ahead of them.  

“As an entrepreneur you always have to maintain a spirit of open-mindedness”

I’ve tried to live my life as an explorer, discovering and taking advantage of opportunities others may not have because of the fear of being wrong, I’ve come to realize that there is nothing wrong about being wrong. Eloise Ristad said

“When we give ourselves permission to fail, we, at the same time give ourselves permission to excess”

As an entrepreneur there is one thing for certain, you will be wrong many, many times but “luck” shines upon those who take a risk, fail, get up and persist again.

The smartest thing I ever did was to hire my weakness.

– Sara Blakely

You manage things; you lead people. – Admiral Grace Murray Hopper

Colin Powell on Leadership

Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand.

– Colin Powell

EVERY PERSON IS BETTER THAN YOU IN SOME WAY 

If you ever see me walking along the sidewalks of downtown or line at Starbucks and you see me with someone. Know that that person you see me with is better than me at something, or a lot of things

I’ve learned that people have rich gifts to give this world, whether they are homeless and destitute or a thriving CEO. Each person brings color and richness to this world in some remarkable ways.

I’ve been very fortunate to surround myself with people who have enriched my life, motivated me and made me stronger. So the next time you see me with someone, know that they enrich this world and make it a more colorful place for all of us. 

-Ted Stearns 

A story about Kobe Bryant as told by a professional trainer who worked with Bryant this past summer, for the Olympics:

It was about 3:30am. I lay in bed slowly fading away when I hear my cell ring. It was Kobe. I nervously picked up.

Hey uhh Rob I hope I’m not disturbing anything right now.

Uh no what's up Kobe?

Just wondering if you could just help me out with some conditioning work that's all.

I checked my clock, 4:15am. yea sure ill see yo in the facility in a bit. It took me about 20 minutes to get my gear and out of the hotel.

When I arrived and opened the room to the main practice floor I saw Kobe. Alone.

He was drenched in sweat as if he had just taken a swim. It wasn’t even 5am.

MY THOUGHTS: 

I am a firm believer that in order to be successful as an athlete or entrepreneur the talents necessary to do so are not taught in universities or schools. The attributes are deep within us; the determination and unyielding and unrelenting drive that lets nothing stand in the way of us attaining our vision for ourselves.

The principles are carved in our soul.

I know how it feels when you have been beaten down time and time again. When others truly want nothing more than to watch you fail and that giving up would put a smile on their faces.

But, I will never know what it feels like to throw in the towel.

You actions today will impact your life a week from now, a month from now and a year from now.

Make today a day your future self will be proud of.

Do Not Be Afraid of No

Image source: el3mentsofwellness.com

Being a salesperson is the best job in the world. Just ask Ted Stearns and he will readily agree. Most people fear sales because they are afraid of a small two letter word: No.

Ted Stearns, who is currently President and CEO of eDisabilityQuotes along with being a Principle with Aegean Capital Partners, can attest to the fact that many people stop their own success because they are afraid of hearing no when they ask for something. His opinion is that if you are getting yeses all the time, you are not asking for enough!

Image source: kriscole.wordpress.com

Furthermore, Ted Stearns see the value of hearing no and still moving forward. Life is a game of numbers and it is merely a matter of finding the right product or service for the right person. This means that if you offer it often enough, you will be certain to find the person who wants it and will say yes. He believes that every time he hears someone say no, he is that much closer to finding the person who will say yes.

It is also important to understand that when someone says no to you, they are not necessarily rejecting of you. If your life and happiness depends on having everyone say yes to you every time you ask for something, you are now at the mercy of other people. By switching your attitude and asking with true curiosity if someone is interested in what you have to offer, you can find out that hearing no or yes is merely satisfying your own curiosity rather than feeling attacked and unwanted.

Image source: compassionatebeginnings.wordpress.com

Just for a day, decide to find out what happens to you if, whenever someone says no to you, you tells yourself that you just learned something about someone else concerning what they do not like. You can take the heat and fire out of the no you hear and begin looking forward with anticipation for those eventual yeses that will come your way if you just do not give up!