From the course: Entrepreneurship Foundations

Are you ready to become a business owner?

From the course: Entrepreneurship Foundations

Are you ready to become a business owner?

- Do you see yourself on the cover of a magazine? Or the faces of people whose lives you've touched? Or maybe your name on an important patent? Whatever it is, knowing where you stand and where you plan on going is key to becoming the founder of a successful business. Think of your life like a map. You need to plug in your destination, locate where you are, and then, follow the best, most optimal road that leads you to your destination. The way to kick this off is to find your why. Finding your why is the critical first step in the road of entrepreneurship. It's the first question you'll be asked after telling someone you're starting a company. Being able to articulate your why will help you build a foundation for your entrepreneurial journey. Like any good comic book, this is your own true origin story. Where did it all begin for you? For me, it was seeing that social media was only helping superfandoms build in popularity. From Beyonce's Beyhive to KISS's Kiss Army. It was getting easier for fandoms to connect and share and gain new members. I knew then that I had to be a part of creating the best possible experience for these important fans. Once you've found your why, the next step is to figure out what is going to sustain you during the harder times? Ask yourself, what is my passion and drive? Your passion and drive are key to providing the strength for the journey ahead. My passion came from each smiling face or happy customer that we touched. In those early days when I was having tons of doors slammed in my face and not interested responses, it was those very first few projects and seeing the fans reactions and knowing that someone, even if it was just one person, believed and loved what we were building. That spark kept me going in the long months of growing a company. Now, you can have all the brains in the world, but if you aren't ready mentally, it's impossible to succeed. So, the final thing you want to do is sit down and ask yourself, am I ready emotionally? You need to prep for what will surely be an emotional ride. Just like U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps preps both physically and mentally before his Olympic swims, you too will need to do the mental prep work to get ready, whether it's reading books, downloading helpful podcasts, or picking up relaxation practices like yoga or meditation. It's important to know your mentality plays a big role in entrepreneurship. I encourage you to look within to realize what things will help you calm down when you're stressed or relax you after a long day. Have these key components ready before you even need them. To help jumpstart your mental workouts, I'm including several great resources in the exercise files. From books to podcasts, these materials are perfect for an early stage founder who's figuring out the foundational pillars of their business. Now, before you begin, it's important to know that you're ready to run the race. Entrepreneurship is not easy and while there's no escaping every pitfall, there are ways you can prepare. This can make all the difference when faced with the long nights and hard work ahead.

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