To Be or Not To Be An Entrepreneur Excerpt (1,000 words or less)

Foreword

First, this is not a how-to book. Although I have turned my dreams into a highly successful entrepreneurial business I dont have the secret to your success. Only you hold that key. Second, that being said, this book may be the most important tool you will find to help you determine whether youre cut out to be an entrepreneur. Notice I didnt say if you have what it takes. Technically, I have what it takes to play pro baseball, wait tables, work in an office or do any number of other things able-bodied people do. But Im not cut out to do any of those things. Im an entrepreneur its what I do and its who I am.

Introduction

This job sucks, my boss is a jerk and if I have to tolerate just one more day of this crap I'm outta here! Sound remotely familiar? I'm really not sure if these were the exact words I used on that fateful decision day in 1990, but they are close. I also remember hearing, hey, the company thinks you're great and you are at the top of the pay scale. Hang in there and we will see what we can do for you. This was accompanied by a smile and a look that could be construed as either smirking and you're totally screwed," or reassuring and you're golden. You pick.

The rush hour drive home sent me into an introspective daze. It seemed clear that I had only two genuine alternatives, find a new job or venture off on my own. At this point, the latter was vastly more appealing. I mean what the hell, how much more impossible could starting my own company be as opposed to tolerating this garbage. No bosses manipulating my career. No office managers telling me what I can't order or timing my every movement. No butt kissing to stay one step ahead of the company rival. Instead I could be large and in charge.

As the garage door opened to greet me, the idea of starting my own company hooked me like a tuna. Fortunately, the reality of what I was contemplating also delivered a right-cross to the chin and the rest of the evening was spent doing a reality check on my sanity. Who was I kidding? I had a child on the way, a mortgage payment you couldn't lift with a fork lift, no pocket client and no business plan. Yet, somehow I knew it was time to change.

In every office building and store front, in countless cubicals, apartments and homes, there are people who dream of starting their own business. I know, because I was one of them. Yet, this group is divided into two parts; those who do and those who do not. The decision to embark on the entrepreneurial journey is a heart-wrenching one at best and should not be taken lightly. I once had a fellow say to me, thank goodness God made you ignorant, because if you knew how hard it was going to be to start your own company no one would do it. The reality is, truer words have never been spoken.

Still, there are many highly personal reasons for breaking away. In the best case, they will be so deeply ingrained that they will form the foundation of your personal resolve when the need arises and it will. In the worst case situation, you will be naively overreacting to a sophomoric whim. Under this premise you are destined to fail. In either case, however, I would encourage you to get prepared for the challenge of your life.

But, before you bolt, listen up.

Chapter Five

The "A Bliss

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didnt do than by the ones you did.
Mark Twain

There is a period at the beginning of any company that is truly wonderful. There are so many things to do, decisions to make, people to call. Lunch with your friends is a must, of course, on your new corporate charge card. The printer calls you with your stationery. Your new computer gets delivered. People at the postal center learn your name. Life in general is like new love, and it is good.

This really is a great period for about three weeks. Maybe a month. Soon, friends are busy, or cancel for lunch. Your new supply cabinet is bursting at the seams. And over time, the phone stops ringing. I actually remember a particular week where I received no phone calls. Mumbling my way up the stairs that Friday afternoon I thought, How can you have a business where no one calls?

Chapter Eight

Five Minutes Over Brilliance

I dont know anything about music.
In my line you dont have to.
Elvis Presley

It has been said that the entrepreneur is the wearer of many hats. This is true. Unfortunately, they are of many sizes and don't all fit the same. This also assumes, by the way, that your head doesn't change sizes. But you know what they say about assumptions.

Walking out to the car, I had a sense that I had a lot yet to learn about marketing and data collection. Over the next several months, I found myself calling and meeting with as many people in the field as I could to improve my skills. But, pulling out of the parking lot this particular day, one question lingered: How could I be so stupid?

As I sat there recapping my numerous notes from the week, I was reminded of the adage about wearing different hats as an entrepreneur. On Monday, the hats were all too small. By Friday, they were all too big. And none of them had changed size!

Learning about what you don't know can often be more important than reestablishing what you do know. Don't be afraid to find out.