Entrepreneur Manifesto – Another Look
When I first thought about putting together an entrepreneur manifesto a couple of years ago, I wanted to keep it as simple as possible. Here, I will stick with the same 10 key points, but I’d like to hang a little “meat” on the manifesto, based on a couple more years of learning and reflection on what is important for success as an entrepreneur. Here are the ten key “commitments” of the entrepreneur:
1. I will be Persistent. I know that nothing great is ever achieved without persistence. I also know that the road to success is littered with those who gave up, while I continued to fight.
2. I will set Goals. I know that setting and monitoring progress toward goals increases my probability of success. I also know that even if I don’t achieve every goal exactly as planned, by having goals I give myself targets toward which I can strive.
3. I will have a Plan. I know that although plans can change, having one is important. I understand that it is very likely that I will have to course-correct frequently as I execute my plan, but rather than see such course corrections as failures, I will see them as opportunities to continue on the path to success.
4. I will be a Believer. I know that being an optimist and expecting the best works in my favor. I will focus on the reasons to believe, rather than be swayed by all the naysayers who don’t want to see me succeed while they stand still.
5. I will be a Realist. I know that being realistic and making incremental improvements is the way to go. I understand that being a believer and being realistic are not mutually exclusive; rather they are two sides of the same coin.
6. I will always be Learning. I know that everything changes and ongoing, constant learning is the only way to succeed. I subscribe to the theory that if I stand still in business, I’m actually losing ground.
7. I will stay Focused. I know that if I don’t stay focused, I am not likely to achieve my goals. I will find my “why” and I will use it to help me to avoid succumbing to shiny object syndrome.
8. I will be Bold. I know that being timid won’t get me far as an entrepreneur. I will, when appropriate, do what it takes to make my business and my offering stand out from the crowd.
9. I will have a sense of Urgency. I know that hardly anything is ever attempted or accomplished without it. I will find ways to access my sense of urgency whenever I need it, in order to continue to progress toward accomplishment of my goals.
10. I will be Passionate. I know that my passion for what I do is what sets me apart from all the noise in the market. I will use my “why” and my commitment to success as strong sources of passion and energy as I grow my entrepreneurial ventures.
Let me know what else you think should be included in the entrepreneur manifesto!
I look forward to your thoughts! Please leave a comment (“response”) below or in the upper right corner of this post.
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Now time to memorize these commandments by heart.