A few days back one of my friend asked me, 'What does SUCCESS as an Entrepreneur really mean?' When discussing about this with my friends they quoted 'Any task that makes you feel satisfied and happy' or 'Success is happiness or when your self respect feels good'
First, success in any career is closely tied to doing what you enjoy and developing your skills and talents. If you are considering a career as an entrepreneur, remember that leaders in this field are flexible and open-minded. They are able to imagine themselves in their customers' shoes. And they have empathy not only for their colleagues and employees but for the people who are affected by the business's operations. Business favours people who, when they see a problem or an injustice, try to do something about it. Does this describe you?
It can be difficult to assess one's own strengths and weaknesses. If you don't already have a mentor, it would be good to contact someone who has experience in the area you're thinking about entering. Professional organisations might be able to put you in touch with someone willing to help you review your best options.
Remember, a good mentor is not necessarily someone who is well known, but, rather, someone who is leading a rich and enriching life. Reach out to a business leader who has made a difference that is important to you.
At this stage, many young people are focused on developing abilities in areas where they haven't succeeded or exhibited much skill. Not long ago, I talked to my neighbour who was dyslexic. I said that it is important to try to excel at what you're good at. Don't let your limits knock your self-confidence. Put them to one side.
This is the time to focus on your strengths, because success as an entrepreneur is about ideas and excellence. Not excellence measured in awards, or other people's approval, but the sort one achieves for oneself by exploring what the world has to offer. So, rather than looking to others for your markers of achievement, consider what success means to you. Thinking about personal matters, like your hopes for your family and private life, might help you bring this vision into focus.
Are you dealing with great wealth? Success in business has nothing to do with profits. Profits are necessary to invest in the next project - to pay bills, repay investors and reward people for their hard work - but that's all. The reality is that, in business money flows like a running stream. During one season, it might be a torrent, but then you have to invest in order to keep your business going, and your cash flow dries up overnight.
It seems like an American trait to talk about wealth. In India we are slightly embarrassed about it, and I think its a good thing. When I go somewhere I see people not bank statements, and I'd like to think that others feel the same about me. Money is only interesting for what it lets you do and create.
If money is a poor guide to achievement, celebrity is the worse. The media tends to personalise and simplify matters, and that's understandable. It's much easier for reporters to talk about Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata or Bill Gates but that doesn't reflect the reality that a legion of senior people at those companies make many major decisions every day - they just don't talk to the media about it.
If neither money nor celebrity are fair measures of success, then what about personal power? Well Reliance is still working without Shri Dhirubhai Ambani, just as apple is continuing without Steve Jobs and Microsoft since Bill Gates stepped down as CEO in 2008.
Success in business is best measured by whether or not you have created something of which you can be truly proud - and whether or not you've made a real difference for others. This is what will get you up in the morning. This is what will make you happy.
The more actively and practically engaged you are, the more successful you will feel. Right now, I find myself doing more and more to help safeguard our future on this planet and help more and more people. Does that makes me successful? I don't know, but it certainly makes me happy.
When you are facing choices about your path to a career, and in all the choices that follow, focus on your own goals and try not to be distracted by those of others. Consider the needs of community, and how to might best contribute. What is your vision for change? Start working towards that. In business, as in life, what matters is that you do something positive.
First, success in any career is closely tied to doing what you enjoy and developing your skills and talents. If you are considering a career as an entrepreneur, remember that leaders in this field are flexible and open-minded. They are able to imagine themselves in their customers' shoes. And they have empathy not only for their colleagues and employees but for the people who are affected by the business's operations. Business favours people who, when they see a problem or an injustice, try to do something about it. Does this describe you?
It can be difficult to assess one's own strengths and weaknesses. If you don't already have a mentor, it would be good to contact someone who has experience in the area you're thinking about entering. Professional organisations might be able to put you in touch with someone willing to help you review your best options.
Remember, a good mentor is not necessarily someone who is well known, but, rather, someone who is leading a rich and enriching life. Reach out to a business leader who has made a difference that is important to you.
At this stage, many young people are focused on developing abilities in areas where they haven't succeeded or exhibited much skill. Not long ago, I talked to my neighbour who was dyslexic. I said that it is important to try to excel at what you're good at. Don't let your limits knock your self-confidence. Put them to one side.
This is the time to focus on your strengths, because success as an entrepreneur is about ideas and excellence. Not excellence measured in awards, or other people's approval, but the sort one achieves for oneself by exploring what the world has to offer. So, rather than looking to others for your markers of achievement, consider what success means to you. Thinking about personal matters, like your hopes for your family and private life, might help you bring this vision into focus.
Are you dealing with great wealth? Success in business has nothing to do with profits. Profits are necessary to invest in the next project - to pay bills, repay investors and reward people for their hard work - but that's all. The reality is that, in business money flows like a running stream. During one season, it might be a torrent, but then you have to invest in order to keep your business going, and your cash flow dries up overnight.
It seems like an American trait to talk about wealth. In India we are slightly embarrassed about it, and I think its a good thing. When I go somewhere I see people not bank statements, and I'd like to think that others feel the same about me. Money is only interesting for what it lets you do and create.
If money is a poor guide to achievement, celebrity is the worse. The media tends to personalise and simplify matters, and that's understandable. It's much easier for reporters to talk about Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata or Bill Gates but that doesn't reflect the reality that a legion of senior people at those companies make many major decisions every day - they just don't talk to the media about it.
If neither money nor celebrity are fair measures of success, then what about personal power? Well Reliance is still working without Shri Dhirubhai Ambani, just as apple is continuing without Steve Jobs and Microsoft since Bill Gates stepped down as CEO in 2008.
Success in business is best measured by whether or not you have created something of which you can be truly proud - and whether or not you've made a real difference for others. This is what will get you up in the morning. This is what will make you happy.
The more actively and practically engaged you are, the more successful you will feel. Right now, I find myself doing more and more to help safeguard our future on this planet and help more and more people. Does that makes me successful? I don't know, but it certainly makes me happy.
When you are facing choices about your path to a career, and in all the choices that follow, focus on your own goals and try not to be distracted by those of others. Consider the needs of community, and how to might best contribute. What is your vision for change? Start working towards that. In business, as in life, what matters is that you do something positive.
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