To Be an Entrepreneur You Have to be Tough

Being an employee is easy.

Well, aside from all the corporate BS, the internal politics, and the need to perform miracles despite budget and staffing cuts, it’s a hell of a lot easier than being your own boss.

Nice guys really do finish last, especially in business. Not that you have to be as corrupt as Dr. Evil to succeed.

However, you do need to have enough of a backbone to put your foot down when needed.

I’m learning this the hard way, as things go past the wayside because I haven’t had the guts to take the lead when I needed too.

Not that I’m a stranger to making big and bold decisions. I made them all the time in the corporate world. However, in the corporate world, everyone on the team will follow whatever direction you take, because that’s what employees and contractors do to keep their jobs – toe the company line. As a leader in the corporate world, your head is often filled with an artificial ego boost, as regardless of the lunacy of your ideas, everyone follows, because no one dares challenge the hand that feeds them.

As an entrepreneur, I’m working in a different world – a more realistic and harsh world – where not everyone is on my team. From potential team players, to potential strategic partners, these people aren’t afraid to let me know when they think my ideas aren’t any good.

If you read last week’s blog you’ll know I certainly got an earful from a handful of potential team members – and in some cases I hadn’t even had the chance to get my ideas out there.

I’m a really open, honest nice guy. I’ve always been open to the ideas and opinions of those on my team, because no one is perfect – I’m certainly not – and I know the value of acquiring as much information before making an informed, educated decision.

And for the most part, those on my team have the team’s best interests at heart, so their voices should be heard.

I’d listen to those on my team, think about it, and then make any decisions necessary, sometimes going against those on the team – but I at least listened to them, and actually considered them before making and final decisions.

However, I’m learning when you’re at the top of the food chain as an entrepreneur, not everyone has you or your business’ best interests at heart, yet they will stop and put up a fight to voice their issues as if they did.

Not that everyone I talk to has their own agenda, but the biggest challenge I’m finding is trying to cut through all the clutter, to figure out who is on my side and voicing a real concern for my business, and who is just trying to push forward their own cause.

Nice guys really do finish last in business.

I’m learning I have to put my foot down, and carry on, regardless of all the clutter tossed my way. I know some of the people speaking up actually are in my court, but because there are so many more that aren’t, instead of taking that risk, it’s best to just act.

Because without action, nothing is done.

And when nothing is done, the business doesn’t move on.

I’m bound to make mistakes, that’s part of being human.

However, I’ll never learn and grow from those mistakes, if I just sit on the fence, and never take any action, because I’m cowering in the corner over an idea, rather than acting on that idea.

To be an entrepreneur, you have to be tough. You have to take the first steps, in the face of uncertainty, and despite the voices of others – because not all those voices are chirping in your court.

You have to listen your gut, because sometimes, that’s the only member of your team pulling for you.