“Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.” — Anonymous
Successful entrepreneurs are sometimes considered a rare creature – mythical almost – by those who have not yet explored or embraced an entrepreneurial lifestyle.
It happens quite often in relation to entrepreneurship. People see successful entrepreneurs on television or on the internet – maybe they have the big house, the private jet, fancy cars, great vacations, etc. – and it looks pretty inviting.
Many times, the initial thought might be that they got lucky. Maybe an innovative idea dropped in their lap and BOOM – all of a sudden they are rich, successful, happy, and free to live life without any chains attached.
Unfortunately, this is a bit of a delusion. Maybe a few similar scenarios have happened in history, but it is certainly not the norm.
For anybody thinking that entrepreneurship is THAT EASY might want to reconsider and play the lottery instead. Your chances of getting rich might be about the same.
The reality is that entrepreneurship, while it does have it’s benefits, does take a ton of hard work and dedication.
Most of the work of entrepreneurship is done when nobody else is watching. You alone are holding the key and you alone are responsible for putting in the work necessary to be successful.
Successful entrepreneurs have the discipline to do the things when no one is watching. Real entrepreneurship means putting in the hours on monotonous and boring tasks – doing all the little things – and still somehow managing to maintain some level of work-life balance.
This thankless work, often done behind the scenes, is what really gives a business its legs and it’s at the core of entrepreneurship. It is this work that takes an idea, transforming it from a mere hobby or side business into a great success.
Finding potential customers and turning them into loyal, repeat buyers does not happen without a lot of sweat. Relationships must be built and nurtured in order to realize the full potential of each client, and eventually, the full potential of your business model.
So if you are an entrepreneur or are considering becoming one, you must embrace the not-so-sexy side of business. Do those things well that most other people don’t want to do. That is what will allow you to get to the sexy side of entrepreneurship later in life.
“Genius is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.” – Thomas Edison
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Susan Sly is a best selling author, work life balance expert, speaker and entrepreneur. She has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television and the CBN. Susan is the mother of four children and resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.
