Entrepreneurs As Marathoners

If art imitates life, then, does life imitate art?

Many active sportspeople, especially those in endurance sports, seem to also be highly-driven people in their professions and vocations. They demonstrate qualities and values that are mirrors of national and professional athletes.

A business project may be viewed and treated as a race. When developing the business, the entrepreneur or businessperson plans and executes the plan, with timing and precision. Little is left to chance, if one is to ascertain success. Values engaged include endurance, persistence, determination, innovation, passion, diligence and discernment. These values help sustain your business, for they support your motivation, providing the energy to reach your goals.

Be in business for the long run. Be a marathoner. Keep going.

How To Start A New Business

I have heard this script before from retiring members of the working community: ‘I’ll probably start a business with the small amount of money I have.’ Is that a good idea? Could there be a better or best idea other than starting a new business – a high-risk proposition? When pursued further on which business they had thought of, the vague reply I get includes ‘I will probably go into the food business!’ or ‘Something similar to what I have been doing!’

There are also cases where a staff feels that they have had enough experience working with/for somebody that they decide to start a similar business with a team of partners. Some resourceful ones bank on their track record of competencies and leverage on it in their new venture. That sounds like a good start, yet is there more than meets the eye?

Is it clever or optimistic to start a business, when you have not had the experience? Can you harness the power of pure passion and channel it towards business? Doing business is also starting a new lifestyle on renewed focus, purpose, and sense of relevance.

Whatever your dreams and motivations are, here are some considerations before plunging into the deep waters of small business:

1)    What are your reasons for going into business?

2)    What is your passion?

3)    How ready are you to convert passion into a business? Your passion for a sport or hobby may cease to be that when you focus on the business side of things.

4)    Which are your core competencies related to business?

5)    How extensive is your network of connections in your business?

6)    How do you plan to leverage on the competencies and resourcefulness of your business partners?

7)    How savvy are you in sales, marketing and promotions?

8)    Who are your mentors in business, and how do you tap on their expertise?

9)    What are your entry and exit strategies?

10) How will manage the differing expectations of partners once you develop your business past its infancy?

11) How willing will you be to give this business up?

12) Which are your operating core values? How will you show fairness, integrity, trust, honesty and respect to customers, clients, contractors and colleagues?

These are questions that small and medium-sized business owners have to contend and grapple with, throughout their company’s existence. I wish you every success in your decision.

*****

Looking forward to my track session (at 6.15am) with 14-time Ironman winner, Belinda Granger and her husband-training partner, Justin. Then, it is off to attend a Train-The-Trainer workshop. In spite of the predictions and predilections of a sliding global economy, it will be business as usual. We have to keep moving on order to engage the gears of the economy.

Tomorrow: Book Review on Innovation.

Headwinds and Headways

This morning as I was riding on a road that parallels the airport runway, I was working harder than usual due to the presence of a strong headwind. The notoriously stubborn breeze slowed all the riders down appreciably, and it was so easy to be winded by pushing even harder. I cannot imagine how salmon consistently and persistently swim against the currents of a raging river, to reach an originating location where they can spawn and then perish.

The upside was, when you returned from the other way you accelerated significantly, and it was effortless. That tailwind assisted us by giving us a much-needed push in the right direction.

I felt as if I was working on an experiment on aerodynamic profile in a wind tunnel; so, I leaned forward and adopted the tuck-in position, with my abdomen almost touching my thighs. Resorting to applying physics helped, although the occasional side-winds also presented a challenge, too.

Headwinds are present in our daily lives: in our conversations, and in our relationships. We face resistance, hesitation, indecision and inertia. Knowing that these will be present, we need to plough through without over-expending our resources, patience and passion. We can only get frustrated if we hit the wall, and insist on breaking it down. Some walls may not be easily toppled; instead, we may need to scale them. Headwinds are necessary if a plane is to take off and land safely. When others doubt us and our abilities, they are controlling the winds for us, albeit for a while until we sail past these pre-judgments.

Headway is when we turn our face towards the winds. It is more important how we work with the direction of the wind. Making headway indicates that we have made progress through previously similar conditions. When a client chooses to participate in our conversation, we have collectively made progress as we open ourselves to possibilities and our potential.

Tailwinds may be useful and make for easier work, however an over-reliance on them can lead us to become economical in our energy. We can become lazy by agreeing to work selectively. It is almost akin to riding downhill, where gravity takes over, and the rider cruises along until he reaches the bottom of the hill.

Leadership Lessons: The winds of change shift constantly, and we need to catch them – the way we launch a kite and fly it. Perhaps it is in our nature to push when we are pushed. However, we can sometimes relent and release, and surrender ourselves to alternatives and align ourselves to other people’s ideas and perspectives.

Addendum: In THE HARD CORE APPROACH, Matthew suggested that hard core also involves passion. I agree. Passion can be a strong driver and motivator for sustaining a hobby, pursuit, cause or project. Passion can energise artists to create beautiful works of art, or art installations that state or symbolise a strong message. Leo Tolstoy's War & Peace, Michelangelo's painting of Judgement Day on the altar of the Sistine Chapel, and James Cameron's Avatar (and Titanic) paid abundant attention to detail - their persistence, patience and determination achieved outstanding results.

Art Driven by Passion

This story comes from D. Varella who with his trusty lens and eye for the extraordinary delivered this piece. Enjoy!

There are quite a number of buskers in Orchard Road, but the more popular act is the Woodballs Hula. The busker, Mr. Oh, is a rather elderly man but seems to be in the trim of health. Some say that this hula is a form of exercise - not surprising! I caught him performing his hula enthusiastically on a hot afternoon, without a break, for more than an hour - what stamina!

He was especially keen, upon seeing a person with a camera, ever willing to increase his pace with a mischievous grin and bright sparkle in his eyes. He was looking for good publicity.

I dropped a few dollars in appreciation for the photo taking, and glanced at his money tray. I was surprised - in it was quite a tidy sum. Yes! With some relevant skills and lots of 'balls', one can actually make a decent living.

Photo credits: D. Varella