38: Which Way? The Right Roadmap for Entrepreneurs | #walkwithme
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things different – they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things…
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things different – they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
Steve Jobs
About This Episode:
In this episode of “#WalkWithMe” I answer the biggest question I always get from aspiring entrepreneurs: “Am I going the right way?” and offer up seven indicators that show they are headed in the right direction.
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This season we’re all in right now is the most important time for entrepreneurs to step up and make an impact while so many industries are being crushed and unemployment is at an all-time high. There is much opportunity all around us, so we need to think and act differently in order to create new solutions.
I’ve been an entrepreneur my entire professional life, and one of the questions entrepreneurs ask all the time is: “Am I going the right way?” Here are seven indicators that show you are moving in the right direction.
#1 – If you’re getting met with resistance, stay the course; you’re going the right way.
The first indicator that an entrepreneur is going the right way is if they’re continually facing resistance from people. By definition, an entrepreneur is doing what is against the norm. And since people have a tendency to hang on to what they know and what they’ve been taught, they will likely challenge you if go against the grain. Remember that if you go the same direction as everybody else, you’ll end at the same place as everybody else—which, for many, is not where they’re meant to be.
#2 – If you’re getting met with rejection, stay the course; you’re going the right way.
This is a hard one for entrepreneurs just starting off. They get so excited about an idea and then bring it to others, who are not as excited about it, and then the feeling of rejection ensues. There is not a single product, service or idea on the planet that 100% of people are going to want or need, so rejection is part of the business—you can’t take it personally! Your job is to sort through people to find those who will be passionate about the same thing as you. Entrepreneurs often see things before others see things, so expect your idea to be rejected a lot.
#3 – If people think you’re crazy, stay the course; you’re going the right way.
I got multiple degrees from a top school and I remember being at my graduation celebration with friends and family, and the #1 question was: “What are you going to do now?” I told them “I’m going to start a home-based business.” People thought I was crazy. When people think you’re crazy, it’s more of a reflection of them and their own fears more than a reflection of your action.
#4 – If you’re starting to question yourself, stay the course; you’re going the right way.
Even if you start to get some small victories on your entrepreneurial path, you might start hearing the “Maybe they’re right” voices in your head. Self-doubt is normal. Just know that you have to develop a mindset that is strong enough to overcome all that is around you, and that takes time.
#5 – If your environment is starting to shift, stay the course; you’re going the right way.
As you travel the entrepreneurial path, you’ll know your environment—and those around you—might start to shift. For example, lifelong besties might start to become disconnected. Or people new to your circle will become closer. It’s a natural process for you to continue to grow and evolve, so be sure to surround yourself with people who will support and nurture you.
#6 – If you get to a point where everything seems to NOT be going the way you intended, stay the course; you’re going the right way.
Know this: 99% of the time the road you’re on will not be the road you expected. None of us know what’s ahead. You don’t need to know the entire path; you just need to know the destination—and be willing to adapt and be flexible. If you’re destined to get there, the world will test you. The greater the challenges, the greater the rewards. Leaders are forged in fire.
#7 – If you’re at a breaking point, stay the course; you’re going the right way.
In the moment when you can’t take it further and you find yourself at the breaking point, that’s when you know you’re going the right way. The breaking point is not when you have to break down—it can be when you break through. Know you are stronger than you think you are.
When you push through all these steps, I promise you’ll eventually look up and realize how far you’ve come and who you’ve become. It’s then when you can build the muscle to go through it all again, but this time, on a bigger level.