Entrepreneurship Begins With a Mindset
After 20 years of helping Midwesterners in Nebraska and Iowa make their business ownership dreams a reality, I’ve found that entrepreneurship begins with a certain mindset. My experience as a franchise broker and consultant has taught me that people consider business ownership for various reasons. Some grew up idolizing their own entrepreneurial parents or relatives and want to follow in their footsteps. Others are interested in exploring a career transition to try something new or different for a change. And I’ve also helped many Corporate Refugees who’ve been laid off more times than they care to admit and finally want to take matters into their own hands. But no matter how they arrive at this decision, all have the same goal in mind - the chance to control their own destiny and forge a new lifestyle with more freedom and flexibility.
So, what do I mean when I say that entrepreneurship begins with a certain mindset? First, consider the fact that we all have a fairly antiquated context from which we look at things. From a young age, society has conditioned us to believe that getting a good job with a steady paycheck comes at the expense of working for someone else. And we’ve certainly bought into it. According to some of the latest U.S. statistics, only 30 million out of 342 million Americans are entrepreneurs, which works out to just under nine percent of our population.
What is it that sets these individuals apart from the rest of us?
My background in psychology offers a few clues. Entrepreneurial-minded people have a few traits in common. Most, if not all, are independent and self-sufficient individuals who embrace accountability and believe in goal-oriented progress. They’re also passionate, resilient, and willing to take risks. But people aren’t born this way. For the most part, it’s learned behavior gained from their collective life experiences. And just like any learned behavior, it can be taught and embraced.
Adopting an entrepreneurial mindset takes decisiveness, commitment, and a willingness to explore your inner self. To consider a new future, one must be willing to face their fears and step out of their comfort zone. Assessing where you are and where you’d like to be is the very origin of goal setting and it’s OK to start small. When you reach certain milestones along the way, celebrate the victories that will help you gradually gain the confidence you need to take the next step. These activities can be even more productive if you seek a mentor or coach who can offer feedback, guidance, and support. Be willing to explore, listen, learn, and apply the lessons as you change your way of thinking. As you do, you’ll be cultivating a vision for your future you may not have considered.
Entrepreneurship isn’t exclusively reserved for the fortunate few – it applies to all of us. With the right level of commitment and dedication, anyone is capable of changing their life for the better. It just takes the right mindset to get started down the entrepreneurial path.
Blake Martin is the owner of FranNet of The Heartland, an Omaha-based franchise brokerage, sales, and consulting firm that provides no-cost coaching and consultation for entrepreneurs and small business owners. As a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Psychology Program, he provides practical advice that helps entrepreneurial clients become small business owners. He can be reached at bmartin@frannet.com.
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