The struggle of Entrepreneurship!

Have you ever thought to yourself, I think I should be an entrepreneur!!....or should I? Well this is the battle that goes in everyone’s minds when it comes to leaving their own comfort zone. This is the zone that everyone loves being in and what everyone is used to. This is why even though most people want to work for themselves they never will, because that comfort zone that they are in is soooooo comforting and secure that anything else would be a bit awkward and stressful. But some of you have made that move and I congratulate you!!

The ones still working for someone else’s dreams well I congratulate you too!! Because you could always be unemployed then you have nothing to bring you that security in your life at all. But this blog is for all of those entrepreneurs out there and the struggle you will go through. Even if you are the best at what you do, every day will bring its own struggle its own strife at times. To answer most people’s questions, yes you will feel like quitting, yes you will work long and very unorthodox hours.

This is the name of the game in the business world, but think about what accomplishment you will feel at the end of the day. Knowing that you made the change in your families lives, knowing that not because of someone else and their dream were you able to answer your dreams. You did it! You made it happen! (Yes, we can still have employees and say we did it, don’t get technical on me people.) Because you stepped out of that comfort zone you made this day come and you conquered it. Okay enough of the rah rah now down to the brass tax of the matter.

What struggles will you see in your quest to achieving greatness with your own business? You will see low profits or sales in months, you will see that some employees or contractors were not meant for that business. You will see some of your family does not support your “reckless” decision of being a business owner. You will see some of your friends avoid you because they think you will constantly try to “sell” them on your ideas. You will feel you are the only one doing all the work and others do not work as long as hours as you do.

So, let’s start with the first one and go from there, yes you will have low sales and profits every now and then. Get over it people! It is business, and if you do not like what you see then do something about it and change your path. This is your own business remember? You get to decide how much you want to make that month and how much work will get done. Next you will see some employees or contractors are not made for the business or they are not a good match for your company. This will happen no maybe it will happen, no what if it happens.

It will happen it just depends on the time frame that it takes to happen, that will decide when it will happen. Sadly, this is a part of owning your own company and some people will not have the same goals and dreams that you do. But remember to sell the dream that you have to new additions to your company. Let them in your mind so they can see the dream you have, let them know if you are an innovative leader and is that innovation set to be applied to your company. This will help them in having confidence in your decisions and in your company.

Remember that a lot of people do not like change, we went over this with the comfort zone of other people. So, tread lightly when it comes to change, let them know you are bettering the company. But making changes and then changing back to make another change and another change, this is when it gets nerve racking to people. So be easy on that and you will make it. Next you have that your family does not support you in your “reckless” decision of being a business owner. Yep that is a part of life right there, not just in the business world but in life in general.

There will be people out there that does not support your dreams and goals just like employees but unlike employees your family can freely be fired………….. LOL just kidding everyone. Do not fire your family, do not get upset with them either. Tell them that you accept their opinion and you appreciate their opinion, but this is your decision and feel free to watch as you triumph over the monotonous nine to five schedule of the world. There are many people that do not know that at the turn of the century in the early 1900’s ninety percent of the population were entrepreneurs and business owners with only ten percent of the population working for a bigger corporation. After World War II this ratio started to change and in the present business world.

The ratio has now changed to ninety percent of the population works for bigger corporations and ten percent being entrepreneurs and business owners. So, from this ratio you can understand why some people believe it to be a “reckless” decision. So, what do you do when friends avoid you like an ex-girlfriend or an ex-boyfriend? LOL I love it when this happens, guess what? You cannot do anything about it, just let time take its course and no worries about it. They will come around and see that you are not an old school used car sales person, following them around in their life until they buy from you. BUY!!! BUY BUY!!!!....................I mean seriously people?

You think everyone in sales has time like that? You always get that urge to tell that person, GET OVER YOURSELF!!!! But have that professionalism in your life, have some tact, compose yourself and say nicely…………….I understand why you feel this way, but know I am not going anywhere, this is my decision and I would love to have your support. If you do not want to support me at this time that is okay and I accept that, you are a dear friend and I will keep you that way. Guess what? Down the road they will start to support you because you were a person of your word and let them come around when they were ready.

Last but never least…………you feel like you are the only one doing the work, you are the only one putting in some crazy time at the office. This is a part of the business, everyone is made different and puts time into their work day on their schedule (hint: this is why people got into business on their own, because before they had someone telling them what to do and now they get to decide…) You can be a total different person when it comes to how long you want to work that day. You get to decide, so let them decide on their own as well. If they are an independent contractor and you are in sales, you see that they are not selling enough.

Then hire more people, you don’t pay them hourly anyways. If you are a realtor and you are not selling enough houses to pay all your bills, then list more, sell more, show more. Who cares if someone else does not work as much as you, they might not have the same goals you do in your life. This is okay and if you have seen something about all the struggles that you will see in the business world have something in common. What is it you ask? The answer is………………..You! You are and can be your own worst enemy.

You can stand in the way of your own progress by how your mind is programmed. So, reprogram yourself, know that everyone is made different, if you want to help people see your end game. Then share it with them and let them see the goal you want to achieve. Communication is key, yes just like a relationship, because this is exactly that everyone. It’s a business relationship!!! Thanks for reading! Comment below, I would love to hear what you think and share some of your experiences!

Reality, are you ready for it?

Do you know one thing that I feel that people have never prepared their life for, and that is disability. Everybody always thinks that nothing will ever go wrong and you will get to work for the rest of your days doing what you love. I know realtors that enjoy selling houses every day of their life. I know people that work at the shipyards that enjoy welding these massive metal cities together. I know people the fly across the world to work in third world countries.

Never have any of these people ever thought what would happen to me if I was to become disabled. Picture it like this you are driving your way to work one day, everything seems normal just as it would any day of the week. But the driver next to you got a bad cup of coffee with a crack in it. It's spills on his lap, it startles him, and in this daze of being startled he oversteers, then he overcompensates, steering his car right into yours. As he crashes you right into the median the car behind you crashes into you.

You thought it was a normal day, you were just going to go to the office and do some paperwork. But the only way that you are going now is to the hospital. What will your spouse do? What will your children do? You have no income coming in now and the doctor says you're going to be in a cast for 5 months. Your family was relying on your income, what will they rely on now? How will you get groceries? How will the bills get paid?

As these questions echo in your mind time and time again, the only answer that comes to mind is that you will get through this. Stress increases, arguments increase, money is dwindling down day after day. This is a stress you do not deserve, this is something that you can prevent with a form of planning for the future. Is it that much trouble to consider this form of insurance? Isn't your family worth it? To be honest I would be hesitant as well, if this never happened to me. But to be honest this did happen to me, and this is my story.  

Except I was on a motorcycle and I was put in a wheelchair for 5 months. On my way to work, and never thinking I wouldn't make it. I was on the list to get a promotion at work, with all my hard work I knew this was the company I could retire with.  When this accident happened, my job could only hold my job for 60 days since I was not there over a year yet. So, I lost my job the same way that I lost myself, as the old saying goes do not only prepare for the best but prepare for the worst as well.

This is not a blog to scare you, this is a blog to inform you that reality does exist. Reality comes to us all whether we are prepared for it or not, so it is your choice. From this day forward to know whether you want to be prepared or you want to roll the dice and see if you are a winner. If you are not a winner then what do you lose? Disability insurance is very cheap and can cover you and your family. Disability insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and accident insurance these are all things that ensure you if something happens.

Just like car insurance, you have car insurance on your vehicle but you do not have insurance on yourself? This doesn't make any sense, why would someone do this to themselves. Does this make any sense to you? Any insurance should be called a “what if” insurance, because what if something happens? What if you were prepared? Would your family have the same life that they do today because you were prepared for the worst just as you were for the best? These are things that you should be answering not what if I don't use it.

You don't use your car insurance everyday yet you still pay the premiums. This seems like a good idea to people, yet you second-guess other insurance that is insurance for yourself and not for a hunk of metal. You insure you phone yet you will replace that next year anyways. Rethink your priorities in your life, you should get those sorted out. All the insurances that I listed are cheap, I'm talking a dollar a day cheap. That is worth the investment in my opinion but everyone is different in this world.

Think about what is best for you, think about what is best for your family and then make a decision for what is best. If you are finding out that what is best for you is to look into these types of insurance. Then comment below and we can find a time to talk, remember I am not the one that makes reality happen. I am the one that tells you that it does happen and I will assist you in preparing for it. As I wish I was able to prepare for it before it happened to me.

Procrastination from both sides of the spectrum

Do you ever have the feeling when talking to someone about something they need that they are procrastinating about it? It can always go the opposite way as well; do you ever talk to a salesperson and get the feeling that they do not know what they are talking about in their own industry? This is called procrastination for the person looking side and the other side would be the problem of not being trained in the correct manner. Time and time again I see that certain sales people seem to lose their customer service attitude overtime. This is always something that we need to keep in check and up to date, so we can give our clients the upmost respect and professionalism that they deserve. This goes into products and services, for all of those sales people that try to place a product that the client does not have a particular need for or a service that does not fit their needs either. I find this to be unethical upon that professional, only if they know talking about or have been trained in all of the products. If a person has not been properly trained in all the products so they are aware of their options that they can offer. By knowing this can they be at fault for offering the incorrect product for the long run if they are unaware of the other options? I for one do not believe they should be at fault due to the training curriculum being incorrect or not finished. Do not take this as an excuse to offer the wrong product or service to your client though. Neglect of a client’s needs is not something you should never do, it is your job as a professional to make sure that your client is taken care of at all times. Think about it like this, if you mess up and do not take care of your clients’ needs then obviously you are not ready to have a client of that standard and deserve to lose them. So, take it upon yourselves as an employee, as a supervisor, or as the owner that it is all of our jobs make sure that our clients are cared for at all times. It is all of our responsibility to keep our training current as well in all of the states and areas that we practice in. My consultants that I am in charge of with their training, look to me on a daily basis to increase and enrich their careers. I take this role very seriously, if they are guided correctly morally and ethically I can make sure that the prospects that they come in contact with will see the professionalism that they bring to the industry. This will not only effect the branding and outlook that the market has upon our company but will also increase our consultants book of business as well. This is not just the finance industry but is any industry out there from real estate to education at the end of the day make sure you do what is right not only for yourself but for our future leaders and producers in our industries. Now for all of the people that cannot make up their mind if after numerous times and chased down people that offered something that they wanted but when it comes to actually writing the deal in paper to start it they are afraid of commitment and they ghost. What do I mean by ghost? I mean that person will not answer your phone calls like you are an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. You see them at the store they will hide from you, this is the time that you need to step back and let them know that you are you are not going to chase them down but you are there to help them with their needs, that they asked you about. It is always humorous to me when I see this happen. Yes, it deals with my pay but obviously I would not be in this industry if it bothered me that much for me to take it to heart. But remember you approached this person about the product or service for a reason. Remember the reason you have, find a professional that will help you shop for the best rate and the best product, last but never least make your end goal known. For everyone that is in my industry or in sales at all, you are probably saying to yourself man this guy wants an easy and hand fed sale. I will answer you yes, I love it when my clients get what they are wanting in the end and they are happy with the process. So, if this means it is hand fed then get my fork ready because I am ready to eat. Both sides of the end game should be happy with the business done and should know that the business relationship they have with that person is going to be long and fruitful. For all of the professionals in every industry from a professional stand point you need to keep your tact and your professionalism. You are there to help your clients make the best decision possible for them and their families. So, take a deep breath, sometimes the road can be bumpy at times but know that in the end that client is going to be happy with what you were able to help them with and they will not feel bad the next day and in the future because of it. For all you product seekers out there, don't be afraid of commitment most of us don't bite and we are there to help you. This is great to know for both parties in the spectrum, so take these words to heart and let’s do business together! How can we be of service?