Entrepreneurs are a crazy lot. The way you can tell if someone's an entrepreneur or not is to see how many ideas they have bouncing around at one time, how many challenges they are dealing with yet keep on keeping on, and how few hours of sleep they operate on daily. The more of all these things going on in their lives, the more of an entrepreneur they are. Truly. Look at yourself. Are you content to call it a day at 5pm or are you just getting started (after a 10 hour work day)? That gives you your first tip as to whether you're an entrepreneur or not.
That's not to say that there aren't times when we find ourselves weighed down and ready to throw in the towel. Sometimes life can just be TOO much. But, sure as certain, the next day we're up and on a roll again. Well, maybe not the next day, but you get my drift. We don't stay down for long.
Welcome to my life -- come on in, sit down and get ready for storytelling time. Are you ready? Here goes.
Keeping with the Star Wars theme, A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...I started my first business, and over the years, I have owned several (at this moment, I am running three distinct and separate companies). There are times when they are highly successful, and other times when they have been, not so good. We all go through those stages and it is good to realize that even when something fails, it's not a failure but a learning experience.
However, lately I have been "hit" by several asteroids (shall we say). My mom and dad's health have been less than good to say the least. I was in a serious car accident that has kept me from doing things that I have wanted to for about 18 months now. And as a consequence, my business has been less than stellar. I have fallen into fear and self doubt -- thinking that I wasn't worth anything and how dare I try and run businesses. And guess what: the more like that I felt, the worse my business got. In the great words of Yoda: fear is the path to the dark side. And I was surely on that path.
I steadily lowered my rates, thinking who is going to pay me THAT? I didn't try to work with the clients that I KNEW were my target and that would jump at working with me -- rather, I worked diligently at trying to get those that didn't have the money, didn't want my help and would NEVER buy what I was selling (like trying to sell freezers to eskimos). I would talk with the coach gurus who told me, if you don't charge what you're worth, then why should anyone pay you what you're worth? It makes sense, but boy was I scared!
Yet, somewhere along the line, I realized that I was worthy of appreciation and that people would be lucky to have me work with them. And you know what? I met with a potential client this morning, we talked about her business, we talked about things she should be doing (I gave her value for the free consultation) and I closed by saying I would love to work with you. I believe in your business and feel that we could work together well! She asked me what I charged (and I heard somewhere in the back of my mind -- may the force be with you). I swallowed, and said X (a price that I haven't felt able to charge in a LONG time). She nodded, and said. Sounds good. Sign me up! WOW. Yes, indeed the force was definitely with me today. And it can be for you as well.
Hopefully, you've enjoyed these Star War quotes and see how they can fit into your own lives and businesses. So let me end by telling you -- Do or do not. There is no try!!! And definitely, may the force be with you too!!!!
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