Lessons From Entrepreneurs, Part II

/ Mike Tivey

Looking for better results professionally or personally? There is something to be learned, and applied, from entrepreneurs — those that have the courage and determination to create original ideas, solve the toughest problems, or convince others to buy a new product or service.

The idea of an entrepreneur is more than an episode of ‘Shark Tank.’

If we look at entrepreneur more broadly as an attitude or mindset, we’ll find specific lessons that not only apply to starting businesses, but that can be generally applied in our daily lives.

In Part II, I’d like to explore how developing an entrepreneurial mindset can help us withstand more adversity, recover more quickly from setbacks, and remain committed when others quit.

The entrepreneurial lesson: have vision, be resilient

Being resilient is a must for entrepreneurs. When trying to create original ideas, solve the world’s toughest problems, or convince others that their product or service is better than what they already have, they need to be prepared to hear ‘no’ often. They need to be prepared to hear ‘that won’t work’ or ‘that’s not possible.’

Despite the doubters, entrepreneurs remain resilient because they have and focus on a clear vision — they see, feel, and know what others don’t.

The key to resiliency is vision. Vision is a clear picture of the outcome you want. Vision is ‘the what’ you want and ‘the why’ you want it, not necessarily ‘the how’ you’ll get it.

When we focus on ‘the how’ before first having a clear vision, doubt and fear quickly take over. Our brain likes to tell us what’s not possible, what won’t work, and that we lack the money, the time, the creativity, or other resources to make our desired outcome real. The brain loves what it already knows and loves shortcuts — it’s not looking to work harder than it needs to.

Earlier in my career I made the mistake of losing my vision, putting ‘the how’ before ‘the what’ and ‘the why’.

At a certain point it was clear that I was ready for the next step. I wanted the next step. I wanted it because I felt like I had more to offer. I not only wanted the satisfaction of a promotion, but also the chance to have new experiences and new opportunities. I wanted to get ahead.

A job opened up. In this new role I’d be primarily responsible for on-boarding our new hires or helping our more tenured employees with refresher training. Loving what it already knows, my brain quickly said ‘this is an obvious fit for you.’ Given my degree in education and passion for teaching, it was an obvious fit. I jumped at the opportunity. I saw it as my chance to get ahead.

Over the next few weeks, without me realizing, my vision shifted further from what I initially wanted – a promotion, new experiences, and new opportunities – to simply getting the job. I equated the job with ‘the how’ I would get ahead. If I got the job, in my mind I’d be getting ahead. If I didn’t get the job, in my mind I was stuck.

Well, I didn’t get it. I was passed over. It hurt. I’d love to say I handled the setback with the type of resiliency I’m advocating, but I didn’t. I bounced back quickly enough, but the sting lingered. I felt strong feelings of frustration, disappointment, and even anger.

I lost sight of the ultimate vision. I was blinded by ‘the how.’ I felt like my chance to get the job had come and gone and with it any chance of me getting ahead. Looking back it’s clear how wrong this thinking was.

Within a few weeks after being turned down I was approached for an entirely different opportunity. I had gotten enough exposure and done so well through the interview process that I was offered a starting position in management! Within a few days I accepted the role, became an entry level supervisor, and thrust my career forward in ways I hadn’t ever imagined.

The lesson from my experience is the power of vision. Had I focused more on my vision – what I wanted and why – I would have bounced back quicker. I would have realized that when one door closes another opens. I would have been able to see that there were other opportunities possible, like the supervisor position. If I had focused more on my vision, I would have been more resilient.

In some ways I got lucky. If I wasn’t offered the supervisor job so quickly, there’s no telling how long it may have taken for me to recover given my thinking, and lack of resiliency, at the time. It’s possible that the setback could have gotten the better of me.

If our ‘what’ is clear and ‘why’ is compelling enough, it pulls us like a magnet toward our desired goal. If our ‘why’ is strong enough we can push through nearly any obstacle, challenge, or setback imaginable. To be more resilient create a clear vision of what you want and why you want it… and if you lose sight of your vision once in a while, like I did, recover quickly and learn from it.

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I welcome your own ideas, observations, or questions. Leave me a comment!

More Resources –

If you want a contemporary example of the power of a clear vision, take a closer look at entrepreneur Elon Musk. Musk best known for his effort to revolutionize the notoriously entrenched car industry (Tesla), aerospace industry (SpaceX), and energy industry (SolarCity). His story is one of extraordinary vision and resilience.

If you were struck by my statement about how our brains are essentially lazy, check out these two incredible books. Learning more about how the brain is wired can provide valuable insight into how you (and others) think, react, and make decisions.

If you interested in learning more about how an entrepreneurial mindset applies to far more than only starting businesses, the book recommendation below is the best place to start. It’s a quick, easy read and filled with practical suggestions, questions, tools, and other resources at the end of each chapter.

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