| When's the last time someone asked you: | | | | positive, dramatic affect on your personal |
| "What's new?" | | | | confidence and motivation, and your ability |
| | | | to communicate well - to reach people where |
| If you're starting or growing a business, an | | | | they are. I've also learned that I can be |
| e-business, or a web site, the answer is: | | | | confident and humble at the same time, as |
| "Everything!" - especially on the | | | | long as my humility precedes my confidence, |
| inside.Face it, launching a new enterprise - | | | | as long as I keep the notion that I am no |
| or taking it to the next level - can | | | | more or less than anyone else ever present."A |
| sometimes feel scary and overwhelming. Where | | | | chance to help others"So, my clients say: |
| do you begin? How do you begin? And do you | | | | "See your idea - your new business - for what |
| have what it takes?Granted. We've heard about | | | | it is. Simply a way for you to create a |
| the classic stages of starting a successful | | | | living that helps others." That's it. That's |
| business - like Plan, Launch, and Grow. We've | | | | all. That's everything. You have talents and |
| heard about the latest web promotion | | | | gifts. You want to do something that seems |
| buzzwords - like Stickiness, Link Popularity, | | | | natural and personally fulfilling. So be it. |
| and RSS Feeds. Yes, these are important, but | | | | At the same time, there are people out there |
| let's start at the heart of the matter. My | | | | that need what you have to offer. This same |
| objective is to help you begin your business | | | | equation of life and work is true for |
| by focusing on the inner shifts that | | | | everyone. None of us are any more special, |
| accompany committing ourselves to any new | | | | while at the same time all of us are capable |
| business venture - the "hearty" changes that | | | | of wonderful things."It's always |
| we're unable to see directly, but that happen | | | | personal"Business is always between just two |
| just the same.I write these words from my 20 | | | | people - it's always inter-personal, even if |
| years of experience helping entrepreneurs | | | | your client is a huge company, you're still |
| start all types of businesses - both | | | | communicating with a person. Today's emphasis |
| traditional and online - and having | | | | on the one-to-one nature of the Internet has |
| discussions with them about their | | | | always been the case in business, it's just |
| entrepreneurial lives, about their inner | | | | easier to see it illuminated on the web. |
| achievements. What has it been like for them? | | | | Bringing your real skills (and person) in |
| What have they learned? What has worked for | | | | contact with another's real need (and person) |
| them, and what hasn't?The essence is this: | | | | is the simple essence of meaningful |
| Though the outward steps of launching a | | | | business."Go with your heart"So, we challenge |
| business may vary from person to person, if | | | | you. Clearly define the parameters of your |
| you're willing to look closer, you'll see | | | | business upfront - what you will and will not |
| that the process you go through on the inside | | | | initially offer. And, know your true values |
| will trigger all the deep changes in your | | | | and limitations - what you cannot and will |
| life that are truly your own, that you've | | | | not do. Get these things out of your mind and |
| been waiting and wanting to happen all | | | | commit them to paper - and re-commit yourself |
| along.The nature and truth of these inner | | | | to your business each time you re-read them. |
| changes - and their effects - cannot | | | | Build it as you see it. Ask for others' input |
| adequately be put into words. My clients tell | | | | and gain the professional help you need to |
| me that these changes don't move in logical | | | | succeed but go with what's in your heart, |
| ways. They are subtle, sometimes masked, even | | | | with what moves you. When you go with what |
| from our self. We see the outward advances - | | | | charges you up, you'll have built-in |
| the sign going up, the website being | | | | confidence because you'll be offering what is |
| launched, and the first client being won - | | | | you. You're not trying to make others see |
| however the deep, subterranean realizations | | | | your business for anything but what it is. |
| that occur when we launch a new enterprise | | | | You're not having to psych yourself up all |
| (that sometimes seem to emerge "out of the | | | | the time. What a relief!"Be like an open |
| blue"), end up affecting the success of our | | | | container"They also tell me: "Wear life as a |
| business far more than any genius business | | | | loose garment." Be like an open container as |
| plan or enlightened promotional strategy ever | | | | you run your business. Be contained in terms |
| will. So, it's up to us - to be prepared for | | | | of being focused, yet always remain open, in |
| as much transformation as we will allow, | | | | terms of being observant and flexible. You |
| personally and professionally.Here are a few | | | | will create the map - your business plan - |
| "hearty" Start Up Tips I've learned and | | | | but without fail know that your map must |
| experienced firsthand from my clients. I hope | | | | change as you use it. That's the way it is. |
| they will help you as you shift and as you | | | | As entrepreneurs, we can grow to love the |
| shape your new business:"Be as you are"I used | | | | fact that our world and business will change |
| to think that appearing confident and | | | | constantly. By saying alert, by consciously |
| fearless regardless of what I was feeling | | | | observing, by asking ourselves how we can |
| inside was what it took to succeed in | | | | best respond to these changes, we allow our |
| business. "Be strong and in control. Never | | | | business to take on its own life - a life we |
| let them see you cry or sweat" is what we are | | | | don't need to "try" to push or "think |
| told. Or, at least that's the way I heard it. | | | | through" all the time in order for it to |
| I believe what that advice amounted to was | | | | maintain momentum."Challenges enliven your |
| this: "Be two people. Appear as a competent | | | | business"And finally, their advice: Remain |
| person in business at any cost" (even though | | | | poised to creatively meet the challenges in |
| you know all too well that you are sometimes | | | | front of you. They will appear, and you can |
| unsure of yourself and make mistakes). I | | | | benefit from them. They may appear as |
| bought into this lie, hook, line, and sinker | | | | opportunities. "Oh boy!?" Or, they may appear |
| (or maybe that should read stinker?).The | | | | as hurdles. "Oh, no!?" It's all in how we see |
| truth: a straight-forward approach - warts | | | | them and the actions we take as a result. We |
| and all - works better every time. Be as you | | | | can label the very same thing as " a |
| are. It takes the pressure off and keeps your | | | | blessing" or an "opportunity," or we can |
| ego in the right place, while at the same | | | | label it as a "problem" or a "roadblock. |
| time it makes it crystal clear to others | | | | However, refusing to accept what lies in |
| whether you can meet their need from the very | | | | front of us - just because it is different |
| start. No hype. Nothing hidden. A few laughs. | | | | from what we had envisioned - prevents us |
| They can make a decision faster and feel | | | | from the very thing that will drive our |
| confident in doing business with you because | | | | business: change and growth."Hope and energy |
| what they see is what they get. They can | | | | abound everywhere. Surprises are |
| trust what's real.And likewise, the clarity | | | | rampant."Remembering this daily, and living |
| and inner confidence that come from being as | | | | from my heart daily - is often the greatest |
| you are will guide the right actions for your | | | | challenge for me, and for my clients. It's |
| business as well. They will be your light. | | | | the challenge of perceiving my changing path |
| They will set you going in the right | | | | and my changing relationship with others |
| direction and will provide the ready fuel to | | | | clearly and consistently, and allowing the |
| keep you going - and growing. The spirit of | | | | spirit of change - the spirit of my business |
| your business will sustain you."Humility | | | | - to propel me forward, without grasping for |
| precedes confidence"Right up there with | | | | it, without losing my focus.Susan Kay |
| transparent living is humility. For most of | | | | Thompson, a Florida Gulf Coast resident, is |
| my life, my take on "humility" was that it | | | | founder of Emerald Coast Entrepreneur, a |
| meant being "weak" or "less than" in the eyes | | | | consulting firm specializing in business |
| of others - descriptions that seemed the very | | | | start up and web content development |
| opposite of how an "entrepreneur" was | | | | services. With a rich and varied background |
| supposed to act. But, the more I experience, | | | | in academic, corporate, and entrepreneurial |
| the more I see that taking a humble, | | | | achievement, she cuts through the theories |
| realistic approach as we start any business | | | | and the hype to write words - and find |
| is essential. Humility is not a demure | | | | solutions - that make a difference.Permission |
| personality trait; it's part of living our | | | | is hereby granted to reproduce this article |
| humanity.I've been blessed to work with many | | | | online without any further arrangement. The |
| humble people. You know, it's ironic that | | | | only requirement is that it be published in |
| taking a humble approach to business will, | | | | its entirety, including this footer. |
| more than anything else I've observed, have a | | | | |