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Are You Making a Dent?

12/23/2019

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When you read the title of this blog, did you think Steve Jobs or what might have happened to your car when you didn't pay attention backing out of a parking spot during holiday shopping? If it's the latter than be prepared to read about how my life pivoted a year ago. A year ago, my family and I moved from Colorado to Vermont. You heard that right - we left Colorado. TWICE. Once in 2008 and again in 2018. A lot of things transpired in 2018, but one of the biggies was coming across this quote from Steve Jobs, who tragically passed at age 56. "We're here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?" How true.

So, I began to ponder this quote, ALOT. I had turned 50. Yes, I also put that in print, and thought, if I only had six more years on this Earth - what would I have done to make a difference? There's a reason, as Jobs puts it, why we are all here. And then I decided - it was time to make a dent and to make some big changes. To start taking big risks, calculated risks, and saying "YES AND - ".

Things started to magically fall into place as if I magically opened up a portal to the way I wanted to live my life  - you know the kind of life where you lose track of the date and day. But it doesn't matter, because you're living every day fully whether it's a weekday, weekend, or whatever. I digress, but here's the point, ask yourself, "Are you making a dent in the universe?" Are you truly doing what you love to do? Because if you are - does it show in your business? Do your customers know why you do what you do?

But let's return to Jobs and why a lot of entrepreneurs look at how he built Apple. Simon Sinek, another one of my favorite people and the author of "Star With Why" (a must read) summed it up really well in his article, "Why Entrepreneurs Love Steve Jobs" which you can read here. Sinek talks about how Jobs created a company that just didn't create computers, but rather a company whose products became symbols for a set of values and beliefs. While much can be written about Jobs' work ethic and always surrounding himself around people who shared his beliefs, Sinek states that in order to lead like Jobs you have to have three must-have characteristics: 1) Clarity of why you do what you do; 2) Discipline of how you do it; and 3) Consistency of what you do. I couldn't agree more. If you know they why, then the how and the whats will fall into place easily. So, are you making a dent? If so, I'd love to hear about it! 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  

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The First Thirty-ish Days - Meaning of Entrepreneur?

12/6/2019

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It's been 34 days at The Lightning Jar and even that is not really accurate - it's the "at" that is the misnomer. My point is that while I've only been at the helm for 34 days, I've had the most amazing time visiting other co-working spaces/innovation hubs, and meeting people who have shown me a whole new world (e.g. Middlebury, Albany, Troy, Burlington, Springfield, Hartland, Keene). It's a world filled with creative thinkers, risk takers and those seeking to fulfill entrepreneurial dreams. (And yes, I always have to think and visualize how to spell the various forms of entrepreneur until I see that red line disappear and I know I've spelled it correctly.) So let's talk about that - what does the word "entrepreneur" mean? According to Merriam-Webster, entrepreneur (noun) means: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. Hmmm, that's not how I would describe the incredibly talented entrepreneurs I've met these past 34 days. How about we give Entrepreneur.com a try? According to Steve Tobak's article, "The True Meaning of Entrepreneur" (entrepreneur.com/article/244565), being an entrepreneur is not a job. He then states, quite strongly, that anyone aspiring to be an entrepreneur should paste the following equation on his/her smart phone, mirror or wherever you will see it most: 
                                 
                              ENTREPRENEUR + CAPITAL = PRODUCTS + CUSTOMERS = BUSINESS

He goes on to provide some examples of real world entrepreneurs (CEOs of Snapchat and Whole Foods), but concludes with you can't be a successful entrepreneur by just wanting to be one. You begin by identifying a customer problem and a product that solves it. The next step - capital. Then make the product, market it and gain customers. Of course, I would interject that many, many iterations of this process will ensue (and a lot of necessary failures), but, after a lot of determination, and with an insatiable need and passion to create your product, you'll become what Tobak sums up this way: "Someday you’ll wake up and realize what you’ve become: a guy who took a risk, started a business, and made money. An entrepreneur." 

What do you think? What does "entrepreneur" mean to you? I'd love to hear your thoughts (joelle@lightningjarvt.com), or give a call at 802-321-3070 to arrange a tour of The Lightning Jar. We are always eager to talk to those who are creative, have great ideas and who want to be an "entrepreneur".

​Cheers - JSG 
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