Self-Esteem and the Entrepreneur

Isn't it funny how people think that being self-employed is so cool? They think that you get to take lots of vacation time and spend all of the profits. What they don't realize is that you put in outrageous amounts of blood, sweat, and tears to get there. They don't know that you have to take the blame for every single thing that goes wrong. They don't know how many times you fell flat on your face before making it work. They think that you simply come up with a cute little idea over dinner one night and within a couple of months you're flying high living the rich man's life. The reality of the situation is very different. Statistics consistently show that most successful entrepreneurs failed a handful of times before finally finding that winning formula. It's during the failure years that you earn all of those future vacations and big fat salaries. Delayed gratification takes on a whole new level, doesn't it?

One of the toughest things to learn during those failure years is the self-esteem that comes with it. Self-esteem doesn't come from having everything come easily and effortlessly. Real self-esteem comes from having worked yourself until you're almost in tears and then having someone tell you that you're working too hard and ought to just quit. Real self-esteem is explaining to your folks for the umpteenth time why you're still poor and struggling at self-employment instead of getting a 'real job' and making lots of money as a salesman like your baby brother does. Real self-esteem is deciding to learn from your mistakes instead of giving up and quitting. Real self-esteem is being financially bankrupt and giving it another try anyway, because you just know that this time you're going to make it all come together.

These are the types of events that form good businessmen. Ladies, you know I'm including you in this too. Real self-esteem is when you tell your husband that you are not going to give up on your silly little dream and that it's not just a stupid hobby, it's your company and your career aspirations. These types of events give us the backbone it takes later to be able to make the tough business choices that make the difference between breaking even and making a profit. These types of events teach you how to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. Self-esteem is not having to justify your business decisions. You know what's best for you and your company and you really don't need anyone else's blessing, approval, nor support. If you can't do it without someone cheering you, then forget it. It's not called other-esteem or coach-esteem or friend-esteem. It's called self-esteem because you have to muster it up all by yourself.

You don't have to have a lot of self-esteem when you launch into self-employment, but you'll learn it along the way or else you'll never make it to that luxurious lifestyle that keeps floating through your daydreams. To get started, you just have to really believe in your product. Nobody can really be 100% positive that they are going to succeed at their first attempt at self-employment. After you have had a few years of failures and some successes, you start realizing that you actually know a thing or two compared to the newbies coming into your industry behind you. There will always be someone who knows more then you and someone who could learn from your experience. Self-esteem comes from knowing that you can learn and that you will continue learning until you get it right. Don't expect to feel perfectly confident all of the time. It's all a big game and you have to find the rule book while trying to master the game.

I once opened up a fortune cookie while struggling with the decision of whether or not to launch my own company or not. The message inside the cookie read, "The world needs your gift as much as you need to give it." That little fortune has since fallen apart and been thrown away, but I always have a newly typed up version of it scotch taped to my computer monitor. It has reminded me many times over, that I do this not for the money, but because it is who I am. What else would I be doing if not running this little company of mine?

Sometimes, we entrepreneurs keep going simply because it's who we are. We are a different breed and it's part of how we define ourselves. The way that others are musicians, or politicians, or teachers, or doctors at the very depth of their soul, we are at the depth of our soul entrepreneurs. We must play at that particular game because it's what we do. Sometimes we have a spiritual mission behind it, or a vision of the world being better off for having purchased our environmentally safe product, or a deep belief that people can be helped and nurtured by the services offered by our company. It's who we are, it's what we do. Self-esteem shows up later as a result of reflecting on just how far we have come in our attempts to accomplish such an important goal.

Self-esteem isn't knowing that you will succeed. It doesn't come from having all of the perfect craftsman's skills and the perfect level of education before starting your own company. It's knowing that you can acquire whatever skills and knowledge you don't yet possess. It's knowing that you are capable of working hard and tenacious enough to see it through to the end. It's knowing that as much as you appreciate the cheerleaders in your life, that you'd keep going even if nobody else believed in you. It's knowing that you don't know everything you need to know but that you are capable of learning more. It's knowing that the world needs your gift as much as you need to give it.

John Samtron, is the editor for http://www.self-confidence.tv.

All the resources you will need to improve your level of self-confidence are right here on http://www.self-confidence.tv. By using these resources you will feel like a new person in no time. We offer our visitors two tools designed to help them develop better self-confidence. We offer a FREE self-confidence interactive course and Unbreakable Confidence ? the most comprehensive self-confidence eBook available today on the Internet.

---

Protect Your ASSets in Business

Many people are starting an online business without a thought... Read More

Franchises-Exit Strategy

At an International Franchising Symposium in London, Peter Holt made... Read More

When Your Business Feels Like an Arranged Marriage

Q. I was laid off six months ago. Jobs in... Read More

Angel Investors: 7 Online Business Plan Scams and 1 Real Deal

We've all seen the hype: "We'll put your plan in... Read More

Secret Revealed In The Business Code

? Beginners often rush into business without any planning.? Unless... Read More

Creativity & Entrepreneurship - Key Questions From My Students

Hello Creative Entrepreneurs!Thought for the day:"It is not easy being... Read More

Hurricane Katrina, Death, and a Different Type of Entrepreneurship

I've seen terrible images today on the television and internet-bodies... Read More

Beware the Opposition!

Any time you make changes in your life you are... Read More

Ancient Warrior Secrets For The Modern Entrepreneur

The words you see onscreen trigger subconscious responses. Dark images... Read More

Mobile Car Washing Long Term Opportunities in the Market

The long-term outlook for the Mobile Car Washing industry is... Read More

Veteran Entrepreneurs Are Growing In Ranks

When I'm not running my own business, writing articles about... Read More

Adding a Service After You Buy a Business

When you buy a business, you should have a plan.... Read More

Oil Change Guys History; Part III

Studying the history of franchise companies is interesting is watching... Read More

Cross Polination of Innovations in the Cleaning Industry

According to the latest edition of Pool and Spa news;... Read More

Should You Write Your Own Business Plan?

If you are just starting a company and looking for... Read More

Franchising Companies Need New Franchisee Checklists

When franchise companies are moving fast in the market place... Read More

What Part of Handwriting on the Wall Dont You Understand - They Dont Hire People Over 50

In a recent talk to the Detroit Economic Club, President... Read More

Entrepreneurial Hate, its out there

Today, I got an email from a lady who hates... Read More

Enterprising Route is to Go Your Own Way

DON'T talk to me about education for entrepreneurs. They're pouring... Read More

Salon Marketing Using Wireless Broadband Internet Access

Our client in Chicago did, located right outside downtown too...a... Read More

Solving the Million Dollar Mystery: 4 Steps To Create A Turn-Key Business

You're a smart, hardworking entrepreneur, and you're moving fast. You... Read More

Electronic Tools for Entrepreneurial Success

"Half of any job is having the right tool" was... Read More

The Boss is DEAD!

Some of us are born into families with "it", some... Read More

Entrepreneurship: Insight and Closer Look At The Entrepreneur

Life as an entrepreneur is the American Dream. To be... Read More

Are You an Entrepreneur That is Starved for Time?

Being an entrepreneur and running a successful home-based business is... Read More

Self-Esteem and the Entrepreneur

Isn't it funny how people think that being self-employed is... Read More

What Makes a Person an Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship is generally characterized by some type of innovation, a... Read More

Success Secrets - What I, Mike Litman Learned From This Old Book

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day in New York and... Read More

Evaluating an Opportunity

Business opportunities are often based on broad trends, such as:?... Read More

Your Company Needs A Mission Statement; Make It Count

Does anyone remember that book "Built to Last" done y... Read More

Work vs Play: Which is the Better Way to Make Big Money?

If you want to make big money, you have to... Read More

Franchises - Success and You

Many people believe owning a franchise will make them rich,... Read More

3 Essential Elements of Operating a Successful Business

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to... Read More