Category Archives: Entrepreneurship

The Best Time to Act is Now

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Do you have some decisions in your life that you keep putting off?  We often delay making decisions on the very things that need our attention the most.  What we fail to realize is not making a decision is making a decision, and most times, our delay leads to more consequences.  Recently, I was watching a sermon by Bishop T.D. Jakes, and during his sermon he said, “Procrastination will never produce purpose.”  Regardless of your religious affiliation, I’m sure you’ll agree that most of us are striving to either identify our purpose or live it out.  And, most of us discover our purpose through day to day experiences and failures.

Unfortunately, as we experience life we can begin to doubt our ability to make sound decisions.  As fear sets in, we become afraid to take risks and we delay acting on those things that will move us one step closer to living out our purpose.  So, are there decisions that require your attention?  If so, the best time to act is now.  If you are struggling with procrastination, the following steps can help you move forward:

  1. Define the root cause for your delay.  Are you afraid to ‘move’ because of fear of failure?  In the book, An Enemy Called Average, the author states, “Even a turtle has to stick its head out to get ahead.”  He goes on to say, “Security and opportunity are total strangers.  If an undertaking does not include faith, it is not worthy of being called God’s direction.”  Fear is a strong emotion that in most instances does not depict reality.  In essence, the scenario we play out in our head is often far worse than reality.  Identify the root, acknowledge it, and act.
  2. Tell someone you respect about your plans.  Talking about your plan gives life to it.  I’m sure we’ve all met a ‘talker’- someone who talks a great game but does not follow through.  Perhaps you’ve been that person.  One way to ensure that you make the tough decisions is by discussing your plans with individuals you hold in high regard.  In doing so, you create a level of accountability that doesn’t exist when you’re the only one who knows your intentions.  Another benefit to discussing your plans is you may gain support or counsel that you would not have had if you had chosen not to share.
  3. Act.  We’re all familiar with Nike’s tag line, “Just Do It.”  Sometimes in life, you have to just do it.  There will always be reasons to delay, but successful people don’t spend time creating excuses.  The reality is if you make a habit of delaying decisions because of fear, you will not rise above it.  In a way, emotions are like muscles – the more you exercise it, the easier it becomes.  If you begin to move in spite of fear, over time it will become much easier to make the tough decisions.

I am not a stranger to procrastination.  During high school, my friends and I created a club called “Procrastinators Anonymous.”  There were four of us and we all struggled with waiting to the last minute to complete tasks.  At my graduation party, we had a cake to honor graduating from the club;  I wish it was that easy to leave the habit of procrastination behind.  I still struggle at times, but as I’ve matured, I’ve learned to perform the steps listed above.  You too can move beyond procrastination.  I hope you find this Post helpful, and I’d love to hear from you.

Be Vulnerable And Deal With Shame

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Are you aspiring to run a marathon or try your hand at writing a novel?  Perhaps you want to start your own business or go back to school, but you keep saying it’s not the right time.  I was looking at the news this morning and they were discussing the anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death.  My husband and I looked at each other in disbelief!  Where has the time gone?  Do you remember when we were kids and it seemed like a year took forever?  As adults, we often find ourselves wishing that time would stand still.  Needless to say, if you’re waiting for the right time to pursue your goals and dreams, the perfect time is now.

Maybe you’re not waiting for the right time.  Perhaps you’ve started pursuing your goals, but you’re not giving it your all.  Or, maybe you’re on the cusp of success but you’re choosing to stay under the radar.  Could it be you’re afraid of what others will think; if they’ll approve or stand in judgment?  I will admit that I’ve been there and still experience this emotion often.  If you’re not achieving the level of success you desire, or you keep putting off your ‘start,’ it’s time to look inward to figure out why.

Recently, a dear friend sent me a link to a presentation by Brené Brown.  During her presentation at a TED conference, she discussed the difference between guilt and shame and the requirement of vulnerability.  Before viewing her presentation, I thought guilt and shame were the same.  Ms. Brown states shame is a focus on self and guilt is a focus on behavior.  We all have a ‘tape’ that plays over and over in our heads.  Shame is the ‘tape’ that says you’re not good enough.  Guilt is the ability to acknowledge a behavior, apologize for it, and move forward.

Pursuing our goals can often leave us exposed.  Ultimately, greatness requires us to take risks and move beyond the safe choices.  No one likes to be vulnerable, but Ms. Brown believes that it is a prerequisite for success.  She goes on to say that vulnerability is not weakness, but it is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.  I am familiar with the fear of failure; we know each other well.  However, I have to admit that I don’t care about my private failures as much as I care about the public ones.  During Ms. Brown’s speech she mentions Theodore Roosevelt’s quote:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Mr. Roosevelt’s quote shares all the reasons why we should choose to get in the ‘arena’ and change the ‘tape.’  If you’re waiting for the perfect time to pursue your goals, or you refuse to be vulnerable as you do it, you may never achieve the level of success that God has predestined for you.  To listen to Ms. Brown’s full presentation, please click on the following link:  Listening to Shame.

Dream It, Achieve It!

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I’m sure that by now you’ve heard of the passing of Steve Jobs, Co-founder and CEO of Apple, Inc.  If you haven’t become familiar with his story, I urge you to “Google” him to learn more about his life’s journey.  Recently, a close friend mentioned the commencement speech he gave at Stanford University in 2005.  In his speech, he outlines things that he attributed to his success.  When you get an opportunity, listen to his speech; it’s time well spent.

You might be wondering what Steve Jobs has to do with bridging the wealth gap in the African American community.  While he was an extremely wealthy man, my intent is not to discuss the wealth he accumulated through his business ventures, but more so to discuss his will to achieve against the odds.  Unless you’re familiar with his story, most people would not assume that a first year college drop-out would be as accomplished as he was.

Often times, we have dreams or ideas that we’d like to pursue, but somehow life gets in the way.  Many of us may not have the liberty to pursue our entrepreneurial dream without working a full time job as well.  So how can you keep your “mojo” while navigating life’s twists and turns?  Please note that I am not professing to have all the answers, but I will offer up some lessons that I’ve learned from others that have achieved success in this area.  These are also the characteristics that I am embracing along my own journey.  The following are three key traits that will place you on the path to success:

1.       Be clear on what you want; get laser focused – There will always be competing priorities.  In the spirit of transparency, this is an area I’ve struggled in the most.  As soon as you think you’re set on a path, life will throw you a curve ball that can divert your focus.  People who are successful in pursuing their dreams are somewhat dogmatic when it comes to being laser focused in spite of life’s interruptions.  T. Harv Eker, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, says it best, “The number one reason most people don’t get what they want is that they don’t know what they want.”

2.     Don’t underestimate life’s lessons – Your life will speak to you if you choose to listen.  We are often quick to observe and value someone else’s life lessons, but choose to devalue or minimize our own.  Steve Jobs referred to this as “connecting the dots.”  Take a moment and spend some time recalling your own journey – the successes and failures.  I guarantee you that in the midst of your track down memory lane, a common thread will exist and link you back to your purpose or that dream that once was a flame but may now resemble a flicker of light.  Make no mistake, there’s a lot that we can learn from observing others, but don’t stop there.  Your own life will speak the loudest if you listen.

3.     Simplify your life – Many times we stay stuck in the “rat race” because we are so busy trying to ‘keep up with the Joneses.’  If you really want to pursue your dream, you will be forced to make tough choices.  You may have to wait on the material possessions that you see others acquiring.  Don’t compare yourself to others.  A key to wealth accumulation is maintaining a high credit score, minimizing debt, and investing in assets.  It takes money to pursue most business endeavors, and in the beginning, you may have to invest in yourself before others will invest in your venture.  If you are overextended, you may not be able to see your vision come to fruition.  

Success is often accomplished by travelling the road less travelled.  It requires a confidence in self and a willingness to take risks.  Many of us work very hard in our chosen careers, but can become lukewarm when it comes to pursuing our own personal endeavors.  I have decided that I will no longer stand on the sidelines of life and admire others and their success; I will give my all to my own.  Won’t you join me?

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