Are you an entrepreneur or a hobbyist?
by Lisa Princic
When it’s time to commit to stepping into your highest potential
I know it’s summer for most of us and the distractions are at an all time high. I am always struggling to balance local events, mountain biking, kid time, friend time, inspiring conferences, hiking and oh that work thing. Me-time isn’t in the top 10 right now. I am okay with that.
What’s really on my mind and seems to be coming up for a lot of people I serve (with love) is the commitment to being an entrepreneur. It’s not just about having a great idea or being passionate about impact, lifestyle, cool apps, or fragrant soap.
Owning a business is serious stuff. If you don’t take it seriously it becomes almost impossible to take-off. Momentum creates momentum. Consistent action leads to results. When my clients continuously let personal priorities creep into their work space I ask them if they are running their business like a hobby. Are you?
Here are some signs that you are:
- you spend more time thinking about how to save money than how to make it
- you work on home or personal projects during work hours
- you don’t have a vision
- you have one but have no strategy to reach it
- you avoid the scary stuff (phone calls, systems, big asks, whatever it is that you know works)
- you aren’t staying current and feeling like an industry leader
What this means is that you might be letting fear get the better of you – fear of failure, fear of success, fear of missing out on something (that’s my favourite one!), fear around money, lack of confidence, discomfort with risk . . .
Which one is holding you back the most? Nail it! Own it! And then figure out if it’s real or just a story you’ve told yourself. Then ask yourself what kind of entrepreneur you are: lifestyle-oriented solo-entrepreneur, small business owner or high-growth venture.
It’s important to know this because you should be clear on what you are creating and what your limits and expectations are. You don’t have to be any one type of business person but know what you are aiming for and what it actually takes to get it. This will tell you which fears you need to face and get over in order to get your dream.
Most of us have more capacity to grow than we realize. Striving for a fuller life is a choice.
You must commit to stretching if you are ever going to stop struggling as an entrepreneur. It’s not an easy journey for lots of people but if you have something to give, then you will never be satisfied not trying, meaning give it your full undivided effort for long enough to get out of the startup phase, even if you are in business to create a lifestyle.
What’s holding you back from stepping into your potential? Sharing is key to overcoming fear. We are in this together.
Lisa Princic is a Business Strategist & Membership Expert who helps thought leaders & niche experts build wildly successful memberships while making a positive impact. She helps entrepreneurs scale with powerful positioning & profitable programs designed around their zone of genius. A staunch believer in simplicity, Lisa helps her clients accomplish their goals by focusing on what to do AND what to ignore.
