engineeringgrowth

An Entrepreneur in Bangkok during the recent flood event

Actual Title: Sacrifice 

If I were to choose a word that every Entrepreneur resonates with, by that I mean, a word that they ubiquitously agree and nod without restrain, I would pick: Sacrifice.

1. It’s about opening your door for an extra 2 hours hoping to make a few more bucks, while the rest of the world is having a good time watching the World Cup Final.
2. It’s about saying good-bye to the weekends, because that’s when you have to double pay your staff’s wages.
3. It’s about making Profit and Loss Statements your first love, even though Accounting is a subject that you passionately, HATE.
4. It’s about having a bad streak for 6 days, 6 weeks or 6 months in a row, and still going back to work the next day, believing that the 7^th day, 7^th week, 7^th month will be better.
5. It’s about bunking in no star hotels, flying Air Asia and taking the MRT on your business trip, while the average Joe enjoys his steak and tequilas at the Hilton on the company’s expenses.
6. It’s about seriously believing in the importance of advertising, and yet allocating the tiniest amount to the marketing budget (because it’s your own money).
7. It’s about knowing how much your salary is this month, only after you’ve paid for your rental, your debtors and your staff.
8.  It’s about letting how much you made today determine whether or not you’re having a good day or bad day, both personally and professionally (trust me, it does get personal!)
9. It’s about knowing you’ve done the right things and being able to accept that there’s still no guarantee for your success.
10. It’s about having the humility to attribute your success to luck, because the same word reigns, when business swings in the opposite direction.

I may have inadvertently jumbled up the definition of Sacrifice with Entrepreneurship in between, but what difference does it make?

Sure, there’s a glamorous side to running your own show. What you read on the magazines and see in conferences are the One in Twenty Fives (1 in 5 make it through the first year. Out of them, another 1 in 5 make it through the 5^th year) and if you’re not vigilant, some kids called Zuckerberg’s gonna come around and make your business irrelevant.

Sure, you may be able to draft out an impeccable ‘business plan’ and win some fancy competition with your ideas. The reality is far from what you have penned down. This, I guarantee. Because the only thing your customers care about is how you can solve their problem, not your accolades.

If I have discouraged you in anyway, from starting your business; sorry, but you probably do not have what it takes.

Now, ditch the naysayers and go start something cool. Entrepreneurship is reserved for those who want it bad enough to ignore what others have to say!

This blog is dedicated to all the entrepreneurs and small business retailers, your courage and determination command my highest admiration and respect.