A Bigger Voice

Traps That Wisdom Entrepreneurs Can Fall Into

As a wisdom entrepreneur, there are many places where I can get stuck. Here are a few of traps that I fall into:

• Skimping on "dream" time. This is a big one for me. As someone who likes to get things done, I can rush through the phase of dreaming about what I want, envisioning how things could look differently. I settle for a "rough sketch" of the future or worse yet, a small dream, and move on to tactics and implementation. Stay in the dreaming phase as long as you can stand it. Revel in possibilities and what ifs. Give your imagination a work out. Photo by MysticMoon14

• Relying on observation instead of action. Finding great examples to inspire and model after are great. But eventually, you have to figure out the solution to your specific situation by moving into action. Success is created experientially, not theoretically. I once had a coaching instructor say to me, "Carol, you can't just be an observer of life. You have to be a participant."  Be a participant. Try stuff out and see what happens.

• Action that's not grounded in essence. I can get caught up in the doing, without being grounded in the essence or core of why I'm doing something. This is otherwise known as "being busy." If you find yourself frenetic, with no feeling of progress, go back to the core of your message, the essence of your idea.  Essence relates more to feeling than thinking. Once you have the feeling, then bring in purpose. Align essence with purpose with action. If you have trouble aligning those three, reassess the need for action.Photo by jurvetson

• Losing the essence altogether. I have to admit that this is probably where I've been for the last few weeks. While focused on building a new business related to my Networking Naturally Program, I lost sight of the essence of A Bigger Voice. I forgot about the magic that comes with building a community, how the seed of an idea can blossom into something larger than a single individual, how communities can produce unexpected and stunning results.  It wasn't until I caught up with a couple of our pilot clients from last year, and heard how the concepts of A Bigger Voice have been put into practice, that I got excited about working on ABV again. In the next few weeks, I'll post portions of my interview with the Wendel brothers, Chris and Tim.

You may be wondering, "How does this relate to the three phases of A Bigger Voice?"

We can know the recipe but still be reluctant to cook. We can follow the steps but not know what it is we are preparing. We can lack the anticipation and excitement of imagining what the dish will taste and look like when it's done. We can forget that we are hungry, more hungry than we know. The three phases of A Bigger Voice--Crystallize, Build Community, and Sustain--provide the recipe. Just like a cook sees the recipe as the start, so should the wisdom entrepreneur see A Bigger Voice--as a roadmap for a long and wonderful journey.

Which trap have you been falling into lately? 

Photo by erix!

Being Scrappy and Running a Marathon

These are just two lessons I've been learning recently with my new venture, My Alumni Link. It's too new for a website but the business stems from success with the Networking Naturally Program.

Whether you are a wisdom entrepreneur or a traditional entrepreneur, here are a few lessons to keep in mind:

1. It's a marathon, not a sprint. I forget and want everything in the next  release of the product. I forget and think that I have full control of the Universe. I forget and feel driven by deadlines instead of common sense. Photo by epimetheus.
2. Be scrappy. Make every dollar count on the expense side, independent of how many dollars are coming in. Look for value. See what you can get for free before deciding to spend money.
3. Build to what's good enough. Don't over engineer. This is related to number 2. The perfect solution may not be noticeably different from the good enough solution in the eyes of the customer (or the community member). 
4. Put one foot in front of another. It's easy to get overwhelmed if I think everything that needs to be done to launch a business (or a community.) Juggling sales, marketing, business process work, and product development can drive you nuts. But if I only look at what needs to be done today, and tomorrow, and this week, it's manageable. 
5. Networking requires patience and rewards me with magical results. I've done my share of networking recently to find allies, collaborators, and customers for My Alumni Link. Things don't always move as fast as I would like, and that's okay. I've been blessed with incredible support from my network, especially when I ask for what I need. 
6. Create plans and goals but don't be attached to the outcome. I figured this one out in time to rescue my sanity. This is where the task master in me can go off the deep end. ("No you cannot go for a bike ride! You have more emails to send!" Ughh....)
7. Focus on creativity. I used to think money fueled growth.  But I found out it's the power of the mind to create something from nothing, to meet a user need, that results in growth. Photo by Bohman.
8. Understand your break even point. Know what Plan B is. Without that, I ended up chasing imaginary goals and numbers. Urgent or not? Necessary or not? I had no idea.
9. Take a warm lead. Always. This relates to number 5. One person leads you to another to another. If you can get introduced, even if it takes going through two or three people along the way, it's worth it.
10. Work on yourself. Taking care of your mind, body, and spirit is just as important as working on your business or your cause. Time to rest and rejuvenate is just as important as time to focus and get down to work.

I love being an entrepreneur. I used to think it was all about creative freedom. What I'm experiencing is the joy of the learning curve, the delight of meeting new people, and the magic of how the pieces come together, when I least expect it.

Tomorrow, I journey to Houston to give a talk on "Finding Your Voice" at the Juvenile Arthritis annual conference. More learning, new connections and seeing the pieces fit together. Fun!

Photo by alicepopkorn-busy