Are you an entrepreneurial leader: the owner/CEO of a small business, startup or franchise? The term “entrepreneur” is wiki-defined as a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.
That definition applies to all of us, when you think about it. We are “entrepreneurial leaders” when it comes to our careers, our job functionality, and our path towards becoming a Businessperson of Worth.
We assume risk every day, whether we want to or not.
The major risk involved is, of course, financial. Entrepreneurial leaders who own SMBs constantly climb upward, only to find themselves falling back down, the slippery slope of financial stability.
Entrepreneurial leaders struggle with unpredictable revenue streams.
Entrepreneurial leaders of SMBs search to find a formula to get “There.” “There” usually means some sort of financial utopia, where they never have to worry about sustaining their revenue stream again.
Snap out of your reverie. In today’s globally competitive business environment, each day becomes your “There.”
- Whether you are seeking your first customers as the CEO of your startup;
- Whether you are seeking your first funding round of early-stage or private equity investment;
- Whether you are seeking to sustain your business after 3 years of growth which has evaporated.
Entrepreneurial leaders don’t take anything for granted. They are always on their toes. Yesterday’s successes allow them leverage in today’s initiatives.
However, they leave themselves wiggle room. Here’s why.
Entrepreneurial leaders have figured out that the most critical aspect of their business growth is the flexibility of their business model. It’s nimble, flexible, and robust.
Entrepreneurial leaders have shifted from running their small businesses like miniature versions of a Fortune-something company. Because there’s nothing Fortune about a small business.
Entrepreneurial leaders don’t want to do business with the entire universe. They understand just how many customers it takes to grow their small business over 18 months, stabilize their small businesses over 3 years, and create either a sustainable legacy or a viable environment for exit.
Which means that as an entrepreneurial leader, you are anticipatory of what’s going to happen down the road. Even if you are simply the entrepreneurial leader of your career as a businessperson, or technical/engineering professional of worth.
Which means that your actions as an entrepreneurial leader demand that you are proactive about your next steps today, tomorrow and down the road.
Which means that your mindset as an entrepreneurial leader is cross-functional and collaborative. How else can you gain the information you need to be anticipatory and proactive?
We will explore you, as an entrepreneurial leader, this year. We will discuss together, in these posts and in programs I’m creating for you and your team.
Let me know what’s on your mind. You know where to find me. Have I a struck a chord with this post?
Babette N. Ten Haken, President of Sales Aerobics for Engineers®, LLC, is a management consultant and business coach. Babette develops business, technical and engineering professionals of worth. She remodels startups and small-to-medium manufacturing and service companies experiencing difficulty with unpredictable revenue streams. A recognized Top 50 Marketing & Sales Influencer, Babette’s blog won the 2014 Bronze Medal, Top Sales & Marketing Awards, Top Sales World. Her book on communication and collaboration strategies and tools, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon.com.
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