Entrepreneurship Goes Global

I was inspired by this post over at Unleashing Ideas, the blog supporting Global Entrepreneurship Week (it’s in November…click over and learn all about it; you won’t be sorry!)…"There is No ‘I’ In Entrepreneur" and I thought I should write something about the whole concept of being an entrepreneur.

Let’s all agree, or not, that the concept of being an entrepreneur is one of challenge, excitement, risk, and mystery. Too often we focus on the "risk"…because starting a company, going out on your own, being a true small business owner is bursting with risk. How do you finance the venture – especially if friends and family are not in a position to invest? How do you find office space – or, do you even need office space? How do you begin…beyond thinking up that really great idea?

Well, there are other more talented women who write in this blog who may address those questions…what I want to talk about is the challenge, the excitment and the mystery.

The challenge is in the "how do I get started." You can read Michael Gerber’s book, The E-Myth or visit his In the Dreaming Room site. You can even visit Anita Campbell’s great blog, Small Business Trends and read this post on Entrepreneurs.

Or, you can get your DBA and put one foot in front of the other, and get started. Much like writing a book, you need to start with Chapter One and be fairly informed about what Chapter Two is… without a vision, without some sense of follow-through, you will be challenged to your wits’ end.

How about the excitement? Imagine – you get this truly fantastic idea, share it with a select group of trusted friends, and many (if not all) jump up and down and clap their hands and say, "What a GREAT idea! What are you going to do with it?"

So, what are you going to do with it? Run with it, I hope! Take that excitement and turn it into actionable tasks. Do some background research on the net to see who else has this idea, and what he or she may be doing with it. Check out your competition and figure out how to differentiate yourself – right away! Be consumed with excitement – stay up late, if you have to, and begin making a business plan that at least outlines how you would implement this great idea. Giving life to your great idea. Now, that’s exciting!

What about the mystery? Everyone loves a good mystery – when it isn’t about them! Creating something new involves a lot of mystery. But, you don’t have to be "clueless." You can unravel the mystery by asking the women here for advice. By searching the net and connecting to other women who openly and invitingly share business advice. By becoming a part of communities and networking groups, especially local, that will guide you through that new business maze of mystery.

Remember that doing business in today’s "small, small world" means doing business globally…with a focus on your local connections. Don’t hesitate because the idea of being global is too scary. Embrace the challenges, the excitement, and the mystery – and keep a keen eye on the risk…and you will surely succeed.