The Entrepreneurial Journey: The Magic between Vision and Faith

I met Dr. William Pickard for the first time at the  2016 HBCU Business School Deans Summit where he was the opening keynote speaker. Dr. Pickard’s opening session was a cross between an old fashion, foot stomping sermon and an academic lab where no one dared to miss the spirit or essence of the lesson. He spoke of his personal entrepreneurial rags to riches story and how seven principles were core to his success. Dr. Pickard then announced his forthcoming book, “Millionaire Moves: Seven Proven Principles of Entrepreneurship. The book was finally published later in 2016. 

Dr. Pickard and his staff attended the 2017 HBCU Business School summit. The assistant, who herself is a former Business School dean, issued a personal challenge to me, she said,” Deans don’t read.”  The words hurt. Yes Deans have many competing responsibilities; yes we have long days; and yes we often don’t find time to read outside our disciplines. But reading reinvigorates, inspires, motivates, and encourages us to be stronger for those we serve. So I am grateful for the challenge – because I was determined to read the book, which I now deem a gift of enlightenment.

The Seven Principles are: 1) Vision/ Attitude 2) Opportunity 3) Relationships 4) Talent / Skill 5) Financial 6) Failure 7) Faith. The book starts with the necessary vision of success, change, transformation that all entrepreneurs must have. Throughout the book Pickard tells of how the 7 principles influenced his life and other successful entrepreneurs. Key to all of Pickard’s entrepreneurial ventures were the lifelong network of relationships with mentors, partners, investors and family. 

Somehow -- between the entrepreneurial vision and faith --the other five principals are born, mature and harvest – I call it the magic of the entrepreneurial journey.

What I enjoyed most about this book is its simplicity. Pickard discusses the neighborhood numbers runner with similar business acumen as bank loan officers. Pickard came from the neighborhood; he is elegant in his description of the culture, community and what he heralds as replicable strategies to achieve personal and financial transformations.

Why read this book? While entrepreneurship is not for everyone, the seven principles are transferable skills that may help one succeed in any career. You can find more information on the book and the man in a recent Black Enterprise interview.

Key Words: #Entrepreneurship #Strategy #Business #MWBE #SBA