How to Think Like an Entrepreneur

If you ask me, I think everyone has an entrepreneur inside of them. It’s just about whether you bring it out and showcase it to the world.

Thinking like an entrepreneur forces one to constantly think outside the box. When one draws outside the lines, the end result tends to spell out great things. As they say, life only begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Over the years, I have been asked about how an entrepreneur thinks. It’s not a science - it’s part intuition, part logic. But, below are some the most key factors one should embrace

It’s Not About the Money

It’s never the right move to take a job based solely on salary and perks or become an entrepreneur because you want to chase the headlines. Ultimately, that’s not going to bring you happiness or genuine success. Don’t take a job that pays more if it’s going to mean a soul-less existence plodding away doing something that’s not meaningful and fulfilling. It will eat away at you. You won’t perform like a rock star. Whatever ambition you had will become less and less over time and a slow clock will become your best friend. That is not what life is about. Life should be about leaping out of bed every morning knowing the difference you are going to make.

Of course, money satiates material desires. Stuff you don’t necessarily need. But where is the happiness and drive in that? As, I mentioned before, success may allow you to acquire material things, but true happiness does not exist there.

Freedom of Choice

If you’re not happy at your job, it’s your choice and your choice alone to change it and find something you do like. No one else is going to do it for you. It’s up to you. It’s the same kind of freedom an entrepreneur has. You just need to execute on it. Baby steps are ok. Nothing worthwhile and authentic happens overnight. Don’t chase the headlines for success, be your own headline.

If you value your job, you will see the impact you are making without the need of outside recognition. If you don’t value your job, you are just doing a disservice to yourself. Watching the clock waiting for 5:00 p.m. to roll around, then you’re definitely at the wrong place. You the have freedom of choice. Exercise it. Life is too short to be worried about simply clocking out. Make a difference instead.

Emotional and Spiritual Journey

The real questions are these: Are you emotionally and spiritually fulfilled, not just financially? If money is the name of the game you may never be financially fulfilled because you will realize – it’s never enough. When you're emotionally and spiritually connected with yourself, you will begin to understand what your inner purpose is. That’s where comfort meets reality.

Always Learning

An entrepreneur never stops learning. Think about the key characteristics of an entrepreneur:

• A willingness to take risks and fail
• The ability to be a creative thinker; become a genuine problem solver. Where others see obstacles, you see opportunity.
• Persistence, drive, and a never-ending ambition.
• Understanding you're contributing to something greater than yourself.
• Never giving up. You fall down 7 times, you get up 8.

Put those skills into effect in your career and you will soar to great heights. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. Ask questions. Challenge authority. Don’t be a yes man. Be a breakthrough person. Whatever you do, enjoy it because it has purpose behind it.

Purpose

As someone once said, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” And it’s OK to take baby steps. As long as they are in the right direction. Nothing worthwhile and authentic happens overnight. The journey to success and genuine accomplishment is a never-ending series of steps. Start each day thinking of the things you can do that will move you forward. Forward movement is everything. Before long those baby steps will turn into sprints and you’ll realize the marathon is attainable.

Some may question whether the American Dream is still alive. But, let me be the first to say, "when you come from nothing, everything becomes limitless." Never lose that child-like wonder. Never let your fears become a reality. Calculate vulnerabilities. And, always remember that passion will lead you to the path of your own dreams.

Chase something greater than yourself, something immeasurable, something that has purpose. And, only then you'll become limitless.

Photo: alphaspirit / shutterstock