January

My Thoughts on Being an Entrepreneur

by Marty Shapiro
(all statements, information, and views are the authors own)

I have a confession....I am not an entrepreneur.

I do not have an unusual or scientifically unique idea.

I do not have a business plan.....yet.

I do not have a tireless search for capital.

I do have since March of this year a new found insatiable curiosity for those who declare themselves an entrepreneur and pursue their chosen path with fervor...and maybe with some success.

When I met my wife for the first time I told her on the first date our relationship will fit somewhere on a spectrum (something she teases me about on a very regular basis). Whether we be high on the spectrum or low on the spectrum, I pledged that our relationship will find its level and not from that point be diminished ...fore a new friend at minimum is precious. I married her a year and a half later. ...Ladies and Gentlemen .. I propose for you tonight to envision ....a spectrum. ... Maybe we all won't be the example of the most highly prized and most notably unique and successful new businessperson of the year here but maybe we might learn something from someone here in our presence who is struggling to just get ahead ...a little. My broker /dealer, a leader in financing competitively priced and selectively determined Private Equity investments ...those firms searching for late stage financing, would like me to sell you unregistered shares in these companies that are expected to earn scalable returns in the near future are what I would determine as examples ...at the top of the spectrum. But I can't. It's because probably none of you are accredited investors and so for me to tell you abou this is probably against the law ...er regulations But I am going to anyway.....

  • Azul Systems - server appliances $30Million
  • Suniva - the most!... cost efficient solar cells - $20M
  • Teneros - eliminates email downtime - $30M
  • Presto - digital delivery system for seniors (letters and pictures) $25M
  • Ambric - a computer chip that can do one trillion computing operations per second and require less wattage and is a smaller size - $30M
  • Miradia - alternative to digital light processing (DLP) for HD Tv's $53M
  • And our latest
  • Market Tools - provides online market research solutions, helps companies learn more about their customers - $25M

Patents on all abound of course. These are the epitome of what we search for and these nationally known firms will probably elude our grasp.

But heck what do I know about entrepreneurialship???...So to my now insatiable thirst for examples of true entrepreneurial success I turned to all the stories big and small that I can find. "Starting from Scratch" tells 21 stories about ..sigh!...people not technically inclined so much that followed a chance to change, a dream , a passion. Each story represents a facet of this quest for financial success and maybe more importantly independence and are true examples of the entrepreneurial spirit we all seek.

  • Harness what you have ...the first section...
  • Find the love - your passion
  • Desperately Seeking Challenge - Escape the boredom, find adventure
  • Confidence - if you don't believe in yourself....
  • Common vision - is your item palatable/recognizable to others?
  • Decisive Progression - planning and perseverance
  • Have a Cause - so nothing will defeat your focus
  • Underestimate your obstacles - so not to be deterred
  • Keep it a secret - be protective to some degree
  • Embrace the Unconventional - throw out the standards
  • Keep it Weird
  • Resiliency - a true test to commitment
  • Work the system - your best prevention from failure 
  • Notice your Network - I won't comment for fear of getting to overly sentimental
  • The power of PR
  • Charm
  • The power of friendship
  • Mentors
  • Communicate communicate communicate
  • Take the First Step -
  • Surrounding Support - some are here tonight
  • Live your Own Brand - celebrate and promulgate your own uniqueness
  • Patience - my greatest flaw in life... determination and focus will overcome delays
  • Achieve Balance - especially in your personal life..for needed strength
  • Tireless Energy - Stamina multiplies when you believe in what you do

 

What excites me are ordinary people building flourishing businesses where the worst day in their new venture better than the best day of their original occupation. The secrets of growth are universal and I would delight in finding them here and sharing them. The big risk takers get lots of attention but the others are still heroes to me and are wonderful examples of success that I would enjoy witnessing.. Cleverness in promotion really excites me...Postive role models/mentors are hard to find but precious when you do ... maybe there is one here. We here at the UEF can be a future support from someone who also might have started from scratch themselves. Maybe the something we have in common here is that we created something from the ground up and are not afraid to help someone else.

The virtues I listed so quickly like a mentor will lead you in the right direction.

  • Engage your passion
  • Be flexible and adapt to obstacles
  • Get the best help you can find whether they work for you or consult for you
  • And if you haven't yet ....Take the step to capitalize on what was once a dream 

I list this as the first article in our new resource library to challenge your venture against the virtues others have found to catch their success. I live to see and witness your success, by your own stories which I know will be indelible in my mind. And if this little group does ever what it hopes to ... to make your effort even a little bit easier then I share with you great pride and just a bit of your success.

 

Marty Shapiro
1/14/08