A business owner friend shared with me, about a year ago, that entrepreneurs are “those who don a Superman cape during the day, and at night, go home and curl up in a fetal position.” True, no?! Especially through the last year. I recently celebrated my 1 year anniversary as the new owner of Sandler Training. No stranger to business ownership, nothing has been quite as rewarding as the last year. I’ll even admit to a few sleepless nights now and again. But every morning, that amazing cape is still there. Waiting. Alluring. The thrill of putting it on and starting a new day is, still, just too darn much fun to ignore.
I discovered the following, framed, sitting in the windowsill of a friend’s office. I think you’ll like it. It’s titled “The Entrepreneur’s Credo” and comes from the American Entrepreneurs Association.
“I do not choose to be a common person.
It is my right to be uncommon – if I can.
I seek opportunity – not security.
I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled
and dulled by having the state look after me.
I want to take the calculated risk;
To dream and to build,
To fail and to succeed.
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;
I prefer the challenges of life
to the guaranteed existence;
The thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia.
I will not trade freedom for beneficence
nor my dignity for a handout.
I will never cower before any master
nor bend to any threat.
It is my heritage to stand erect,
proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself,
to enjoy the benefit of my creations
and to face the world boldly and say:
This with God’s help, I have done.
All this is what it means to be an Entrepreneur.”
Sums it up pretty well, don’t you think?
To fellow business owners everywhere, I raise my glass of Merlot in humble tribute.
Categories: Business, Business Development, Marketing, Success.
Entrepreneurs don a Superman cape during the day, and at night, go home and work on the NEXT project until they pass out.