Do You Have What It Takes To Start Your Own Business?

In this show, Zef Zan, host of Creative Chat Cafe with cohost Super Julie Braun, Co-Founder of SuperInterns.com and guest, Steve Gordon, CEO of GordonPartnership.com, discuss “Do You Have What It Takes To Start Your Own Business?”

Conversations on:
- Why do you want to start your own business?
- Bad and good reasons for starting a business.
- What does it take moving from a "jobby" to having your own business.
- Grit!

The Hangout.

The conversation.

Zef: Today's topic is, "Do you have what it takes to start your own business?" Starting a business is hard and it is NOT for everyone. Entrepreneurs are a breed of their own, and there are some qualities needed that will mean the difference between success and not so much success. It takes a lot of hard work and the right team to help start a business. Just like raising a child, it's been said that it takes a village to raise a child, the same applies to starting your own business. What are your thoughts Steve and Super Julie?

Steve: In our business, we work with companies that have only one business owner. Most of them may not have Executive Vice President, Senior VP or President so it can be lonely at the top. No team around to bounce ideas, help support, talk to you on a good day, and praise you.

Super Julie: Owning your own business is not for everyone but it is for a lot of people with very specific qualities that help you become successful in business.

Zef: In my personal opinion and from my experience, we have to first understand why is it do you want to start a business. When starting a business, usually there is a reason that gave you the idea. It is important to make sure that you have the right reasons.There are many good and bad reasons ones. Many bad reasons are usually reasons why you don’t like your current situation, not reasons why you want to start a business. Any thoughts on some bad ones Super Julie and Steve?

Super Julie's bad reasons:

• No passion for your current  job.
• Don’t like your boss.
• Note - if you don’t like either, you probably would not like them at the next job either.
  

Steve's bad reasons:

• Don’t like your 9-5 job.
• Don’t like to commute.
• Note - it doesn’t turn off sometimes when you have your business.
• Ask yourself if you are the kind of person who likes to know how much you make at the end of each month or, the kind of person who asks “Why would you want to know how much you make at the end of each month? If you’re not comfortable not knowing, then having your own business may not be for you.

Zef's bad reasons:

• You want to work less hours.
• NOTE - having your own business requires the right discipline otherwise you may end of working long hours. Sometimes longer hours than at your current job.
  

Zef: Here are some good reasons why you would want to start your own business ...

GOOD reasons for starting your own business:

• You have a passion and skills  for something. Something that you have gained enough knowledge and experience that would help you monetize that passion. An example would be, passion for FOOD!
• You have an idea that would solve other people’s problems and think that they will pay you for solving those problems.
• You have the skills of a leader and are up for a challenge.

Zef: So what was your reason starting your business Julie?

Super Julie: SuperInterns.com is my 2nd business. When I realized how unique we are, it became something very easy especially when it comes to helping the people I work with. When I first started, the planets must have aligned or something, and it’s just been an amazing roller coaster ride.

You also need the right personality for it and for me, what I like to say is, I have a high tolerance for “torture”! I also learned to be “thick skinned” and “drive on the edge.” But I don’t want to discourage anyone who has the passion, drive or grit to have your own business.

Zef: How about you Steve, how did you get started?

Steve: Just like Julie, my current business is also my 2nd. business. In my first business, I built a world wide direct marketing business over a period of 20 years that taught me how to build a sales team, motivate, train, develop leadership and management skills in other people. I helped people transiotion from a "Jobby" (Job + Hobby) to starting their own business.

In my current business, I saw the need for leadership and training to support growing businesses. A viable business that you can sell and it will continue to grow beyond you. I merged Gordon Partnership with wife’s business to offer marketing, sales, and CEO training.

Your Hosts

Meet Zef Zan here!

SUPER JULIE BRAUN
www.SuperInterns.com

"Super Julie Braun is the Co-founder of SuperInterns.com and she has worked with hundreds of employers and schools, and thousands of virtual interns all across the country.  As a thought leader in working virtually, Super Julie has helped companies and organization transform their “brick and mortar” thinking to “online” thinking and having the opportunity to work any time and from any place in the world with interns."

STEVE GORDON
www.GordonPartnership.com

"Steve Gordon is the Founder and CEO of the Gordon Partnership Group, a business consulting firm. He works with small and medium sized businesses around the world. The Gordon Partnership Group has three divisions - Marketing, Sales Training, and CEO mentoring and boot camp."

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Our tips to help you get results!

Zef: So, let’s get some tips to help you get started.

Super Julie's tips:

• Take care of yourself. Get out of office, do some exercise / yoga every day to clear your mind and stay healthy (a sick you is no good to anyone)
• Exercise your mind (read, listen to audios, Podcasts etc.) Example - This year I started taking chess. Learning online. Game of chess teaches strategic thinking but also teaches resilience. Playing best I can and often playing with more skilled players that are helping me grow my game more. It is just not about the business but also about you as a person - to help you grow.
  

Steve's tips:

• The key to moving from a "Jobby" to a Business is to create a business where it is not all about you. You develop leadership by giving praise, reward and recognition. You must allow others to fail and fall forward.

• We have to learn how to “shut off” sometimes especially when you’re working intellectually with someone that you care about. There’s nothing that important that it cannot wait for a few minutes or so.
  
• Also agree that we need to exercise and take care of ourselves because if you’re sick, you are no good to your business.
• Exercise your mind by reading or listen to audios that can help you enrich.

ZEF’s tips:

• Do your research! You can research online using social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook groups, Google plus communities, library, business associations, publications
• Most important - get with the people who have done the business or people who have the expertise to teach you build a business.

Additional tips from Super Julie and Steve - Get a MENTOR! 

Super Julie:

• Can be a friend or anyone who have successful in life or business - they can help you cut out the “noise.”
• Mentors will not only help you avoid their mistakes, but they will help you with connections and want bragging rights to your success.  
• I have 8 people (and probably more) who have helped me in my career.  In fact, I often tell a story about how one of my mentor’s helped me make 1.5 million dollars!

Steve: With YouTube you can find a mentor who lived many years or from anywhere in the world! Maybe someone whom you can relate to personally.

Resources.

Here are some great resources for "idea farming" to help you start your own business.

"55 businesses that you can start with less than $5000."

Kickstarter.com - a website that helps fund creative projects.

Springwise.com - Springwise scans the globe for the most promising, unique and innovative business ventures, ideas and concepts that are ready for regional or international adaptation, expansion, partnering, investments or cooperation.

GRIT!

Zef: Super Julie, you and I have been in business for many years now, and we ourselves mentor and work with many others like us. Often, the question is not only if we have find ourselves having to answer on a daily basis is do we also have what it takes to STAY in business? Our audience needs inspiration to start a business and hopefully remains in a successful business for a very long time, and I know you have something to share with our audience today.

Super Julie: I recently watched a ted.com video about what makes people really successful and it is "Grit." Grit is defined by passion and perseverance for very long term goals. Grit is having stamina, not for weeks or months, but for years. Grit has nothing to do with talent, looks, physical health, opportunity, or IQ. It is about growth mindset and that learning can change over time.  My guess is that lifetime learners would have a higher level of grit.  Watch Simon Senik’s inspirational Ted Talk about “How great leaders inspire action.”

Steve, are you "gritty"?

Watch Simon Sinek's video: "How great leaders inspire action" here!

Steve: Julie, I am so gritty that my middle name is sandpaper! I have watched Simon Sinek’s Ted Talk many times and 100% agree that it is a great and motivating clip.

Since we are on the topic of Ted Talks, I would suggest everyone watch the Clip of Educator Rita Pierson.  I have watched this video many times and the takeaways are phenomenal.  Rita explains how she was able to motivate her students, the most difficult in her school, to become far more than they ever thought they could become. Understanding Rita will help you become a better leader, parent, spouse and overall a better person.

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