Stretching your Entrepreneurial Thinking
While entrepreneurs will always consume certain resources, no different from our staff, or other citizens,, we shouldn’t think through a consumer lens nor should we spend precious time being one. So, let’s shake things up!
While reading, please invest time to ask yourself some questions. As I often advise mentees, be reflective; forego being reflexive or reactive. The difference is profound.
The Consumer
Per Dictionary.com , … origin: 14th C [1375–1425] = “squanderer”
What a strong connotation! Do we really desire to have our business(es) associated with this definition, even if its meaning has evolved somewhat over the passage of time?!
Why are we ‘encouraged’ , compelled, or even shamed into consuming?
The answer is too complex to address in a blog post, yet, we are able to unravel some characteristics of a consumerist.
He/She/They …
- Oft carry a considerable amount of consumer debt
- Will be watching, listening to, or reading lots of content from the mass media*
- Quite likely is a side-preneur still receiving a regular paycheck as a W-2’er
- Fairly often feel uncomfortable discussing economics or talking about money/finances
& …
- Might use words like ‘retail therapy’, be distressed** , and/or focused on material things
( inc. transactions to make more $ versus building business relationships. )
Sign of a Consumerist
Self deception ( vid clip HERE ) is strong; maybe we know in the depths of our soul, by looking at our financial statements, or just in our gut that we are living a consumerist life while building our entrepreneurial venture/s, yet … we outwardly deny it, in our self-talk, our conversations with others, etc.
If you do this, you’re not alone. Some signals, both implicit & explicit to home in on & eventually course correct include:
- Not paying off credit cards monthly
- Driving in a vehicle that you don’t actually own
- Expensive office space which raises your rates needlessly
- Not leveraging the countless discount programs/apps/memberships available
- Buying costly drinks or meals while at events
What’ll it Take … a ‘voice of courage’
Laying the groundwork for a major mindset shift will clearly impact all spheres of your business ‘being’ : heart, mind, spirit/soul, & financial. Yet, it’s still January, and here’s hoping that you invested quality time and treasure creating and then taking action to live out these 2019 mantras, goals, or habit transformations instead.
If you’ve not yet carved a line item in your business blueprint for a mentor, a coach, or a niche consultant
( a good friend is ideal for the latter: Cherish Your World/Feng Shui Consultant ), … now would be a great time!
A Producer’s Model
Defined here , with its synonyms including ‘builder’ & ‘creator’; which leads me to ask a few questions:
Don’t we all want to be known, in our branding, sales, & marketing, as these things?
Why would we knowingly choose its opposite?
Which characteristics might ID this type of business pro?
He/She/They …
- Understand Y.D.I.L *** when it comes to their finances/money ‘mind’.
- Participate in social capital creating/expanding actions: Connecting others, serving in their communities, & building ‘roots & wings’ in their households.
- Have eschewed a paycheck from a 3rd party & are sustaining on dollars earned through serving & solving.
- Understand the value of time > money. ( read previous post )
& …
- Oft use words like legacy, leadership, leverage, significance, & value in everyday conversation.
Suggested Profiles
*** More on Y.D.I.L.
Y = You, Inc. [ ‘investing’ in your mind – trillion $+ ‘real estate’ ]
D = {consumer} debt [ pay off, or better yet, bypass proactively ]
I = Investments [ mainstream financial vehicles ]
L = Lifestyle [ far better to live below or right at par/your means ]
By committing to this informal, yet powerful acronym, my entire financial picture & level of consciousness, were shifted, bit by bit.
= I became a producer!
You can, too.
Starting, and perhaps expanding, your business mustn’t originate from the scraps on your monetary table: It should be the main course, growing in parallel with your self-leadership as the “CEO” of You, Inc.
Value squared
Many thought leaders have previously opined on similar topic/s; I’m always pleased to cross reference their content & encourage readers in this community to learn more about them.
Their specialized knowledge, paired with mine, should generate lots of value for you, the reader.
Start Every Day as a Producer …
* Infographic – What is the ‘mass media’?
** https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/types-of-stressors-eustress-vs-distress/
In short …
- Know the clear differences b/w a consumer(ist) & a producer
- Click to Tweet the Emerson quote: there’s a very elevated level of consciousness within it.
- Invest time to click on the links provided to follow the bread crumb trail of wisdom
- Connect with the suggested social media accounts & thank them for being producers 🙂
- Paint yourself with a producer’s Picassian flair! #BeAnExample
- Y.D.I.L. is very insightful, yet very contrarian.
Thank YOU for reading!
SJ Barakony is a serial entrepreneur, futurist, & connector.
He lives in Ohio & is the Founder of Service Before Self Leadership: An Educational Solutions Provider.
He offers four highly customizable solutions to encourage families, individuals, faith institutions, & business owners to create & cultivate lifelong learning cultures in our homes & workplaces.
He’s been a guest on an educational podcast; been interviewed for an online small business community; is a guest blogger for Innovate NA; and has been an invited speaker five separate times for HECOA.
He believes strongly in youth & social entrepreneurship: He continues to serve two chapters of the YEA program (student mentor, mock judge, ad hoc consultant ) & has co-facilitated a session of the SeaChange Accelerator program.
He serves as the TDD for Cleveland & Columbus (Ohio) for the H7 Network.
He also recently became an educational advisor for Tessr.io, a startup in the exciting world of blockchain/cryptocurrencies that will be establishing a cutting edge educational foundation.
