Saturday, September 17, 2011

On the challenges of leadership

"Any man that leads, that does something, has against him those that would want to do the same, those that would do exactly the opposite, and most of all the large army of much harsher men, that do nothing".
- Jules Claretie (translated from French by yours truly)

The original quote, in French, is the following:
"Tout homme qui dirige, qui fait quelque chose, a contre lui ceux qui voudraient faire la même chose, ceux qui font précisément le contraire, et surtout la grande armée des gens beaucoup plus sévères, qui ne font rien."
- Jules Claretie

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Some starting line thoughts on entrepreneurship

So, You Want to be an Entrepreneur
By KELLY K. SPORS

Thinking about starting a business? Make sure you're cut out for it first.

In this bleak economy, lots of people are contemplating striking out on their own -- whether they're frustrated job seekers or people who are already employed but getting antsy about their company's prospects.


For some people, entrepreneurship is the best option around, a way to build wealth and do something you love without answering to somebody else. But it's also a huge financial gamble -- and some people, unfortunately, will discover too late that it's not the right fit for them.

Building a successful business can take years filled with setbacks, long hours and little reward. Certain personalities thrive on the challenge and embrace the sacrifices. But it can be a hard switch for someone who has spent years sitting in a cubicle with a steady paycheck.

So, how can you figure out whether you're suited for self-employment? We spoke with entrepreneurship researchers, academics and psychologists to come up with a list of questions you should ask yourself before making a big leap. Entrepreneurs, of course, come from all sorts of backgrounds, with all sorts of personalities. But our experts agreed that certain attributes improve the odds people will be successful and happy about their decision.

Keep in mind that any self-analysis is only as useful as the truthfulness of the answers -- and most people aren't exactly the best judges of their own character. So, you might enlist a friend's help.

Here, then, are 10 questions to ask to see whether you're up for the challenge of entrepreneurship.
Click here for the full article.


What was recommended to me as the absolute essential reading on the topic of starting a business:
The Successful Business Plan, by Rhonda Abrams.
Forbes calls The Successful Business Plan one of the best books for small businesses.