By Terri Lonier
Small Business Author
To jump-start your thinking about your values, consider these five driving factors, named here the “five F's": fortune, fame, family, freedom and fun. They are primary motivators for any entrepreneur. Let’s take a look at each one.
Fortune. Many entrepreneurs place fortune first on their list of goals. After deeper thought, however, they usually find that the accumulation of money, while certainly important, is not necessarily where they derive their greatest satisfaction. Probably more gratifying is acknowledging how closely their bottom line is tied to their efforts, talent, and capabilities. So though they may not strike it rich overnight, as they work to build their business, they will reap the rewards that come from being responsible for its growth.
Fame. A healthy love of self is another key drive of entrepreneurs. They are very comfortable seeing their name in lights—or (more commonly) on company letterhead. Making their mark on the world is part of why they struck out on their own in the first place.
Family. Many solo entrepreneurs seek a better way to balance the competing demands of their home and professional lives. They want to be able to spend more quality time with their families, and they want to provide a good livelihood for their loved ones.
Freedom. Not surprisingly, more important than money to many entrepreneurs is the ability to call their own shots. Many turn down better-paying jobs because they place a high value on working for themselves; they want to set their own schedule, to ensure that it honors the needs of both their clients and their family. And they want the freedom to pursue new prospects when these come along.
Fun. There often isn’t a lot of tolerance (or respect) for self-expression in the corporate workaday world. Entrepreneurs, in general, are creative individuals who need an environment in which they can express their personalities in the context of a business. Incorporating a sense of self is also the way they ensure that those intangible inner, spiritual needs are met. This article provided by Terri Lonier of Working Solo. Lonier is the author of a series of five working solo books for entrepreneurs. This article is excerpted from Smart Strategies for Growing Your Business by Terri Lonier. |
