Do you ever ask yourself why you became an entrepreneur? I’m sure it conjures up whimsical thoughts of `I wanted to quit being a slave to the corporate world. I wanted autonomy and the opportunity to earn what I’m worth. I wanted the freedom to control my own life and work my own hours.’
Now ask yourself is that what you got? Or are you in fact stuck in a jobbie that pays you less then what you used to earn, while you work more hours, stressing on how to pay your bills and staff, and with the knowledge that if you fell ill tomorrow the business could not run without you?
If that sounds familiar, then this post will help you to avoid becoming another statistic like this:
Facts about Entrepreneurship
- Up to 90% of businesses fail within the first five year and millions of entrepreneurs are overwhelmed and overworked.
- 60 percent of businesses don’t earn a profit over their lifetime. 60 percent!
- Many of 22 million self-employed individuals work more hours and earn less, just for the “privilege” of working for themselves.
Definitely takes the edge off the glamour that’s so often associated with being an entrepreneur, doesn’t it? These are not figures to be proud of. Yet becoming an entrepreneur to create solutions and services that improve the way we live is.
So how do we turn our dreams to start a business that helps shape the world and makes it a better place to live into a reality? And how we do know that we’re the right person to even do that and become an outrageously successful business owner?
The Entrepreneur Equation
I’d start by finding out if you really are cut out to be an entrepreneur. Do you know what your true motivations are for being in business? How do your personal and professional skills serve you? Are you truly committed to building a thriving business? Do you have great connections? How about your tolerance for risk?
To find out the answers, I’d suggest you get your hands on `The Entrepreneur Equation: Evaluating the Realities. Risks and Rewards of Having Your Own Business’ by my good friend Carol Roth.
I’m not only proud to call her my friend, I’m quite simply stunned by the passion Carol has to help small businesses succeed. It’s her mission to ensure entrepreneurs do the necessary preparation before they invest time, money and energy into launching a business, as well as helping existing entrepreneurs tweak their current business models – so that they can all have the best chances for success.
This book is also a must for anyone who is thinking of starting a business or in the early stages. As I read through my special copy Carol sent for me to review, I realized how useful this book would have been to me on several fronts, and wondered how my path would have been different had it been released this time last year!
How can this book help you?
Carol has a knack of being bold, provocative and sometimes slightly outrageous. I mean, who else would launch a book and create an exclusive promotional doll to go with it! Entrepreneurship is also about doing the unexpected. You’ll learn how to:
- Look at what’s behind your drive to start a business and evaluate which of those motivations are truly practical
- Evaluate the risks and rewards of a new business idea – or even an existing one
- Assess if the timing is right – based on your finances, experience, personal obligations and more
- Learn whether your dreams are best served by a hobby, job, or business
- Find out what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in today’s competitive business environment
- Acquire the tools you need to increase your likelihood of success
I think what’s even more important about this greater mission is that Carol has partnered with the US National non-profit organization SCORE, to help with their quest to grow 1 million successful American businesses by 2017.
So just by buying this book to help yourself succeed, you’re helping others do the same. Love it. You can pre-order your copy here https://theentrepreneurequation.com/special-offers/(no affiliate link here my friends, just pure support for Carol’s work).
In an effort to play my part, I am giving away my copy of Carol’s book to one lucky reader AND her exclusive, limited edition Carol Roth doll. She looks hot, by the way.
And before you judge about the relevance of a promotional doll to the Entrepreneur Equation, let me tell you that Carol has a strategy behind everything she does – otherwise she wouldn’t be such a successful entrepreneur herself.
Not only does she now have her own TV show, but she’s also an author and writes a blog voted as one of the Top 10 blogs for business. She’s a talented speaker, investment banker and business strategist who’s helped businesses grow and increase profitability over 15 years and raised more than $1 billion in capital!
You can see why I asked her to be an expert on the Passport to Business Freedom Program that launches again, due to popular demand on 1st March. More details here.
So back to the doll. There are 3 reasons for having a fashion doll along with this book, which I love:
- Entrepreneurship is about staying true to your brand. By tying in this doll to her book it’s both unusual for a business book and true to who she is (as described above).
- Carol used her network creatively by working with a company who manufactures high-end collectible dolls to make hers. A former client of hers, she had helped them create a successful customer loyalty program five years ago and refine their business strategy.
- This doll also represents Carol’s attitude to the myth that women have to choose between being either smart or attractive – she knows they can be both.
“I want to show that business doesn’t have to be boring and that a pair of pink heels doesn’t lessen a woman’s value or impair her business credibility. I hope that girls who grow up with role models like actresses and singers can start looking at entrepreneurship and being in business a an exciting and viable career option.”
Hallelujah sister, I’m right behind you.
I haven’t had a giveaway for way too long, and since I’d like to personally hang on to these two hot items, I want you
If you liked this book recommendation, you’ll love these:
Top 14 Business Books To Read In The New Year Voted By You!