The Secret of Successful Entrepreneurs
Prior to February 2020 I, like many of you, saw my husband before the work day began and after he’d come back from the office, with no first-hand knowledge of what went on in between.
Now that we spend all day working out of the same home office, I get a unique window into his life at work and a company other than my own. I can see him going through several emotions in one day. He is alone at his computer but is rarely really ‘alone’ – long live Zoom! No matter what may be going on in the world, he is in constant contact with his team. Watching them, it became clear to me that there is a certain energy, a force and synchronicity that emanates throughout a good team. When people work with a shared goal, they are often stronger and more effective than if they were working alone.
Whether you are 400 employees across the globe or 2 employees working from home, the rule is the same. You have to know how to surround yourself with people who have the same values, passion, and who care about the success of the company.
When you’re an entrepreneur, you think you have to do everything yourself.
The truth is that as human beings, we are rarely good at everything. Disney was amazing at drawing, telling stories and had an amazing vision for the future, but he was really bad at accounting and business. Thankfully, he had his older brother Roy. John F. Kennedy had his brother Robert, his assistant Kenneth Patrick O’Donnell and many close advisers. Oprah Winfrey didn’t run a show or television network alone, she had her producer Sheri Salata, her chief of staff, her assistant & a mega team. Celine had Rene & many collaborators. Mandy from ‘Mandy’s Salads’ (my favorite restaurant in Montreal!) works with her sister Rebecca,…
We often think that there is such a thing as a ‘strong man’ or a ‘strong woman’, but I prefer to say that we are all as strong as our support system. In many cases, we think that someone is doing it all themselves, but that’s usually because their ally or associate just doesn’t want attention and stays out of the Spotlight.
Who can be part of your support system? It can be a partner, a coach, an effective assistant – someone who has your interests in the foreground, with a healthy enough distance to help you make the right choices.
If you need help, ask! We live in a world so technologically advanced that you can find the perfect expert at a click. Use the resources available to you! Ask around in Facebook groups or LinkedIn groups. Become a member of an RFAQ (Réseau des femmes d’affaires du Québec) or a BNI (Business Networking International) chapter. Look to your local Chamber of Commerce, PME Montreal, YES Montreal. You’d be amazed at how many people will offer help, especially in these difficult times.
The business world is not so different from our everyday lives. To be happy in life, you need a good support system. A wife, a husband, a parent, a child, a good friend, a brother, a sister, a friendly neighbour… someone you can talk to, someone who believes in you without judgment and who can lend an ear and offer advice.
Batman had Alfred and Robin. Superman had Lois Lane. Iron Man has Pepper. Obama had Michelle and Joe. Kennedy had his brothers and his team of consultants.
Who do you have?
We’re really stronger together.
If you need help with your message, your story, your videos, or your marketing, please feel free to send me a message. It will be my pleasure to see how I can help you!
If you need help with your website, social networks, graphics, sales figures, or accounting, I’m definitely not the right person but I’ll happily refer you to an expert or colleague who excels in the field.
Don’t be a stranger.
Stay safe,
LiZ
