Today I was reading an article by HR consultant Annabell Karanja in the MyBusiness entrepreneurship magazine. The author spoke of the challenges facing those going through the transition from employee to entrepreneur. It got me thinking about some of my own experiences.
Granted I was never employed for long (about 1 year) but I nevertheless picked some habits which were hard to shake once I decided to go into my own business full time. As an employee one abides to strict reporting times at the pain of dismissal (stick). Since there is such a strong motivation to report to work early in the morning, waking up is not so difficult. I'm also generally an early riser so that made it all the easier. Even those days when I really didn't feel like getting up, imagining the pursed lips of my supervisor speaking a silent disapproval would help me get out of bed.
How things changed when I became my own boss. Most people long to be their own boss so as to avoid waking up early in the morning. I meet people everyday who are employed and tell me "you are so lucky to be your own boss, you don't have to go work if you don't want to". This is one of those fallacies held by non-entrepreneurs, but that is a story for another day. Entrepreneurs wake up everyday to go build their business with the motivation of making money (carrot). Because the carrot is not a strong as an incentive as the stick it requires a great deal of personal discipline to get up early in the day, every day as an entrepreneur.
In my daily journey as an entrepreneur I have found one strategy particularly useful in overcoming the morning challenge. It is a strategy I wish to share today, taught to me by a good friend. The strategy is called the Victorious Minute.
With the Victorious Minute you recognize your first minute of consciousness in the day as the most important minute. How you act in this minute determines your attitude, enthusiasm, and potential for the rest of the day. As soon as you are awake you are to jump out of bed with strength, confidence and optimism. Today you are going to battle and need to be performing at your optimum; you shake off any exhaustion, complacency, and procrastination that hungs on you with the last vestiges of sleep. A good hearty battle cry (as long as it doesn't frighten the neighbours) also increases your chi. The good entrepreneurs' fight must be fought and the fate of your hopes and dreams rest with you. Today is an opportunity to change the world, and the world will remember that it was at this moment, at this Victorious Minute where you set off on the incredible journey.
I hope that tomorrow morning you too can experience the Victorious Minute.
Granted I was never employed for long (about 1 year) but I nevertheless picked some habits which were hard to shake once I decided to go into my own business full time. As an employee one abides to strict reporting times at the pain of dismissal (stick). Since there is such a strong motivation to report to work early in the morning, waking up is not so difficult. I'm also generally an early riser so that made it all the easier. Even those days when I really didn't feel like getting up, imagining the pursed lips of my supervisor speaking a silent disapproval would help me get out of bed.
How things changed when I became my own boss. Most people long to be their own boss so as to avoid waking up early in the morning. I meet people everyday who are employed and tell me "you are so lucky to be your own boss, you don't have to go work if you don't want to". This is one of those fallacies held by non-entrepreneurs, but that is a story for another day. Entrepreneurs wake up everyday to go build their business with the motivation of making money (carrot). Because the carrot is not a strong as an incentive as the stick it requires a great deal of personal discipline to get up early in the day, every day as an entrepreneur.
In my daily journey as an entrepreneur I have found one strategy particularly useful in overcoming the morning challenge. It is a strategy I wish to share today, taught to me by a good friend. The strategy is called the Victorious Minute.
With the Victorious Minute you recognize your first minute of consciousness in the day as the most important minute. How you act in this minute determines your attitude, enthusiasm, and potential for the rest of the day. As soon as you are awake you are to jump out of bed with strength, confidence and optimism. Today you are going to battle and need to be performing at your optimum; you shake off any exhaustion, complacency, and procrastination that hungs on you with the last vestiges of sleep. A good hearty battle cry (as long as it doesn't frighten the neighbours) also increases your chi. The good entrepreneurs' fight must be fought and the fate of your hopes and dreams rest with you. Today is an opportunity to change the world, and the world will remember that it was at this moment, at this Victorious Minute where you set off on the incredible journey.
I hope that tomorrow morning you too can experience the Victorious Minute.
Comments
That first minute can determine your whole day. I'm not a morning person, but I've found it's all about attitude. Attitude is so important (especially when you're still tired). I've learned, you never know what the day has in store for you. That's what excites me about entrepreneurship. Everyday is a new adventure.
Great post.