So you WANT to be an Entrepreneur, but are you READY to be an Entrepreneur?

Most people dream of running their own business and not have to deal with the 9-to-5 routine of sitting in a cubicle and taking orders from someone they could care less about. There have been many times they think, why should they work hard to make someone else successful?

Of course, most people stick with the 9-to-5 routine since it is safe (well generally) and familiar. The idea of starting out on their own scares them into thinking what if it doesn't work out. Most 9-to-5 professionals think entrepreneurs are crazy and sometimes think starting a business especially in network marketing is a scam. But they know deep down inside, they are thinking they want a piece of the entrepreneur action.

But how do you know you have what it takes to own your own business and be a successful entrepreneur? After all, 90% of all startup businesses fail. Owning a business is very hard but very rewarding if successful.

The most important skill to start off with is perseverance but there is a lot more questions to ask yourself before you take the plunge from going from employee to entrepreneur.

Here are six questions to ask yourself before investing time in a new business.

1. Do YOU want Ongoing RESIDUAL INCOME?
Unless you are self-employed where you trade time for money, most businesses, especially network marketing businesses, allow you to make money while you are not working. The idea is to be able to build an income that is result of an organization that you built or real estate that you own that provides a regular residual income. Of course everyone is going to answer yes to this question, but let's move onto the other questions to test your entrepreneurial will.

2. What is Your WHY?
This is probably the most important question of the list. Without a why, there is really no goal. Without having a why is like driving down a dark street with your headlights off. Sure, you may see some success but you will not not know why. Before venturing into your own business, why are you doing it? Financial independence? To have a flexible life? To help others? Write it down and put it on the wall of your office or in car. This is your inspiration to be successful.

3. Do YOU have an Entrepreneurial Mindset?
Are you afraid to fail? Are you afraid of the fact you may have no income for a little while when you are in the startup phase? Are you not coachable? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may not have the mindset to be an entrepreneur. Another question to ask yourself is what books you like to read? Do you read business books or fiction books? Do you read books that improve your mindset? If you rather read a Harry Potter book or watch mindless TV, then you do not have an entrepreneur mindset.
Now if you have a strong why, enjoy hanging out with successful positive people and are willing to give up the party to work on your success, you are on your way to an entrepreneurial mindset.

4. Do YOU want to CREATE LEVERAGE?
This question is similar to the question about residual income. You create leverage by building an organizational structure or a business structure (in the case of real estate ownership) where you may everyone doing a little for a common goal of building a more successful business. This is how network marketing works where you build an organization where everyone follows a system to build their business. So the question for you is if you are an organizational builder or prefer to be self-employed? Do you want your money to work for you or do you want to work for money? Wealthy people became wealthy because they understood leverage.

5. What are YOU willing to temporarily GIVE UP to get these things?
This is a tough one. Entrepreneurs do not work 9-to-5, they work 24x7. Friday nights may mean working on your business plan versus going to the brewpub. You always need to be on and there is no time to "chill out". There is no "I'll do it tomorrow or next week". You need to give up the mindless activities and focus on activities that will grow you. Your mindset should be on your why and how to create leverage.

6. Are YOU Ready to Make This Happen?
Bottom line, there is no tomorrow or next week. If you want to be successful in the business world, you need to working on it all the time. Every time you take a break, your competition is getting ahead. Of course, you are wondering when can I get my beauty sleep? That is where time leverage comes in, Hint hint.

You are the CEO of your life and you have to have the mindset to create leverage right now or you might as well go back to that 9-to-5 safety net. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. Ask yourself if you want to be an entrepreneur, are you ready to be an entrepreneur?

The Top Ten Reasons Going to Business Networking Events Beats Staying Home and Watching the News

If you still watch the nightly news or in the case of Channel 7 here in Boston, the half-hour news on the hour every hour, you tend to get overly depressed at all the negative news, whether it is the latest episode of Donald Trump or the latest house fire in some suburb of Boston.  Face it today's news is not news-worthy, it is more like a horror show on a HD TV in your living room.

So what if you like to get out of that living room and go to a business networking event at your local restaurant, pub, workplace or mall?    Going to a Business Networking Event gets you out there into the world of positive energy and you will feel a difference in yourself and your purpose in life!

So what are the Top Ten Reasons Going to a Business Networking Event is Better Than Watching The News on TV.

10,   Your Heart Rate will be more relaxed due to that nice glass of Merlot you are drinking, while mingling with some successful professionals.  It beats staying home drinking scotch watching the news.  You know what they say about those anti-oxidants found in wine!

9.  If you are single, you may meet your future partner at a business networking event!   The great thing is that most people at events are successful or have a hunger for being successful.   The only thing you will be hungry for watching TV is a gallon of ice cream and some potato chips.   How is that pot belly doing?

8. You may meet your future boss or business partner in a new venture!   For example, you are out there meeting people and then suddenly you meet someone that is looking for someone with the same exact expertise and soft-skills as you have!  So what do you do?  You connect and follow-up!     When was the last time you got a job while watching the news on TV?

7. Since most events are held at local restaurants or pubs, you get to check them out and perhaps take your loved one out to the place for a future date.  You will be cool and become the expert of your city's hot spots!!   You think watching TV is cool?  Sure if you will be an expert of those fast food restaurant commercials, that just make you fatter just watching them!

6. There are no awful commercials or ads of furniture stores or Dunkin Donuts at a business networking event.   Instead you may meet some amazing entrepreneurs trying to develop the next great product or service!  No need for commercials, this is the real deal.

5. You can become more popular than your mayor if you go to a lot of business networking events!   Just think, you are walking down the street of your city, and you keep bumping into people you know.  Finally, your colleague goes "Gee" what you are you the mayor?    Not sure if anyone has been elected mayor watching the news at home!!

4.  You only live one life.   Why waste it watching horrible negative news, when you can make a difference and meet people that will make your life more fulfilling!   Everyone at networking events are looking to help you!

3.  You can become a millionaire going to a business networking event since you become more positive, innovative and more the right connections with successful people.   You cannot become a millionaire watching the news on TV.

2. You get so depressed watching the news that you start yelling your TV and cursing the newscasters.   At at networking event, you feel so positive and happy, you start singing Pharrell's classic song "Happy" to anyone that listens.

1.  Finally, you want a change, it is up to you.   You can live a life in front of your TV or you can get out there and make a difference.  A business networking event is a great place to start!

Why Wealthy Successful People Are Always Learning and the Unsuccessful Are Not

I have recently completed my performance appraisals of my team at my corporate job this week and overall they all went really well, except one.

One employee gave themselves the highest marks for all the competencies they were rated for in the review.   They proceeded to gloat to me how great they are and how they don't need to learn anymore. I tended to disagree and rated this employee not in line with their own reality and the result was an upset dejected employee.    My first question to this employee after they were done gloating, was if they thought they had any development needs and their response was no.   My second question was if they felt they were in the right role in the organization.  The look after my question was priceless. After all, if you are not learning everyday, you become stagnant and bored with your profession,  This person tended to disagree.

As a result of this meeting, it cemented in me, the fact I knew all along, the difference between wealthy successful professionals and the ones that are just getting by.  Generally, the professionals are that are successful in life are the ones that approach every day, always learning something new and focusing on how they can get better.  This employee was apparently happy just getting by.

Listen to Tom Brady of the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots, who after five Super Bowl wins, always look for ways to get better and be more successful at his next game.  Tom is still critical on how he performs and takes it upon himself to take initiative to get better.  What an inspiration for all!

You hear Rich People Read Books.

 Poor People Watch Drama TV.

Rich People look for ways to Invest Money.  Poor People look for ways to Spend Money.

We are an information age and have the capabilities with a simple smart phone to learn anything anytime.   If someone does not realize what they have access to, it is unfortunate to them and they end up poor.

So pick up a great book, inspire yourself, always learn and get rich in knowledge and finances.  You will be successful, guaranteed!