Quick Tip: The Entrepreneurial Journey — Words to Live By
By Wendy Kennedy

As an entrepreneur myself, I understand the rollercoaster of emotions that play on your psyche as you pursue an idea. Keep these "words to live by" close at hand for the times when you need a shot in the arm or a kick in the pants!! I've collected these over time from trusted mentors and advisors. They work for me, so hopefully they'll inspire you, too.

1. You've got to EXECUTE!

Never forget this - every day, you have to move the ball down the field. Your idea or product has got to be out there in the market and not just in the lab. What are you doing to build out the business TODAY?

2. You'll have your doubts.  It's never crystal clear when you're starting out.

It's important to have direction, but you need to be flexible, too. Visions are just that - so keep executing - I'm a big believer in instincts at the early stages of idea development. So don't look for all the answers before you start. Get started, get out there in the market and let things evolve.

3. You have to SELL your idea - you'll be told NO more times than YES.

Tough as this is to accept, it's true. So get used to it. Next time you're told "no", remember that you have to get through a lot of "no's" before you'll hear a "yes". Every "no" you hear is one step closer to that "yes"!

4. Quiet confidence - you have to believe you will prevail.

If you've read the book Good to Great by Jim Collins, you'll recall this: "Always believe you will prevail."  Tied to this is the idea of quiet confidence, introduced to me years ago by my own mentor. Quiet confidence is believing that you can be successful. Success breeds success.

Kennedy, Wendy. “Quick Tip: The Entrepreneurial Journey - Words to Live By.” So what? Who cares? Why you? Winter Edition 2008. <http://www.wendykennedy.com/newsletter/winter-2008/winter-2008.html>. 14 Feb 2008.