The Blog For Entrepreneurs

I loved the venture investor article because it is the first time in a long time that I have read a ‘grown up’ website about venture investors that didn’t come across as some bullshit Dragon’s Den or Gordon Gecko wannabe.

You know exactly what I mean, I am sure. Dragon’s Den is a good concept but having a show where those seeking start up funding from venture investors are pilloried makes little sense to me. Encouragement, instruction and motivation is what should be given to those brave enough to try and go it alone. A lot of venture investor websites give the same message. I am all into ‘tough love’, as an entrepreneur you have to get used to that, but if you are going to tell stories of being a hard nosed venture investor you should give reasons why you don’t invest and impart useful, usable knowledge. This article does that and you should check it out.

On that theme the video is awesome. It shows how famous sports people, entertainers and politicians have overcome those who formed opinions of them and wrote them off. My favourite of the bunch “We don’t like their sound and guitar music is on the way out” Deca records talking about The Beatles. “Cut from his high school basketball team he went home, locked himself in his bedroom and cried” – Michael Jordan. “Lacks imagination and has no original ideas” A newspaper when sacking Walt Disney.

Entrepreneurs Should be Encouraged

There are many other stories like these pertaining to some of the most successful entrepreneurs and leaders of our time and they are motivational in the extreme, what we don’t focus on is the people who made those negative comments in the first place and the damage that may have been done to potential leaders, entrepreneurs humanitariamns or inventors. The reponsibilty to carry on regardless is the entrepreneurs, of course, but those in a position to influence should be aware of that influence and what it can do

I am not saying that we should all be exempt from criticism, that would be an unreal Utopian world and would do no one any good, but those of us who invest, who mentor entrepreneurs and who come into contact with entrepreneurs should be aware that we have a responsibility to help build on and help with the chosen path they have taken. An idea may be crap… to be frank… the business model may be useless, not thought through very well and awfully presented, but we must remember that the idea, business concept or invention came from someone who had the nuts to create it in the first place. With encouragement and instruction their next idea may be life changing.

Entrepreneurs Need To Have Steel In Their Veins

As an entrepreneur you need to have steel in your veins, to come back from adversity just like the people mentioned in the video and, eventually you will make it. Along the way you will have your own personal Dragon’s Den and have to deal with people who think we are still in the eighties where ‘lunch is for whimps‘ and ‘Greed is good‘. You will also meet some people who are determined to help and encourage you, just remember the video to see how some have made it despite others comments and remember the article, some investors can tell it like it is, but are willing to give you feedback and nurture your entrepreneurial spirit….

Like they say… you just have to kiss a few frogs.

Regards
David
@OneLifeNoFear