Stop and Smell the Beginning
April 27, 2011
Beginnings are the best. When you are starting a relationship, you get giant vases of irises for no reason at all, butterflies in your stomach, and there is no bickering.
When you are starting a business, you are ordering crisp new business cards, memorializing your glittery vision for the future, and the only lawyers at the table are either forming your company or protecting your shiny and amazing ideas.
Take a moment and breathe it in. A lot of people are eager to get to the middle – or (Heavens to Betsy!) the end. So many entrepreneurs are chomping at the bit to sell their ideas, move on, get bought, get big, or get out. They don’t want to be entrepreneurial for very long. They want to be in the middle, slogging it out with the other big dogs. But in the middle, and in the end, they may not have the same buoyancy and spark as in the beginning.
The end can be painful and unexpectedly harsh. Ask Blockbuster or Circuit City. Or ask the many family practice doctors who are left with unsellable practices after a lifetime of hard work – only to find an economy that no longer supports their antiquated business model.
The time when you start to make some real money – in the middle and towards the end—can be a time when you may start to get some real headaches as well. The end is the time when you start keeping phone logs, when you learn to spell words like subpoena (not an easy word to spell), and when the lawyers line up outside your door – tongues wagging. When all you have is vision, and ideas, and spirit – at the beginning – and not too much in the bank, there isn’t much to fight about.
Certainly beginnings can be tough – little money, long nights, and buckets of uncertainty and risk. It’s all a journey – every minute. But when you are lucky enough to find yourself at the beginning of the journey – appreciate the moment. Beginnings don’t come around very often.
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Very true Julie! Great post.
Comment by Mike Wilcox — April 27, 2011 @ 3:16 pm
Yes, this spoke directly to my heart and soul. . .definately encourage you to publish this post in some way. . .Brilliant and truly I only read the Best of the Best because it does a body good!
Comment by Linda Watson — April 28, 2011 @ 11:07 am
[...] business world, too. My friend Julie Taylor had a great blog post the other day about enjoying the "start" of your start-up. She's a terrific business writer who regularly works with start-up companies, and she's [...]
Pingback by Intellectual Property: In The End It's The Beginning That Counts : The Anchor Plate — April 29, 2011 @ 3:05 pm
Are you involved with or do you reccomend the Global Entrepreneurial Community? Just looking for support systems as you can imagine, and appreciate your thoughts.
Comment by Watson — May 4, 2011 @ 10:36 am
I’m truly fascinated by the message you’ve conveyed in this post to be honest. It supports your mission statement to an extent and outlines real life stories that some including myself have been thru. Entrepreneurship isn’t an easy path to walk or a goal to fulfill with a timeline attached to it. It’s a sense of freedom and expression to exercise your capabilities by impacting others on this world. Relationships are a tough cookie to dwell on. Although I couldn’t agree more with you on how you outlined it above. Blockbuster is hanging on a loose thread and if they don’t take action immediately their doors will close permanently. With over 60% of their stores having closed doors i’m sure it won’t be long before others follow (i’m surprised that the one by my house is still standing).
Thanks for the kind words and wisdom.
Comment by Ivan Temelkov — June 9, 2011 @ 11:38 pm
Hi Julie,
I like this. your evocative imagery captures the excitement and anticipation that is the hallmark of entrepreneurial spirit. Creating something and setting it in action is such a thrill for the “born to it” entrepreneur.
Peggy
Comment by Peggy Guest — June 15, 2011 @ 7:33 pm