Good morning and welcome to Entrepreneur Week. Just yesterday I was sitting in a Starbucks reading a book I was recently given. It was written by a former employer of mine. But if
you were to ask him about me, he would say I was a partner, not an employee. He has never met me, most likely never even heard my name. Yet he considered me a partner in his business venture. That would be Starbucks and the book I am reading now is Onward by Howard Shultz.
I bring up what I was reading because he talks of the entrepreneurial spirit that is inside of him. That very spirit was inside many of those I worked with in my five years at Starbucks. This week we are going to take on the theme of Entrepreneurialism. It will be discussed in many ways. To start the week off, I want to first express my deepest feelings that we here in America need to lead in this idea of being an entrepreneur.
I only wish I could be a great entrepreneur who changes our country to make it strong again. Some of the greats have motivated me to start my current venture as well as many others. I wish I could be just one part of the type leader in entrepreneurialism they are. To be able to speak on the subject like a Seth Godin, or become an enchantment like Guy Kawaski. To teach people to let money work for them like Robert Kyosaki. To be a great leader of many ventures like Sir Richard Branson. I am not like them, and I’m ok with that. It’s more exciting to be a leader at being yourself and doing what you are great at.
However the concept of leading as entrepreneurs is a must in our country. There are two people who have very much influenced me with notes, memos, videos, or recordings meant for people inside their companies. They have inspired me to do this, and tell others they need to have a personal business check up. In 2007, Howard Shultz wrote a memo about how his company needed to make some changes. It was leaked and the news media took it way past its original intent. But as a leader, Howard took it, used it and changed his company to once again shine as the leader in its industry.
The other inspiration I had was while working as an Amway distributer in the early ‘90s. I heard a speech that was made by its leader Rich Devos. I was able to hear a recording called “Selling America” where he talked about how great our country is and how we need to believe in ourselves and lead in the world.
Well, the thoughts, writings, and ideas of these gentlemen are what need to happen in America again. If we are going to change our economy and create a place that is a great country again where individuals thrive, if we want to get rid of many of our money problems here, we need to become entrepreneurs again. Right now many people reading this have just said “I can’t create a business. I just want to get my check and pay my bills and be taken care of.” Well that is the problem here in America. We are all waiting on someone else to save us. Being an entrepreneur or having the mindset of an entrepreneur is not only about owning or creating a new business. We don’t all have to give up our day jobs and go back to the farms to start over. It is time for us to step up where we are at.
The purpose behind the company, Rocker Life Coach, was to promote a mindset that it’s time for us to stand up and lead ourselves out of the mess we are in. No matter what you think of those in our political offices, it’s not their job to get you on your feet. As Americans, it’s time for each of us to become a Rockstar at the job e have. I have told before how many times I’ve worked jobs that most consider dead-end just to put food on the table, or just pay my bills. I made changes in those companies that took them to a new level. That is what being an entrepreneur is about.
Today is the beginning of a week of changing the way you think. Start by looking at where you are, see if there is a way for you to change your world, thus changing your community. When I say it’s time for you to live the life you always wanted, it means that if you change the way you think and create a better life then you will live a life that will be a dream to others. We do this by starting where you are. If you have any way to give input at your present job to make the company better then do so. If you don’t, then do your job so well that you are able to be produce ten maybe even 20 times better then you did. Maybe you work in retail, then promote whatever you are asked to and become the best salesperson at it.
This is just the beginning of this week, focusing on starting to think like an entrepreneur and change the world we live in.
I’m Tim Gillette, the rocker life coach. It’s time for you to live the life you always dreamed of, love where you are at and what you do. Come back every day this week and learn how to become the RockStar in your world.
