A Lifetime of microBusiness

are microBusiness people entrepreneurs?

Does it matter? Maybe not, except for the fact that entrepreneurs are often thought of as rich, adventurous icons of the modern business world, and microBusinesses are to a great extent ignored. This leaves many micros with a small opinion of themselves, and that’s not the way to grow a successful business.

To many, the entrepreneur is a larger-than-life character of mythic proportions, who conceives of billion dollar ideas, wields influence over important people, and has mastered the art of acquiring venture capital. This, of course, is not the true definition of an entrepreneur.

I have interviewed many microBusiness people over the years, and I have discovered that many of them don’t think of themselves as entrepreneurs. This is especially true of soloists--the smallest of the small--and the micros who were once corporate people, but for various reasons have been forced to find a more organic way to make a living.

Webster’s defines entrepreneur as...
 “A person who organizes and manages a business undertaking, assuming the risk for the sake of the profit.”

Entrepreneurs are willing to take a chance in the marketplace

My own (overly simplified) definition of an entrepreneur is this: "a person with a good business idea who is courageous enough to go out on her own--against all odds--to try to make it a reality."

That idea could be as complex as producing a documentary on the recent discoveries from the ancient Mayan culture, or conversely, it could be an idea for creating a shoeshine business at the airport. The entrepreneur believes her business is viable, and wants to create this business so badly that self-financing is not only acceptable; it’s often the only source of start-up capital. An entrepreneur is not afraid to put her own money on the line. Does this sound like you?

Entrepreneurs often have the strong desire to create

On-the-job-training is often a key component of the entrepreneurial start-up. Virtually every entrepreneurial endeavor requires someone to start with the kernel of an idea, having limited knowledge of what lies ahead, and through the process of learning-by-doing, create something from nothing. Does that sound like you?

It’s your turn to be a larger-than-life character.

microBusiness owners are indeed entrepreneurs, and they wear an impressive array of hats. They're idea people, they're creators, they're risk-takers, they're financiers, they're managers, and they're the backbone and spirit of innovation that keeps America rolling. Our current economic crisis will give birth to thousands of new microBusinesses. And these entrepreneurs will play an important part in getting our economy back on track.

So, don’t let a recession postpone your dream creation. Now is the best time to begin. It's your turn to be the larger-than-life character of mythic proportions who wields influence over important people. And as a microBusiness creator that's the team you're joining.

“until one is committed there is hesitancy

I have kept this quotation from W.H. Murray in my desk drawer for decades. I re-read it every time I find myself hesitating in my own microBusiness.

“…until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:
     Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
     Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!”

-- W.H. Murray

successful mBiz people watch their money

Most of the mBiz people I’ve spoken to over the years didn’t create their businesses because that saw it a get-rich-quick plan that would soon have them building new houses and buying new cars. They did it for autonomy, passion, and quality of life reasons. And most learned early on, the importance of monitoring their spending habits. MicroBusinesses can be adversely affected by micro-fluctuations in the bank balance.

Part of living the good life, the mBiz life, is to keep free from onerous debt. Poor spending habits will weigh you down emotionally and economically; they will put your business in jeopardy, and take away your freedom. Today, during our country’s economic instability, staying productive while keeping a close eye on spending is even more important.

Here’s a story written a couple years ago by Hugh MacLeod on his Gaping Void site. I think it illustrates how success for soloists, freelancers, and other indies and mBiz owners, can cloud our thinking at times. Also, Terri Lonier, from her site Working Solo, recently wrote about Navigating an Uncertain Economy in her weekly newsletter “Working Solo Minute”.

Continue to market your business wisely, stay ever-vigilant of how your dollars are being spent, work hard, and deliver more than you promise to your customers, and you’ll be prepared to weather the difficult times.

need help in your creative life?

If you’re a creative person of any stripe, you’ve probably heard of Eric Maisel. He's a psychologist and creative counselor who has written numerous books to help artists and writers cope with the traumas and troubles that cause stress in the creative life. He has counseled me before; I was once part of his Creativity Coaching program. I’ve read a few of his books, and plan to read more; and I happen to think he is a very smart and helpful man. I think you will too. Here is a quote I’ve chosen at random from his Creative Newsletter of early 2003. If you’re a "creative", and having a troublesome time of it, or simply need some outside encouragement, please, pay Eric a visit. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Visit Eric Maisel, Ph.D.

"A person must be calm in order to live a creative life, even if she is also extremely anxious. You must be calm even as you are anxious, frightened, even terrified.  How can that be?  It is possible because we are both the hurricane and the hurricane's eye. We are both frayed nerves and great stillness. No artist has ever done away with anxiety. No artist has ever escaped. Sometimes that anxiety lays us low, blocks us, defeats us, makes us cry out in pain. But we can find calmness, too: if we breathe, if we are brave, if we remember to love."
      

      -- Eric Maisel

there are no bad ideas

I love talking to people with ideas. Ideas are energizing. Ideas move us forward. Ideas are fun. But ideas can be like fireflies. They burst upon the scene and surprise you, burn hot for an instant, and if you don’t capture them quickly, they’re gone. And once an idea slips away, you may never find it again.

tax tips for writers and artists

As a microBusiness entrepreneur do you ever feel like lawyers and accountants don't understand your little enterprise? I've personally spoken to many accountants who talk to me like I'm a traditional mid-size business with a small army of employees, an enormous multi-tiered accounting system, and all the complexities inherent therein. In short, they tend to over-complicate things. As a soloist I wear many hats, and I lean toward simplicity in all things. That's why I like June Walker. She's a different kind of accountant. Here's her list of tax tips for writers and artists that appears on her blog. Take a look around her website too, she offers a ton of valuable advice.