I’m not going to start this article writing about how difficult it is the entrepreneurial carrier. We already know the challenges. What I’d like to write is about the Entrepreneurial Pride, because it is very difficult to keep yourself motivated in a scenery where almost nothing is in favor. I want to make it clear that scenery does not belong exclusively to Brazil, because I listen a lot: “Oh, if it were in X country, we would have a lot more support.”. I’m so sorry, fellow, to put an end to your fantasy, but the difficulties are the same everywhere around the globe. Of course, in different proportions. We need to have in our minds that disruptive entrepreneurs find problems and create solutions. It is the problems that move those entrepreneurs. So be aware of that: if you want to be an innovative entrepreneur, you will daily face challenges that are proportional to the size of your dream. It is very important to know that we won’t get much far if we go alone. It is necessary a team of partners committed to a common objective. An interesting attitude we observe is that many entrepreneurs don’t want business partners or help of people that are close to them. They always say: “I hate depending on favors.” You’d better know that pride of yours is not going to take you anywhere. We always depend on someone else. And when there are people willing to help in your projects, it means those projects are relevant, because no one would volunteer to collaborate in something without potencial. Think about it. To succeed, an enterprise will need to have a high level of interdependence between people that are part of it. They can be the business partners, providers, staff and people that are close and believe in the potencial of your iniciatives. It may be obvious to many people, but it is worth to say: don’t forget to send information about how your projects are going to people that are collaborating and remember to retribute everyone who helped when a project succeeds. This retributing action might seem obvious, but I’ve seen many projects going well and the team forgetting those ones who helped in the inicial part, when the risks were very high. Remember that when the risks are that high, it is difficult to find partners. So give value to those ones that you conquered in the inicial moments. Stay alert to pride issues, because it is very easy to go though two extremes: 1) think we are asking for favors and become depressed, and 2) when a project succeeds, we may think we are the only responsible for its success. Yes, the entrepreneur is ahead of his/her business and he/she is the direct responsible for its success or falure. But, in an indirect way, there are many people that are connected and collaborating intensively to materialize ideas. If you want people to collaborate in a professional way and not as if they are doing a favor, you should write a project making clear the possible returns you intend to give to every involved. Also, study ways of retribution for time and resources that might take part of your iniciatives. The willing people atract each other. Be prepared to sign partnerships and retribute all that are involved. :: Send your comments! It is a pleasure to answer them.
