The Way of the Entrepreneur-Warrior

The Way of the Entrepreneur-Warrior

In the battlefield of business, the entrepreneur is like a lone special ops soldier; trudging ahead with steely resolve though the going is arduous, the challenge daunting and the outcome, uncertain. Tired and weary, he is constantly in a fight before the battle even begins as he wrestles with self doubt and struggles to maintain his focus on the mission.

All around him, the elements assault his sense of well-being; penetrating his outer shell and piercing his very being- one let-down and disappointment after another. Storms from every front batter against his weathered skin, yet with indomitable grit and determination- he marches headlong into the fight.

He is encompassed about by the disheartening sights of the fallen; his former comrades now lay strewn about the path he must tread. Once, these men of courage and character had fought alongside him and had been committed to the mission just as he. Yet, now their visionless eyes gaze off into the empty void, devoid of purpose, lifeless. He stares back at the remnants of their once proud existence, pays his respects and plows forward; a trickle of moisture forming and falling from his eyes…

This wayfaring warrior has no time for rest or a stop-over, for to do so would lose momentum and cause progress to come to a stalemate. To be successful in his mission, it calls for quick action, timely delivery and brute force. His mission is risky, yet to him it is a worthy cause since his enemies are ruthless in their quest to deter progress, to destroy the hopes and dreams of people and to destabilize the region by robbing them of life’s simple pleasures.

Moving in too slowly would prove a fatal mistake since his enemies could observe his actions, anticipate his decisions and counter his every move. Likewise, if he successfully maneuvers himself into a covert position, has the ideal vantage point from which to strike but engages too early or too late, the target of opportunity will have evaded him and he will have failed in his mission. Then, if all these factors are in place and the mission is going according to plan, if he should fail to deliver the precise amount of force required to de-stabilize the enemies of progress or deliver too much and cause collateral damage, he again, will have failed in achieving his objective.

Such is the life and burden of the entrepreneur; the lone warrior on a mission to bring progress where there was retreat, establish stability where there was uncertainty and to inspire hope again back into the lives of those entrusted to his care. As if the burden of the mission were not enough to bear, the entrepreneur fights against his own short-comings and inadequacies. Moreover, he weathers countless storms such as financial disappointments constantly battering against his hardened frame as well as suffers the piercing wounds of being let-down by those he once trusted.

Then, he is oft reminded of those who have tried and failed in their quest to complete the mission. All around him lay their discarded dreams and forgotten hopes, strewn about the path he has yet to embark upon. Their lives are empty; alive, yet not truly living; staring off into the deep void and vast wasteland of their former existence, yet without any vision.

He pays his respects, ponders the path of choice which led them to their current plight but moves on shedding a tear and perhaps, whispering a prayer as he passes. Though it would seem he is heartless, cold and without empathy, he does what he must to fulfill the mission. He cannot linger too long among the fallen, lest the taint of their failure bring about his own demise and cause him to fail in his quest.

Such is the way of the entrepreneur; the lone warrior in the battlefront of business who ventures into unknown territory, bringing stability to an otherwise, uncertain economy. He often goes it alone, against incredible adversity and enduring countless hardships but he does what he must to complete the mission. He’ll gladly undergo the hardship that he might bring hope to an otherwise, despondent people devoid of their dreams and despairing.

Like the special ops soldier, the entrepreneur is a battle-hardened, weathered warrior- unyielding in his determination, unabated in his vision, relentless in his resolve to complete the mission. A warrior of his caliber is unmatched in skill with using the “tools of his trade”. He is proficient in an array of weaponry, tactics and abilities. In addition, he can adapt to any scenario; changing strategies and plotting maneuvers in an instant as circumstances unfold.

Just as the soldier on the front lines of battle, the entrepreneur has his own “weapons of choice” for carrying out and completing the mission to which he’s been called. While some of his weapons may halt and bring harm to any enemy of progress, his preferred weapons are those that, when engaged- help and offer hope to the downtrodden. Even if one were to somehow succeed in nabbing the knapsack of the fearless, entrepreneur-warrior, though futile such an effort would prove to be, in it he or she would be sure to find the items below:

I. Livelihood: The entrepreneur-warrior never embarks upon a quest or sets out on a mission without his livelihood intact. This is his means for survival, a rare and precious treasure that he will preserve; even ration if need be but will do what he must to keep it from depleting. No mission is worth the risk if he can’t survive prior to the battle ever beginning! Though he may suffer one financial setback after another or take a step backwards time and again in order to regain a foothold, his livelihood must remain untouched just as he must adapt to the changing financial landscapes and scenarios developing around him.

II. Lifeline: While the entrepreneur-warrior is a lone soldier, covertly embarking upon missions of utmost importance, he still must have a lifeline to the “outside world”. These trusted confidants are his comrades in arms. They understand the hardships and struggles he is undergoing all in the quest for mission success for they too, have gone through them and come out victorious. There is a brotherhood amongst men of like-minded ideals that becomes a bond which is not easily broken. To these men and to one another, each is accountable and each watches the back of the other. This brotherhood of men exists for the purpose of empowering one another with the collective strengths of each. The men to which he is accountable are his lifeline and keep him balanced and “on target” in his fight toward attaining higher ideals. Groups like Mastery for Men and Mastery for Women are accountability groups such as those described above. They keep the entrepreneur balanced and on course toward succeeding in his quest of completing the mission at hand.

III. Life Link: Every entrepreneur-warrior, regardless of their stubborn tenaciousness or indomitable spirit needs a lift every now and again. While he is out fighting the good fight, he will suffer countless wounds which eventually, become worse over time if not treated. The loneliness of his solo missions is often overwhelming and from it, despair can brew and fester. So, the wise entrepreneur-warrior always has his life-link to others. Being able to network and connect with others is uplifting, invigorating and refreshing. It does the soul good to mingle and socialize in a positive, energy-infused environment. To this end, the entrepreneur-warrior should always take advantage of Meet-up Mixers. Meeting and “linking” with other like-minded individuals breathes new life into often, dull situations. In addition, there exists the added advantage of connecting with other entrepreneurs whose skill-sets and strengths may differ from that of someone else- which equates to a mutual, synergistic benefit being imparted to each from the other. While the entrepreneur-warrior may be gone fulfilling his mission for lengthy periods of time, it’s not always easy for the “fighter” within him to come back and mesh again with others in a social setting. These meet-up mixers are integral because the positive, uplifting environment cultivates a “welcome home” feeling where the common link of being among family and friends exists perfectly. For this reason, Meetup Mixers are the life-link for the entrepreneur-warrior because through them, he finds his “center” again and is able to draw upon a wellspring of inspiration emanating from those present!

IV. Life-log: Since every mission is different and every opponent unlike the other; the wise entrepreneur-warrior must log his findings, study and research every resource available to him and strategize accordingly. He considers every resource, observes the trends and harnesses the power of technology to help advance his cause toward completing the mission. Therefore, he daily charts his progress, paying attention to the most, seemingly miniscule of details for he recognizes, that success lies in the details and subsequently, failure- lies in the absence of them. While embarking upon a mission, each leg of the journey is intentional and each change in direction- purposeful. There is nothing left to chance for with the entrepreneur-warrior, he has already done the research and he already knows his enemy’s weakness. His actions then are well-thought through and precisely plotted. To keep himself sharp, well-versed and knowledgeable of new developments and enemy movements, he carries with him an arsenal of resources like the books listed below- that he draws from as occasion requires.

1) The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, published by Penguin books, copyright 1998 is a must have/must read for every would-be entrepreneur. The author with a degree in classical studies researched various cultures throughout history to find often time, the most obscure stories of how individuals gained, lost and maintained power. It is a richly profound read that draws inspiration from the past and makes application in the present. Though sometimes the book’s “angle” is geared toward teaching people how to use power to “crush” others, the author’s keen insight however; into motives, agendas, personality quirks and character traits that we daily encounter- is uncanny. The wisdom gleaned in learning how to deal with others in the work place, social gatherings or at home makes this book, one piece of arsenal the entrepreneur does not want to be without.

2) Within the Millionaire Mind by Jim Bellacera, published independently is another must have tool in the entrepreneur’s arsenal. It is an inspiration work including a workbook and audio CD set that teaches how millionaires think, act and work toward achieving their dreams. The book and CD set combine practical insight, industry, hands-on knowledge and down-to-earth realism that “breaks it down” for the would-be entrepreneur and really shows just how to act and think like a millionaire. The set is a work of art within itself; featuring Renaissance-inspired art and high-quality graphics would make a nice addition to any library. Since it is a combination “workbook” and CD audio set, the would-be entrepreneur should consider setting time aside to do some of the work in order to get the most out of the material. The inspirational message combined with the popularity of the subject matter and the innovative concept in which it is presented makes Within the Millionaire Mind a vital survival tool in today’s volatile economy.

3) In Search of the Warrior Spiritby Richard Strozzi Heckler, published by North Atlantic Books, 1992. Though this book deals with the literal, modern day warrior; its application to the subject at hand- the “Entrepreneur-Warrior” makes is another must have read, in my opinion. In this book, Heckler details his involvement in a top secret military program for preparing the average soldier and making them a modern warrior. He teaches that there is a missing link in today’s military- one that emphasizes more the implementation of technology rather than the developing of the human warrior. Utilizing ancient practices, he taught a Green Beret Special Forces unit how to find the power within and utilize their new training to help them achieve success in the field of battle. This is one more needful tool for the entrepreneur-warrior to add to his knapsack of goodies.

In conclusion, today’s entrepreneurs are the driving force behind revamping America’s and the world’s economy. The reason: these warriors (men and women) often chart new territories which have yet developed into markets; they incite change just by their mere presence and purpose as others catch their vision, follow their lead and stake their claims on the new opportunities that open as a result. In addition, these capable men and women defy the established protocols to usher in new paradigms, thus inspiring new vision, innovation and creativity to develop.

Therefore, let every entrepreneur discover the warrior within, know that he or she is NOT alone in their mission and be encouraged to take new ground in their quest for success!