Just Do It

Yesterday I was able to speak with an entrepreneurship class at my alma mater Bellarmine University. The class was taught by the same professor I had 7 years ago. I gave a lot of advice but almost forgot to give what I feel is the most important advice a potential entrepreneur needs to know. Luckily I remembered before class was over:

We all have good ideas for products, services or businesses. Ideas are a dime a dozen, as my brother points out.  The difference between someone with an idea and someone becoming successful because of that idea is usually ‘just doing it’. In all the entrepreneurs I know, there is one constant attribute–we all have the ability to do something tomorrow that we have NO idea how to do today.

Think about it–we all currently share the lack of knowledge of how to say, take an idea for a widget, get it created, mass manufactured, and sold. But some people don’t stop with just the idea. They decide ‘I’m going to figure out how to do this’ and they do it.

It is the ability to learn how to do something and the will to execute it that seperates Joe Schmoe with an idea from Joe Millionare with a successful business.

Here are some tips on how to accomplish this:

1. Write down what you want to do
2. Break it down into as many small steps as you can and make a list.
3. Start on the first step. Figure out how to do it by:
   1. Spend an entire day on google trying to figure out how to do it. Odds are the answer is out there.
   2. Ask someone who has done it before. If you don’t know anyone, make a new friend. Find them online on their blog or go to a trade show (Don’t know where the trade shows are for your potential industry? see step 3-1). Generally speaking people will want to help you, and you’ll be building a solid contact for the future.
4. Every day, read #1 before you start your day. Say to yourself, “Today I am going to move closer to this goal.” Then attack the next item on your list.

Use this method in business and in daily life and before too long you’ll be an expert on what you previously had no idea about and you’ll be armed with a powerful mindset where ignorance is no longer a colossal wall, rather merely the first step toward success.