Scratch Your Entrepreneurial Itch

Yesterday, Genuine Insights celebrated its One-Year Anniversary and in honor of this milestone I want to share a few words of encouragement to those readers who hope one day to actually just do it and become a “trep” (Internet slang for entrepreneur). If you spend your days daydreaming of starting your own venture, fantasizing about being your very own boss or have written a business plan and are just sitting and waiting for a sign from God to start doing something about it—this is your wake up call.

When I set out to launch my training and advisory practice a short year ago, many said I couldn’t do it, I shouldn’t do it and that the timing was all wrong, I naturally—rebellious by nature—ignored the naysayers and dove in head first, literally. And thank God I did.

It’s a year later and I am not exaggerating when I say I have learned more this year than I have learned any other year in my 38 years on this planet. Being in business for yourself is a journey of self-study where you are both the professor and the student. It’s an empowering, pleasurable experience, filled with an electric level of intensity that is not only addictive but more importantly a manifestation of your pure internal genius.

What I have learned and what I encourage you to consider is to decide what truly motivates you and begin to obey—Yes, obey!—these motivating passions, values and important curiosities.

I am motivated by multi-sensory experiences, new ideas and spreading genius. And I’m also motivated by living my life centered around activities that allow me to honor these intrinsic values and this is what has made this year the best year of my life.

It’s not about the money. I repeat, it’s not about money. You have heard this a million times but it’s only when you walk away from a fat salary and start with zero that you realize money isn’t the be all and end all. Yes, it’s important to sustain your life and family, but what’s more important is filling your life’s portfolio with those activities you adore and can’t live without. Life is too short to live any other way.

So if you are reading this and thinking out loud to yourself, “I really need to get off my ass and do something.”  My reply is “Yes, please get off your ass and do something—it’s long overdue.” Do something different this year, take a risk, and obey your values and passions and find comfort that your expertise, skills and experience will guarantee your success.

If it did for me, it can do it for you.

Below is a list of 15 books that helped me move from vision to venture mode. I honor these writers and thank them for leaving a trail of their genius to inspire others. 

1.     Escape from Cubicle Nation by Pam Slim

2.     Screw it, Let’s Do It by Richard Branson

3.     Rules of the Red Rubber Ball by Kevin Carroll

4.     A Whole New Mind by Dan Pink

5.     Start Up Nation by Jeff Sloan and Rich Sloan

6.     Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert

7.     On Becoming Fearless by Arianna Huffington

8.     Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

9.     Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

10.   Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck

11.   Who's Got Your Back by Keith Ferrazzi  

12.   Cirque Du Soleil by The Spark

13.  Tribes by Seth Godin

14.  Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk

15.  Drive by Dan Pink

Comments

[Ericka]

BRAVO....i am getting off my ass, one cheek at a time. :)

[Ericka]

I have most of those on my bookcase. Have you read any SARK. Also, guy kawasaki, the art of the start are ones that I have read and will re read through this journey.

[Caroline]

And the latest Seth Godin "Linchpin": looks worth a read. Thanks for the inspiration Gina. Yes, I think 2010 should see my backside rising a little further off the proverbial chair.