November 08, 2013
Patrick Bet-David, Founder and CEO of the PHP Agency
Four years of high school buzzed by and now you find yourself in the middle of college. Or perhaps you’re a recent college graduate ready to enter the real world. Congratulations on your success so far, but as you might have already recognized, the real world is very different from the college experience.
In the new economy, a college degree is still valuable but it’s not enough. The competition is fierce and corporate America is still recovering from the recession. Jobs are hard to come by, but the good news is that more and more college graduates are creating their own career and going into business for themselves.
Maybe you’ve never thought about the idea of becoming an entrepreneur and being your own boss. Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, but more and more young adults are recognizing that today’s new technologies and the ability to reach customers directly is opening doors. If you have an idea, the smarts and the ability to handle the pressure and responsibility, creating your own business can be the best option in this uncertain economy.
One of the things holding back many would-be-entrepreneurs is who you see in the mirror. Yes, you are your own worst enemy. You might have the skills and the talent to succeed, but it’s your thinking and your attitude that’s holding you back. The first step to achieving what seems like the impossible is having the courage to attempt it.
Regardless of what stage you’re in right now, doing the impossible starts with following five simple steps.
Know Your Why
If your ‘why’ is strong enough, the ‘how’ doesn’t matter. Your why is what will fuel your entrepreneurial spirit because it’s what keeps you going when you feel tired, overwhelmed or disappointed. The most common answer I get when I ask people why they work is to pay their bills. What an empty reason to work! The great ones do what they do for their whys. They won’t and can’t give up because their why is that strong.
Decide to be the chosen one
Those who dare to do the impossible desire to be the solution to a problem. They thrive on people relying on them. They enjoy delivering on their promises.They seek out responsibility. There are 12 guys on a basketball roster, but the chosen one is the player who wants the ball when the team is down two points with only four seconds left to play in the championship game. If he makes the shot he gets the glory, but if he misses, he gets the crowd’s disappointment and the feeling of letting his team down. Being the chosen one in any arena comes with a price, but if you decide to be the chosen one, your career will be more exhilarating than you can imagine.
Go all in with one industry.
Everyone is looking for the latest and greatest thing, but the great ones devote their passion to the one thing they love and stick to it. It means putting all your chips in the pot and becoming the best. Good examples are Michael Jordan with basketball or Donald Trump with real estate. Being great at anything takes time, commitment and consistency. The great ones first choose an industry, and then they commit 100% to it. They want to develop something that is around long after they are gone.
Push the envelope
This means go beyond the limits of what you know you can do and find out what you are capable of. Growth comes from resistance. If you’re not experiencing any resistance in your life, you’re probably not growing personally and professionally. If you find yourself at a point where everything is routine or you are just going through the motions, it’s time to set yourself up to be challenged. Wherever you are, you can always get better. Don’t be content with the status quo!
Silence your critics
The journey into entrepreneurship is filled with naysayers, those who doubt you and say you’ll never succeed. It will come from family, friends and colleagues, but turning the criticism into motivation is the key. Take their “it can’t be done” and turn it into “I’ll prove you wrong.” There is no better way to silence your critics than to make them eat their words. Always be grateful for your critics and use their doubt as fuel in your tank for doing the impossible.
If you choose the life of an entrepreneur after college, stay strong, stay focused, be ready for the ups and downs, and remember that success comes from doing what seems like the impossible at times.
As seen on:
As seen on http://www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2013/11/08/creating-your-career-after-college/
By Patrick Bet-David
Patrick Bet-David is an entrepreneur, author, visionary and self-made success who emigrated from war-torn Iran to the U.S. and is founder and CEO of the PHP Agency, one of America’s fastest growing companies. He’s author of the book Doing The Impossible. www.patrickbetdavid.com
