Musings
thoughts on entrepreneurship and adventure
The past two weeks have been interesting to say the least.
Earlier this year, I made a promise to myself that I would work on overcoming some of my self-limiting fears. I wasn't exactly feeling stuck - I have a lot of great things going on - and I've never been one to shy away from risk, but I felt like there were some things that I wasn't pursuing because of fear.
Today’s post is just a quick hit, but an important one.
It’s about punctuality.
One simple, foolproof way to get ahead in life is by being chronically punctual. Consistent and habitual punctuality is an easy way to stand out from the rest of the world, most of whom are chronically late.
It amazes me how many people are so cavalier about being late. Showing up 5, 10 even 20 minutes late is swept under the carpet with a quick ‘Sorry, I’m late.'
I love being an entrepreneur. I love the freedom of being able to do what I want, when I want, to set my own schedule and set my own course in life. I couldn't imagine myself following any other path (the rare times in life when I did, it usually didn't turn out particularly well.)
Being an entrepreneur is also incredibly hard.
Entrepreneurship often comes with a heavy emotional toll. It's all consuming and takes over your life in ways you can't imagine.
It's a jealous lover that doesn't like to share.
Here's some straight talk on entrepreneurship, from someone who's been doing it for 19 years.
Pricing is often one of the most perplexing issues facing small business owners. “How much should I charge?” is a common question and there are a lot of variables involved in getting it right (and usually the ‘right’ answer is only right in particular contexts or situations).
Price too high and you could price your products/services out of your Customer Segment’s budget. Price too low and you could create an unsustainable business model, where gross profits are too low to cover your operating costs - which eventually leads to bankruptcy. Price too low and you could also lower the perceived value of your product, paradoxically leading to fewer customers than with a higher price.
