What it takes to be an Entrepreneur

by Michael Cage · 10 comments

in Uncategorized

From Paul Allen’s wonderful blog…

Here’s some advice from entrepreneur Joe Ollivier, who has helped start or fund 27 companies in the past three decades. He is a member of the Utah Angels and runs First Capital Development in Provo, Utah. Joe explains what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

It’s a great list. I’ve printed it out and will keep it close. A few highlights are:

  • It has to be a business that gives you an emotional high.
  • Avoid any business that is labor or inventory intensive.
  • Find a lifelong mentor as soon as possible. Have him continually play devil’s advocate.
  • Have the attitude that everything that happens to you in your life is your own personal responsibility; you are never a victim.
  • Remember that you will learn much more from your mistakes and failures than your successes.
  • Expect to become wealthy – do a financial statement on yourself each quarter.

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Anonymous May 22, 2008 at 11:18 pm

Well done! Regards, great site.

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Anonymous May 23, 2008 at 4:18 am

Well done! Regards, great site.

Reply

Anonymous May 5, 2008 at 8:43 pm

love the stie

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Anonymous May 6, 2008 at 1:43 am

love the stie

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Anonymous January 7, 2007 at 7:48 pm

I am really excited. Your web site is helpful. Well done. Best regards! scooters

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Anonymous January 4, 2007 at 4:00 am

Cool website! It very impressive. Very nicely done. Best regards! scooters

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Anonymous April 21, 2004 at 5:04 pm

“Avoid any business that is labor or inventory intensive. “

Why?
——-

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Anonymous April 21, 2004 at 10:04 pm

“Avoid any business that is labor or inventory intensive. “
Why?——-

Reply

Anonymous April 13, 2004 at 8:04 pm

Great list. I just read “Mentored by a Millionaire” and some of the items on this list
triggered that book in my mind. I think you would enjoy it.

I would add that almost anyone in front of you can be used as a mentor or teacher.
I notice all feedback, good and bad—feedback includes other’s reactions noting it
may be filtered through their own projections. I also notice my reactions to other people and situations.

So I use other people as a mirror to look for blind spots, and find my strengths and
weaknesses. I agree about failure (as long as you learn from failure) and I wrote about
how many successful companies (and individuals) have had failure in their past in a post
from a talk given by managing director at Sutter Hill Ventures – http://evelynrodriguez.typepad.com/crossroads_dispatches/2004/04/bill_younger_ma.html

Reply

Anonymous April 14, 2004 at 1:04 am

Great list. I just read “Mentored by a Millionaire” and some of the items on this list
triggered that book in my mind. I think you would enjoy it.
I would add that almost anyone in front of you can be used as a mentor or teacher.
I notice all feedback, good and bad—feedback includes other’s reactions noting it
may be filtered through their own projections. I also notice my reactions to other people and situations.
So I use other people as a mirror to look for blind spots, and find my strengths and
weaknesses. I agree about failure (as long as you learn from failure) and I wrote about
how many successful companies (and individuals) have had failure in their past in a post
from a talk given by managing director at Sutter Hill Ventures – http://evelynrodriguez.typepad.com/crossroads_dispatches/2004/04/bill_younger_ma.html

Reply

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