Entrepreneur's Creed

From the book New Venture Creation, which lists common responses when entrepreneurs are asked an open ended question about what they believe to be the most critical concepts and skills...

From the book New Venture Creation, which lists common responses when entrepreneurs are asked an open ended question about what they believe to be the most critical concepts and skills:

  1. Do what gives you energy – have fun.
  2. Figure out what can go right and make it.
  3. Say “can do” rather than “cannot” or “maybe”.
  4. Illegitimi non carborundum: tenacity and creativity will triumph.
  5. Anything is possible if you believe you can do it.
  6. If you don’t know it can’t be done, then you’ll go ahead and do it.
  7. The cup is half full.
  8. Be dissatisfied with the way things are – and look for improvement.
  9. Do things differently.
  10. Don’t take a risk if you don’t have to – but take a calculated risk if it’s the right opportunity for you.
  11. Businesses fail; successful entrepreneurs learn – but keep the tuition low.
  12. It’s easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission.
  13. Make opportunity and results your obsession – not money.
  14. Money is a tool and a scorecard available to the right people with the right opportunity at the right time.
  15. Making money is even more fun than spending it.
  16. Make heroes out of others – a team builds a business, an individual makes a living.
  17. Take pride in your accomplishments – it’s contagious!
  18. Sweat the details that are critical to success.
  19. Integrity and reliability equal long-run oil and glue.
  20. Accept the responsibility, less than half the credit, and more than half the blame.
  21. Make the pie bigger – don’t waste time trying to cut smaller slices.
  22. Play for the long haul – it is rarely possible to get rich quickly.
  23. Don’t pay too much – but don’t lose it!
  24. Only the lead dog gets a change of view.
  25. Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.
  26. Give back.
  27. Embrace sustainability.
  28. Never give up.

A few old chestnuts in there, and a few that really ring true.  I especially like 8, 11 and 16.

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