In life as in the dictionary, the word "enthusiasm" comes before the word "entrepreneur." The word enthusiasm, from the Greek words enthous meaning "inspired" and theos meaning "god" refers to someone who is inspired by god. Or as understood today and defined by Webster's, enthusiasm is: "passionate interest in or eagerness to do something; something that arouses a consuming interest."

This is a decidedly delicious state for one so inclined and consumed. And it is typically experienced by successful entrepreneurs.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, entrepreneur is defined as, "a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so." The word comes from the French, entreprendre or enterprise, meaning "one who undertakes." I like the creative and adventurous aspect of this. As John Jackson says, "People with a job work, entrepreneurs create."

In our world today it certainly seems as if there are more followers than leaders; more who work than create. Risk, or the possibility that something can go wrong, is a powerful and effective deterrent. Fear is a dominant emotion in many people, and has extinguished the aspirations of countless individuals.

Napoleon Hill notes that there are positive and negative emotions. The most powerful, negative emotions are: fear, jealousy, hatred, revenge, greed, superstition, and anger. Of the positive emotions, the most powerful are: desire, faith, love, sex, enthusiasm, romance and hope. As Hill observes, "Positive and negative emotions cannot occupy the mind at the same time. One or the other must dominate." Every successful entrepreneur understands this at some level, and has developed the capacity to cultivate and maintain their enthusiasm while undertaking risk.

Understanding the importance of this ability, and having the discipline to consistently do it, is one of the chief distinguishing characteristics of one who is successful. And it seems absolutely necessary that, in life as in the dictionary, enthusiasm must come before one possesses the drive and the courage to become an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurs are creators of business enterprises in which they want to achieve success. As Hill notes, "The starting point of all achievement is desire." One must possess a focused and sustained enthusiasm, which can actually take on a life of its own, in propelling one forward toward one's desired results. It is quite an undertaking, and can quickly become an enlivening experience.

There is a wonderful expression, "To Paddle Your Own Canoe." It is thought that the sentiment behind this expression might have originated with the words by Sextus Propertius (54 B.C.-A.D. 2) who said, "Let each man have the wit to go his own way." Morton S. Freeman notes that, "A person who is independent and self-reliant is said to be paddling his own canoe." Certainly, entrepreneurs embrace the idea that we succeed only by being committed to our own vision and version of things; and know that we must persist when others tend to quit. This is where the quality and experience of enthusiasm comes in, in order to keep alive our vision, fuel our desire, and sustain our efforts. Is it time for you to paddle your own canoe, and leave behind work, so that you are free to create the life you envision?

Shoe, Pebble and some Silver Photo by Linda Compton

I don’t think our economy is going to show any promising signs of growth and sustainable rebounding for quite some time.  I do believe we need to find new and different ways to strengthen our own situations, and to embrace non-traditional ways of positioning ourselves for the challenges ahead.  This is going to take courage, initiative and persistence.  And frankly, this greatly concerns me.  Because the discontent and fear contained in the stories being shared with me are often accompanied by a real resistance to making the changes necessary to make it through the turbulent times ahead.  I hear in some an unwillingness to move beyond their comfort zone in order to improve their present situation by taking swift and decisive action.  As John Jackson states, “If you want to have something you’ve never had before, you must do something you’ve never done before.”  I cannot emphasize too strongly how very true this is. 

Have you spent much of your life trying to please others; take care of others; do the “right things” for the wrong reasons?  Have you tried to be true to other peoples’ aspirations for you, only to find that you have lost yourself along the way?

Perhaps that doesn’t describe you at all.  Perhaps you are simply beginning to realize that you want something more out of life; something different for yourself and your family.  As a baby boomer with a master’s degree in Gerontology, I am keenly aware of something that happens to most of us in mid-life.  At some point, we come to the realization that we have lived more years than we are going to live.  This striking new awareness can have a profound effect on our view of ourselves, our world and our future.  It can be quite enlivening, as we decide to become much more focused and intentional about what’s next for us. 

An all time favorite quote of mine is from Stephen C. Paul, “Remove the rock from your shoe rather than learn to limp comfortably.”  I know so many people who have learned to limp comfortably, to the point that now their gait has become slightly off.  They either ignore the presence of their particular rock, or make excuses for it.  Why not remove the pebble?  Why continue to accept the limitation and complain?  Why not acknowledge that it is unacceptable, make a decision to change their situation and take action?  Seeing this dynamic is both sad and frustrating.  I want to cry out, “Stop making excuses and start creating a different kind of future for yourself and your family. There are options and opportunities available to us – research and study them, then make a make a plan to act!” None of us can change our past, but each of us has the ability to determine our future.  There is always something to distract or discourage us.  We don’t have the time or the money or the whatever.  Realize this will always be the case – until you decide to change it by doing things differently than you’ve always done them.  It’s not called, “A leap of faith” for nothing. People often say they are “waiting for God.”   Andy Andrews says he believes God is usually waiting for us!  

I sincerely encourage you to find what is right for you, at this point in your life.  Look deep within yourself and determine what’s missing and what’s there.  Start where you are. Reach down, tap your motivation and then rise up and reach for what is right for you.  For my family and myself, I have found a business system that is stretching me, enriching me, and affording me financial and time freedom.  It is not a “get rich quick” scheme.  It is an “acquire financial freedom through persistence” system.  If this is something that appeals to you, I invite you to check it out.  See if you have what it takes.  If something else calls to you, I urge you to pursue it.  As the great motivational and success legend Jim Rohn asserts, one’s income rarely exceeds one’s personal development.  If I can be of help in any way, I encourage you to ask.  Find an opportunity that appeals to you and make a commitment to do something new and expansive for yourself. www.WealthyandWiseToday.net

"Book Lover" Photo by Linda Compton

As much as I enjoy live and recorded music, I am even more of a book-lover.  I am a devout reader.  And these days I so relish the quiet where we live, that I generally choose to spend long stretches of time in silence.  So today, if I were to call myself a “groupie” of anything, it would be of inspired writers.  The power of words to enlighten, to heal and to transform lives moves me.  I prefer meeting and/or listening to a good author more than a musician – even more than a favorite rock star.

Last month I had the privilege and the joy of seeing Andy Andrews speak.  Having just read his remarkable book, “The Traveler’s Gift,” I immediately became a fan.  No doubt part of the power of his words comes from the profound integrity of his message, just as the authenticity of his work springs from his background.  He is an inspired and inspiring writer.  In my faith tradition we refer to the importance of something called, “speaking the truth in love.”  For me, this is what I see as Mr. Andrews’ greatest strength, along with his keen perceptions.  He has a tremendous ability to see into the core and crux of things, the ability to see the essential meaning in things: he has in-sight.  He also has the ability to say things with power and grace, even when the message is quite pointed.  He knows from whence he speaks, and consequently he writes and speaks with authority and compassion.  He also has a wonderful sense of humor. 

There were 700 of us, seated at large round tables, in a great big conference room at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.  Andy walked among us, weaving his way between and around the tables, looking us in the eye, and making delightfully funny little side comments amid his presentation.  He was fully engaged and engaging.  He is a believer, who is himself imminently believable.

For those of you who may not be familiar with, “The Traveler’s Gift” it is a moving story developed around a series of historical figures.  Individuals whose lives, whose choices in the face of challenging circumstances, and whose subsequent decisions - had a major impact on the world. It is a story that spans a great period of world history, and illustrates the immutable truths contained within these seven principles.  Principles that hopefully will become seven decisions each reader makes their own.  I have embraced these and re-affirm them daily. 

They are:

               The Buck Stops Here (Adversity is preparation for greatness)

               I Will Seek Wisdom (I will choose my friends with care)

               I Am A Person Of Action (I can make a decision and I can make it now)

               I Have A Decided Heart (My destiny is assured)

               Today I Will Choose To Be Happy (I am the possessor of a grateful heart)

               I Will Greet This Day With A Forgiving Spirit (I will forgive myself)

               I Will Persist Without Exception (I will find a way where there is no way).

While some of these might seem obvious or even simplistic, the way Andy expounds upon their meaning might very well surprise and enliven you.  These principles are profound, and contain within them the power to transform.  If you have the courage to embrace them, I believe with all of my heart that your life will be changed.  My life has been changed, my heart gladdened, and my lifestyle enhanced.  Even though I am not much for New Years’ Resolutions, I challenge you to seriously consider reading and absorbing the wisdom in this little book.  If you truly do this, your New Year will be markedly different. 

There are things happening in our economy, and in our world, that are nothing short of daunting and deeply disheartening.  I believe what we are seeing is only the beginning of much tougher times.  And that is a difficult admission for someone who always sees the glass as half-full, never as half-empty.  The great R. Buckminster Fuller wrote, “Don’t fight forces; use them.”  Indeed, with regard to navigating the turbulent social and economic waters ahead, there is no better counsel or clearer call to action.  And thankfully, there are marvelous opportunities in the midst of this upheaval.  Our community of successful online Entrepreneurs is defying the odds and we are growing.

Give yourself the gift of reading “The Traveler’s Gift” and embrace the seven decisions.  You will be much better equipped to prosper in the New Year, and will be informed and empowered to utilize the forces with which you will be faced.  The choice and the power are within your grasp this very moment.  Are you resolved to act?  Are you ready to change your world; use the forces to your advantage rather than be vulnerable to them?  As Louisa May Alcott wrote, “Resolve to take Fate by the throat and shake a living out of her.”  The choice is yours:  decisions and actions are required; your opportune time has arrived.