The weekend went by exceptionally quick this time as I participated in a badminton tournament on Saturday. A fruitful weekend, that’s for sure. How about you? Did you manage to accomplish the task you set out to do last week? Focus is a difficult thing to do and often comes along with necessary sacrifices one way or another.

Some may sacrifice time spent on games, watching TV and for some, even sleep (which is, not good)! Sacrifices can be painful to some and perhaps the best thing could ever happen to another. Like it or not, sacrifice is often part of the package of being an entrepreneur.

“Sacrificial – the willingness and the inner defense of an entrepreneur. To sacrifice breeds success. Sacrifice also demonstrates ownership and keeps one humble. Sacrifices may take time, effort and money with the potential for long term returns. Without sacrifice, an entrepreneur may end up with nothing.”

Think about it, many entrepreneurs first started out with ZERO. You may have heard stories of how they went on zero payroll, going through a series of trials, tribulations and challenges before they actually took off and became what they are today.

Yes, their stories are inspiring. The truth is – you CAN, too!

It is simple: If you don’t work for your own success, who will?

Happy Monday! Mondays always seem to be the toughest day to get started for the week, huh? Focus is all you need! That’s right, and to focus requires a lot of dedication.

“Focus – the single-mindedness and the mental strength of an entrepreneur. Focus keeps one on-track. Focus shuts out distractions. Focus sets things into motion. With focus come quantified plans, objectives and goals. With focus come an increase in productivity, accomplishments of plans, objectives and goals. Focus gives a clear head and helps in decision making. Focus also helps in identifying good business plans. Focus plans with a purpose. Focus allows calculated risks. Focus knows when to move on. Focus leads people. Without focus, an entrepreneur may end up taking a long detour to the intended success… that is if he/she even makes it there.”

Interestingly enough, I’ve heard from many that entrepreneurs in general, lacks focus. Why? It is said that entrepreneurs have so many ideas and at times, don’t know how to or which to first execute. Focus goes beyond just entrepreneurs – everyone needs focus, especially when there are so many distractions around us these days.

Think about it – emails, phone calls, Facebook games and the list goes on. How many of these can actually be put on hold? How much can be accomplished if those were cut down?

It’s time to get rid of distractions and move towards your goal. Do you have a focus? What is your focus?

Good morning! How was 10-10-10 for you? For me, it’s a reminder that we are already in October, just about 2 months more before 2010 ends. How time flies and how have we kept up to it? How many of us are keeping up with our new year’s resolution for 2010? How many have already gave up in achieving them?

For one, it is never an easy task to achieve goals – especially big ones. The higher the goal is, chances are, the greater the challenge is; and what makes an entrepreneur differ from another is perseverance.

Perseverance?

Thats right! Perseverance is the shield, the willpower, the spirit and the first line-of-defense of an entrepreneur. Perseverance keeps an entrepreneur in-the-game. Perseverance often is the key difference between a winner and a loser. Perseverance accepts defeat only to become stronger. To persevere takes courage. Persevering opens opportunities to strike-back. Perseverance makes success sweeter. Without perseverance, an entrepreneur accepts defeat only to be fully defeated without finishing the race.

However, perseverance does not mean that one should just sit still and accept failure over and over again. It has a goal, a desire to improve, to perform, and to succeed.

Persevere!

Each entrepreneur has a different measure of perseverance and can only be developed / trained through experience, guided with his / her own passion. One can also start training their level of perseverance by setting goals with a DATELINE and make sure it is accomplished by then. Track your progress throughout and celebrate when a milestone is achieved! It takes a great deal of discipline to develop perseverance but it pays off in the end especially for an entrepreneur.

Interestingly enough, the Chinese character for ‘perseverance’ or ‘patience’ portrays the very essence of perseverance in an entrepreneur – to persevere even when the heart is under the blade / knife – to keep pressing forward despite the circumstances to obtain success.

“Perseverance helps you to keep your focus and not be distracted by failures, effectively learn from mistakes, a better team player and helps you maintain your composure even during time of crisis.”

Already have a passion? Want to make it a reality? It’s time for some perseverance and action today!

The trick to perseverance? Keep going forward!

Good morning! The weekend came and went so quickly – and a new week has just begun! There’ll be new challenges and new obstacles but this also means opportunity for more learning and greater winnings; and only you can determine how your week will be. One can choose to do all the right things, do it well, but yet find no joy in what they are doing. Some may be doing what they  thought they’d like doing but it fizzled along the way.

How is that so? Something is lacking within them – Passion; and passion is one of the key components that makes an entrepreneur, an entrepreneur.

What is Passion?

Passion is the sword, the constant drive and the offense of an entrepreneur. Passion differentiates an entrepreneur from a business owner. Passion can be seen and felt by others. It is also contagious. Passion drives situations, people, and success. Passion motivates, instills confidence and enthusiasm. Passion picks one up and propels another further. With passion come a desire, a vision and actions for a better future even when the odds are against you. Without passion, an entrepreneur loses its main weapon of offense, the double-edged sword to succeed.

“One cannot fake passion. A leader can never ask his followers to be passionate about something he / herself isn’t passionate about.”

However, having passion alone isn’t enough – especially as an entrepreneur. Sure, passion is the primary weapon of offense but it will be useless if you don’t swing it towards the enemy. Merely holding it in your hands, bragging to your friends on how sharp your sword is doesn’t make it what it is.  Action – to put your passion to the field – that’s where and when you’ll begin to see results.

“Passion without Action is dead.”

Get Started with your Passion!

Don’t let that passion get away! Pen down where your passion lies and do something this week about it! If your passion is in design, start working on your very first masterpiece! If you passion is to be your own boss, it’s about time to put together a business plan! Do you really want to go through life having that passion but not doing anything about it?

The trick to pursue your passion is simple – get it started!

What do you enjoy doing? What do you want to achieve? What’s your passion? Have you put it to action?