#NewBusiness Chit-Chat: Your Proudest 2012 Moment, and your 2013 Goal!

It’s been a while since I did an ‘Ask the Readers’ post, so I thought I’d roll one out today – which we can all potentially use as a source of inspiration for each other, along with a healthy bit of motivation, going into next year, too!

2012 has been a very memorable year for me, both personally and from a business perspective, too. But, with that being said, it hasn’t been without it’s challenges, too.

Today I’m going to share my proudest moment of 2012, and let you all in on my number one goal for next year! And then I want all of you to do exactly the same, in the comment section below – we can then come back to all the comments sometime next year and see if we’ve achieved all the goals, or not.

Sound like fun? Good – let’s do it!

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#NewBusiness Chit-Chat: Legacy. How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about what I want my legacy to be. What do I want people to say about me when I’m gone?

What kind of influence will I have on my kids, in regards to how they create opportunities and shape their own lives?

A little morbid, perhaps – but, lets face it… We’re all only here for a certain period of time, right?! Are we happy to just waffle through life, fundamentally wasting it? Or do we want to create something, do something that will make a difference – in any way. Doesn’t matter if it’s business related, or not.

In an effort to get to know you, my readers, viewers, visitors, etc., better than I already do (some of you more than others, obviously), I’d love to be able to hear from you on this topic. Ask yourself the following questions:

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The ‘New Business’ Manifesto

New Business Manifesto

Throughout the course of a normal week, I’ll receive hundreds of questions from small business owners and startup entrepreneurs on the subject of starting and growing companies in today’s incredibly fast moving business world.

A lot of the time they are via our Facebook Community, and I’ll reply there directly. Sometimes its on Twitter, and some times via email. Bottom line: I freakin’ love hearing from you – regardless of how you reach out. So, please don’t stop!

One thing that I really love is the fact that the large majority of these messages come in from people that have already taken and finished my free training course, the ‘New Business’ Bootcamp, giving them a great kickstart in the process!

But, growing a business in today’s market is not just about learning how to blog, podcast, how to utilize online video, or work with virtual assistants (to name a few of the subjects tackled in the bootcamp). It’s also just as important to have the right mindset, than it is to have the skills!

We need to encapsulate EVERYTHING that we should ALL be about, in regards to changing the way we startup, market and build our businesses in today’s economy, so I bring to you, the ‘New Business’ Manifesto!

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What’s the No.1 Trait, or Characteristic of a Successful Entrepreneur?

Traits and Characteristics of a Successful EntrepreneurOver the weekend of May 11-13, 2012 I was surrounded by hard working, existing and wannabe entrepreneurs. I was mixing it up with the best that Cebu (along with neighboring islands, and countries for that matter!) had to offer in the tech startup game, as we all celebrated the first ever Startup Weekend in the Queen City of the South!

I was asked to be a Mentor at the event, which was rather coincidental, as I picked up the Startup Weekend book on my way back from BlogWorld Expo in LA, in November 2011, where I spoke on the subject of bloggers working with virtual assistants to build their online brands and businesses – but, I didn’t get the chance to actually read the book until the beginning of the new year.

No more than a couple of weeks after I had finished the last page of the book, I was invited to take part in the first event, right here in my adopted hometown of Cebu City. Of course, I accepted.

The festivities of the weekend business opportunities got me thinking…

My Question

Throughout the course of my preparations for the weekend, I got to asking myself ‘What does it take to be an Entrepreneur?’, or more specifically, what are the ‘Important traits and characteristics of a successful entrepreneur?’. Hence today’s post…

If you have a strong opinion on this already, comment at will below (after reading my opinion, obviously!) – if not, then check out the video below, from the team behind Startup Weekend, for a little inspiration.

My Opinion

As far as I’m concerned, to become a successful entrepreneur you need to be someone that isn’t looking to make a quick buck. You need to be ready and willing to work your ass off – for years, quite frankly – to be able to achieve your dreams. You also need to truly understand the way people (your prospective customers!) think, as well as understanding what they want and need; the problems they have – and more importantly – how to create, package and present products and services that solve those problems.

However, without a doubt, the single most important trait of a successful entrepreneur, in my book anyway, is of originality.

If you’re not original you can forget it. If you’re not willing to brainstorm and mind-map until your ears bleed to come up with that one original idea that you know will solve a problem for a certain demographic, then you can also forget it.

Likewise, if you’re looking for a fast-track to success, diving in on a whim, potentially second-guessing things or worst yet, copying other peoples ideas, then you can also forget it. You’ll never be a successful entrepreneur.

Think about it. When was the last time you saw an insanely successful entrepreneur who wasn’t original? Who wasn’t innovative?

I’d love to hear what you have to say on this topic, so please comment below, and as always, thank you for getting involved and making the community here the hustlin’, bustlin’ entrepreneurial tribe that it is!