Living the entrepreneur’s lifestyle with Erik Hanberg

            What is the entrepreneur’s lifestyle? It is being a starter, being your own boss, it is taking a risk with the possibly failing at it. being a starter is the first part, ideas are a dime a dozen, but a starter is the one who makes them happen. Erik pointed out that just getting your product to market is the big step, in fact the biggest step. Everyone has ideas the work is the work.  Why then isn’t everyone an entrepreneur? We are afraid of emotional labor i.e. failure “Opportunity is often missed because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”. 

As Erik talked about his lifestyle he focused on what he really wanted to do and that is write. Sometimes the business plan gets in the way; we are more concerned about giving out the business card than what we want to do. If you are going to be an entrepreneur you must enjoy the work or else go do something else, you have like the process. 

Erik pointed out that there are two kinds of work: You can sell yourself or you can sell something else. Your time is only worth so much and it is finite, there is only so much of it. A product on the other hand has continuing value that is beyond just your time.  Once you have the ball rolling and you do not have to take every opportunity that comes your way you need to be wise in choosing which opportunities to take. How do you know when to take a job?

- is it a good job (do you like the people you are going to be working with)

            - is it worth it monetarily

            - will it further your career

If you can answer two of these in the affirmative then you should go ahead. If not then it would be wise to pass on the opportunity. 

Finally Eric had some closing thoughts, advice to tell yourself if you want to live the Entrepreneur's lifestyle:

-       Be willing to fail

-       Tell them what you want to do not what you are doing

-       Do not waste time (tv)