Perry Marshall makes lovely poetry on this age-old topic, below. His Renaissance Roundtable is also graced with wisdom and irreverence, or so I've heard. Thanks Perry, for your words as always.
[Side note: When I first met Perry in person, he freaked me out by asking direct - 'Are you Taiwanese?' In all my 36 years, I've NEVER before, or since, been asked that question in an opening greeting...most people are 'lucky' if they guess I'm Chinese. Answer is yes, by the way, I'm Taiwanese...but I digress.]
To set the stage a little, here is an exercise for you as you read Perry's article:
Which 3 items from the list of 12 do you most 'sweat' at the thought of. In other words, which 3 items are you MOST ripe for improvement in? And which are your natural strengths?
Hint: My strengths are definitely 5, 6 and 7. I sweat when reading 10 and 8 and 3. Et toi?
There are 12 differences between those who dream and those who act:
1-Wanna-be's obsess about ideas. Entrepreneurs obsess about implementation.
2-Wanna-be's want more web traffic. Enrepreneurs focus on sales conversion.
3-Wanna-be's focus on positive thinking. Entrepreneurs plan for multiple contingencies.
4-Wanna-be's want to get on TV and get "famous." Entrepreneurs build their list.
5-Wanna-be's seek a perfect plan. Entrepreneurs execute and adjust the plan later.
6-Wanna-be's wait for their lucky break. Entrepreneurs engineer four, five, six plans and execute them in tandem, wagering that at least one plan will get traction.
7-Wanna-be's fear looking stupid in front of their friends. Entrepreneurs willingly risk making fools of themselves, knowing that long-term success is a good trade for short-term loss of dignity.
8-Wanna-be's shield their precious ideas from harsh reality, postponing the verdict of success or failure until 'someday.' Entrepreneurs expose their ideas to cold reality as soon as reasonably possible.
9-Wanna-be's put off practicing basketball until they've got Air Jordans. Entrepreneurs practice barefoot behind the garage.
10-Wanna-be's believe what they're told, believe their own assumptions. Entrepreneurs do original research and determine what paths have been already trod.
11-Wanna-be's believe they can do anything. Entrepreneurs do what they're gifted for and delegate the rest.
12-Wanna-be's think about the world in terms of COULD and SHOULD. Entrepreneurs think in terms of IS and CAN BE.
Also from Perry: If you're a real entrepreneur - and if you qualify - you can be admitted to Roundtable, a forum where #1 players in many realms gather three times a year and sharpen their games.
It commences in Chicago next month with a 2-Day, Four-Man marketing intensive. You and three others will have run of my office, with access to any and every success tool I've got.
The rest of the world and all its distractions will be shut out. In less than 48 hours, see your web traffic and sales spike.
Apply here: http://adwordsstrategy.com/renaissance/roundtable.htm