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| Entrepreneur Magazine |
A very good reading material that can really guide and inspire you to become an entrepreneur is the Entrepreneur Magazine. I've been reading this magazine since the 1990s and been visiting it's website too when it became available online. I started with the international edition when I was still living in the Philippines. There was always a story, an article, a feature, or a photo that inspired me to become a budding entrepreneur. I've started a couple of businesses back home then, some did good and heaps not so good. My readings enabled me to understand why I made it and why I didn't and also inspired me to carry on with the next business project. The start-up stage is very stressful and challenging. And getting to know the entrepreneurs who have had the same struggles and emerged triumphant made my journey bearable. I would strongly recommend this magazine for those who are aspiring to become entrepreneurs. because from within the pages of this magazine are the stories and the people who will inspire you!
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| Inspiring |
People, events and places inspire us, more so with words and phrases from people we either look up to or admire. Some of them live very ordinary lives but still could be a source of inspiration for us. At times we don't know when it's time for us to stand up and be a hero to someone. We all need heroes. They're our guideposts.
I like thinking big. If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big (Donald Trump).
Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts (H. Jackson Brown Jr.).
Don't start a company unless it's an obsession and something you love. If you have an exit strategy, it's not an obsession (Mark Cuban).
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| UK laundry start-up |
One household chore that
is rarely done or is not a priority at home is the ironing of clothes.
Personally, I only iron out the clothes I'm going to wear during special
occasions. But in the UK there is a
start-up called ihateironing.com that just does that and with home pick-ups and deliveries
thrown in. I think this is a business that could be profitably done here in NZ.
There are a couple of firms in Auckland who are already engaged in this type of business activity. To make this even more personalised, I would do the ironing right in the home. This will minimise travelling and delivery costs, as well as the use of a van to hang the clothes while in transport. This easy to start business requires low level of capital. At the bare minimum you only need a flat iron and an ironing board. Go and check the link, this might be the road you're looking for.
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| Plums for sale |
On my weekly trip in the Waikato countryside, I chanced upon farmers who still believe that there are still honest people in the planet. I've seen tables by the roadside (like the one shown on photo) of fruits and vegetables being sold---plums, corn, watermelons, etc. Sometimes there is an honesty box where you can drop your money once you purchase. Most of the time it's just a small tin can behind the sign. The produce is fresher, if you're lucky, it was just freshly picked. And there's no one standing watch or minding the produce. It all works on a trust principle. The simplicity and beauty of doing business like this is very inspiring. I know that this method would not be possible or practical in the big cities or towns. This works best in the countryside of New Zealand, wherein life is simpler and stress free. How was your Saturday?
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| Our companion |
I love reading and collecting sayings, messages, words, quotations, and phrases from people. It forms a huge part of my voyage of discovery. Some of them come from the books, magazines, articles that I get to read in print and online like Renegade Collective, Entrepreneur, Inc., Forbes, Fortune, Idealog, Unlimited, and many others. And as I continue to read and collect them, I shall share them with you here too, with the hope that they will help, serve, and guide you as you journey through life as an entrepreneur or otherwise.
Be a trailblazer. Break the rules. Disrupt. Take a different road. Do it fearlessly (Lisa Messenger, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Renegade Collective)
Fortune favours the brave (Latin proverb)
A lot of very hard work has played a major part in any luck that has come my way. If you try, try, and try again, eventually you may be successful (Richard Branson)
Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles (Steve Jobs)
You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try (Dolly Parton)
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| Waikato road trip |
It's January 1, 2015 and what a glorious day we had in New Zealand. Driving around the Waikato countryside, enjoying the warm weather, the breathtaking scenes, the fascinating people, and just communing with nature. NZ is the best place to be. Some people call her Middle Earth, we call her home!
I'm looking forward to engaging with you through this blog. And as I continue my journey as an entrepreneur, I will share with you the joys and the sorrows of being one. Great times are ahead of us my friends, times that will challenge us and inspire us. The picture in this post is my road map to where I want to go and where I want to be, this year. There will be times when the journey will be lonely and empty. But never fret, for this blog will serve as a guide for all of us.
It has been a truly beautiful and glorious day today. I thank the Universe for putting me right here, in this time and space today. If this is a taste of what the new year has in store for me, I say bring it on!
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| 2015 |
Happiest New Year everyone!
