Part 1 of this story is here.
Being an entrepreneur is like trying to plug eleven holes in a dam with your ten fingers. We’re problem solvers. We look at the impossible as just another challenge; that’s what wakes us up in the morning. And we know that sometimes it takes years to see the final results of your actions: I’m motivated by the idea that Neil Armstrong took fragments of the Wright Brothers’ plane to the moon with him. We build on the visions of those who came before us.
I built The Grace Group because I believed excellence could be offered as a service. I knew fundraising consultants were a dime a dozen, so I decided to be different. I gave smaller organizations the same attention and expertise usually only available to top-tier nonprofits. For every one of my clients, major donor gifts and private family foundation giving both increased. My clients began to believe in themselves. I had become a broker of hope.
Are you feeling the urge, deep down inside, to start your own business too? Maybe you feel it when you talk about the dreams you once had. Use that feeling to begin again, to cast a new vision for your life. What would it look like to live your dream?
Use these feelings to create an outlet for your passion. God created every person in His image, yet still unique. You have a spark of that divine creativity too.
It’s important to surround yourself with people who support your passion. Since most people aren’t living their dreams yet, you’ll probably have to have to look around a bit to find your encouragers.
When you’re a new entrepreneur just starting out, support from a loved one or mentor can make all the difference. They’ll help you learn from their mistakes so you can make your own. Be open to what life brings you; your next mentor might even be someone who’s in your life right now.
As The Grace Group began to grow, my mentors encouraged me to spend as much time with my mother as possible. I began praying for clients as I would for my family and friends. I asked my clients if there was anything I could pray about with them. At first, some clients were shocked, but everyone learned to love this question. Eventually, every one of my clients was praying with me before our meetings.
The freedom to be your own boss can be seen as a luxury, but it’s really a tremendous responsibility. I use the golden rule as the basis of my work ethic. How would I like to be treated? Would I want an email response the same day? Would I want a handwritten thank-you note? This is how good entrepreneurs should handle themselves. We must set the bar higher, not lower ourselves to it.
Sometimes, new life comes through death. What would you change if you had a second chance at life?
Photo by Carolina Bonito on Unsplash