MODERN ENTREPRENEUR
a specific target market you are
successful and enjoy working in.
Aim to know that market inside out
and become the expert in that target
market. Specialists always are the
more sought after and earn the
most.
4
Have a BIG and clear vision
and BIG goals
This will force you to think about
big solutions or ideas to achieve
them. This challenged us to find a
creative ways to accelerate growing
our business and set up an Australia
wide franchised financial planning
business (which was a new concept
back then) with 65 offices rather
than simply 3 fully owned offices in
Tasmania.
5
Adopt the principle of
“Constancy of Purpose”
If something does not help in
achieving you vision or mission
don’t chew up valuable time and
resources pursuing opportunities
outside of this. Anything that takes
you away from your stated goal will
put you further behind. Saying no to
distractions becomes much easier
with a vision in mind.
6
Find a partner and open
to not owning 100% of the
company shares
Whilst it’s not essential it will greatly
increase the odds of successful
starting and successfully getting a
new venture off the ground if you
have a complimentary partner or at
very least a high-level compatible
teammate.
For me it has been true in the many
businesses I have built. To have
someone to cover my weakness and
in fact excel in key parts of business
has been critical success factor.
In relation to shareholding do the
simple maths, it’s better to own say
30% of a $50 million business than
owning 100% of a $500K business!
of us are not and don’t need to
become inventors. Inventors are not
necessarily entrepreneurs.
These ideas on their own may seem
ordinary but they are powerful when
you apply them simultaneously that’s when extraordinary results
will happen, especially if you add
in vital ingredients all successful
entrepreneurs have – drive, belief,
passion and positivity - which draws
others to back and help turn your
idea into reality.
7
It’s ok to become a copycat
There is an old saying there is
nothing new under the sun. Often we
are too proud to simply say I copied
or so liked what someone else did
that I think I can do something
similar. It creates opportunity to
improve someone else’s idea. Most
John Sikkema is a Philanthropist,
Thought Leader, Entrepreneur and
Executive Chairman of Halftime
Australia, inspiring leaders to live their
life purpose now. Visit www.halftime.
org.au for more information.
July 2016
ModernBusiness
15