Being an entrepreneur myself, every business I have ever had, started with an idea. I was always that kid out there on the corner of the street setting up that lemonade stand. I guess you can say that I was born with the entrepreneur bug.
Since then I have had small business ventures doing pitching lessons, helping people speed up their computers and eliminate pop-ups, and just recently, finished a book about my whole recruiting process that I plan to structure a business around, that deals with mentoring athletes through their entire recruiting process from high school to college. I started writing the book Oct. 28 of my sophomore year, and finished July 9. After going through my recruiting process I figured … I have all of this free time, why not make something of value to others?
These visions and ideas that pop into my head begin from the simple idea to help a massive amount of people. I am not an entrepreneur primarily because I want to make lots and lots of money, but rather more importantly, I am an entrepreneur because I am touching everyone with something of value to them, thus creating meaning for others in their life by offering services and products. By focusing on this idea to help people, these ideas start to manifest into an entire business. For this reason I always carry around a yellow notepad to write inspirational ideas down on paper whenever one comes to me.
Keeping a yellow notepad with me at all times fosters my brain to continually keep thinking about other ways in which I could help others with businesses. Sometimes when I start writing an idea out, it feels like my hand can't keep up with what I am thinking, and it is almost like I am in a giant time-warp trying to frantically write everything down. During these creative instances where the passion and inspiration is put down on paper, the product is the first thing that comes to me, then the systems, then the marketing slogans, then the business model, and further the types of people I need to have on my team, to help me implement my idea to make it a reality.
This way of thinking is something that is very far from the norm, which is why entrepreneurs are few and far between. Entrepreneurs as a whole are those who know how to use their head to create the systems needed to make an idea a reality. They follow their passion, their drive and motivation to achieve what it is they are looking to build. They themselves will not allow someone to squash their idea, no matter how crazy it may seem.
Thinking outside of the box is crucial. Understanding that I have this ability to create something from the thoughts in my head is something at which I plan to become an expert. I begin with the invisible, and consistently work to make it a reality, utilizing the capital that is around me to help me make it happen.
For that matter, I love getting up everyday knowing that the next multi-million-dollar idea may come to me sometime throughout the day. For this reason I am so grateful. Knowing that you have the same talent as well will lead you to many great things!
So I will leave you with this: What is your vision? And what do you have to lose? Follow your heart, see where it takes you ... and I'll see you at the top!
Scott Bradley is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at bradleys@bcheights.com.
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