Do You Have What it Takes to be a Netrepreneur?

I have always had the entrepreneurial frame of mind – seemed to have come naturally to me. Both parents had their own businesses, so I was exposed to that environment at a young age. I actually remember in high school thinking about ways to make money rather than be in class all day.

If that meant working 10-12 hour days, 3 jobs or 7 days a week that was fine by me. And, I did just that. I was raised to believe that the sky was the limit if you were willing to work for it; maybe that is why working hard is easy for me.

For whatever reasons, I never saw barriers. I always strove for more rather than taking the easy, consistent or predictable road and settling for less. Risk – what’s that? With the risks I have taken, I didn’t view them as risks at the time. In retrospect, only then do I perceive them as the actual risks they were. Challenges – bring ‘em on!

That is the attitude and history that has made me a fish in water with technology. This is the attitude one must have to succeed online.

I think this is fun, amazing, exhilarating and a challenge every day I sit down at this desk. I never know what will be in my e-mail, what opportunity will become apparent, what client or potential new partner will call to add some new twist to my day. What a blast! Right? Right for me – but not for many. . .

I have found that not every personality is conducive to “dealing with” technology or having a successful online program. And after 15 years of working with every type of person there is, I can spot those with True Netrepreneur potential a mile away!

While this environment of constant flux, ongoing knowledge acquisition and consistent change is something I thrive on, many involved in technology are confused, frustrated, aggravated and wish there was a better way. A better way . . . wow.

How do you help folks who feel that way about one of the most unbelievable opportunities in our history for businesses of every size, shape and methodology to gain market share and get the edge over competitors? Even with the current economy, the sky is the limit simply by acquiring knowledge and learning new skills. A better way?

I am not sure you can help those who are seeking a “better way.” There is no other way — other than to learn, apply and work hard. Aren’t those the very staples that build most successful businesses?

One cannot teach those who do not want to make the effort to learn, apply, work hard – no matter what level of patience is involved by my side. So much of a Netrepreneur’s success has absolutely nothing to do with me or is within my control to change.

Below are traits and attitudes I have identified are those necessary to anyone who wants to get involved in and succeed with technology. They have proven the test of time. It is one thing to call yourself a entrepreneur; it is quite another to successfully become a True Netrepreneur!

1. Knowledge Acquisition: True Netrepreneurs are well versed in the amount of technology they have to understand and the knowledge and skills they must acquire to succeed that pertains directly to their program. Ask any one of them – there is no way around this and it wasn’t easy.

   They determined what they needed to know to run their online program effectively and if they don’t want to be an expert in certain areas, they partnered with those who are proven professionals and make them a welcomed part of their team. They don’t have that innate need to DIY everything simply because they can.

   The basics of what a business owner needs to know to participate successfully online is unfortunately, in my experience, more than most want to embrace. Those that are True Netrepreneurs go through the frustrations of getting past any roadblocks of understanding so they can reach their goals.

2. Business Savvy: True Netrepreneurs have an innate ability to be able to make their decisions solely from a business point of view. They have strong overall business experience off-line (or are constantly working on expanding their business knowledge about best practices) and know certain staples need to be in place to succeed.

   They assume the same with their online presence and are willing to do their due diligence to ensure the decisions they make are made from an informational based point of view — not on how they “feel” or what they are “willing to deal with” — but on what will promote their success.

3. Relationship Building Skills: True Netrepreneurs know how to nurture their business relationships to instill open communications and an environment for their partners to have the latitude to successfully do the job they were hired to do.

   They prefer to engage in long-term mutually respectful partnerships rather than be classified as just another customer. They see the value in their relationships with their partners and their communications reflect this attitude. They do not challenge their partners based on non-qualified or less experienced resources. They put their trust in their partners to do their job – which is to make them successful.

   With all the inaccurate information and noise available about having a successful online program, they prefer to rely on their partners to tell them what they need to do, know, and think about rather than try to absorb, question or challenge their partners based on every bit and byte of information they “hear” about.

4. Non-Egomaniacal: True Netrepreneurs realize the need to put their ego on the shelf so that they can be informed, coached and advised in areas they have no experience in. They do not want their weaknesses catered to. They do not want issues sugar-coated. They want to get to the crux of what is required for them to succeed even if that means it may not be what they perceived or like to hear.

   They welcome being told when they are incorrect on issues important to their program’s viability. They would rather be told they are wrong and correct the situation rather than have “being right” limit their success.

5. Desire to Succeed: True Netrepreneurs have an insatiable desire to succeed. No matter the hours required, the costs involved, the time that will be required of them to be spent investigating new markets, trends, software, applications.

   They accept the fact that to succeed with technology will be an ongoing challenge where the only consistency is change. They make a point of listening to their partners to keep ahead of the competition and they do not piecemeal that advice when applying it to their program. This desire pushes them ahead through the frustrations, challenges and unknowns.

The above traits make the difference between unlimited potential success and frustrated settling for less. For those who are not True Netrepreneurs but only play one on T.V., the proven way to success makes working with me a sometimes unpleasant experience. Why? Because I challenge my clients to be the best they can be with their online program and I don’t concede when provided hollow excuses.

There is nothing like having a client who begins a bit unsure and uninformed and then to watch them blossom into one of the True Netrepreneurs I describe above.

I guess I now know how parents feel when watching their children graduate from college. Pride, happiness and anticipation of the exciting things that the future holds for them.

At your service,
Judith

Tags: starting an online business

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