Your Comments - Part 7 - "Born or Made"

We promised to provide you with some of the feedback being received on our Linkedin Poll, where we asked the question: Are Entrepreneurs Born, or are they Made?

Our Linkedin Poll was launched on December 18, 2011 and your response has been overwhelming!  Thank you to all who contributed to the debate or voted in our poll.

Below are just a few of the comments that were provided. We have generally not edited what you see below. We trust that it being place on this BLOG will allow opportunity for other to join in the discussion.  Enjoy and please ADD your COMMENTS to this POST!

William Warwick • I think Entrepreneurs are made rather than born. Everyone has the dreams and ideas but the entrepreneur is the one with the self belief in their capabilities and he/she knows who to ask for what help is required to bring it to fruition without succumbing to the idea of failure.  

David Cole • The entrepreneurial spirit is something you either have or do not have. This is therefore part of your personality and you are therefore with born an entrepreneur or not. However, to become a successful entrepreneur is something an individual must work hard to achieve and therefore a successful entrepreneur is made. It is down to the individual if they choose to take a risk and follow their entrepreneurial spirit… 

Ehidiamen Ebhomielen • Have to give this one to Nurture as opposed to Nature, personal experiences environment and background all contribute to the entrepreneurship spirit.However it might not be mutually exclusive, the fact that in the people who take the entrepreneurial plunge in respect to the total population is extremely low.  

Shanell Parris • In my opinion, we are all, whether entrepreneurs or not, made. We as human beings are products of our environment. 

Tony Robinson • A Little bit of both - Risk taking/innovation/etc while you may have the assets and mind set at birth they must be cultivated....  

Traci Davis • You are born with certain personality traits that will suit an entrepreneurial path in life. However, it is the experiences in ones life and exposure to circumstances (and being in the right place at the right time) which all have an impact on those that will take take the entrepreneurial plunge. 

Jeffrey W. (Jeff) Jones, A Business Problem Solver • I think people are inspired to want to own a business. That inspiration can sometimes be misinterpreted in the phrase "born for this". Then the person has to learn how to be a good profitable business owner. That learning and training is then construed as "made" 

Your Comments - Part 6 - "Born or Made"

We promised to provide you with some of the feedback being received on our Linkedin Poll, where we asked the question: Are Entrepreneurs Born, or are they Made?

Our Linkedin Poll was launched on December 18, 2011 and your response has been overwhelming!  Thank you to all who contributed to the debate or voted in our poll.

Below are just a few of the comments that were provided. We have generally not edited what you see below. We trust that it being place on this BLOG will allow opportunity for other to join in the discussion.  Enjoy and please ADD your COMMENTS to this POST!

Catherine Armstrong  • I don’t know if entrepreneurs are born or made, however I think that it helps to have family or mentors who are entrepreneurs. That sets the idea that employment is not the only alternative. Entrepreneurs need drive, courage, independence, confidence and most of these qualities are developed over time. Successful entrepreneurs also need to build relationships, which takes some humility and a willingness to learn.


Linda Maul, CEC • Great question Jim, and I'm loving the responses to date. I'm also of the belief entrerpreneurs are made and over the holidays I've had the opportunity to read Jim Collin's new book 'Great by Choice'. His research shows successful organizational leaders have a fanatic discipline,empirical creativity,productive paranoia ....all fueled by ambition. The most successful entrepreneurs I know also demonstrate those characteristics. 

Randal Adcock, MA • Its this way. There is a business for everybody, whatever traits you inherit genetically, but you have to figure out what business model to adopt and tailor to meet your natural talents. That is, you have to make that up. You have to know yourself and what role in business is going to align with your natural born strengths. In some cases, you can have someone who looks like the quintessential rogue entrepreneur but hasn't found the right business model, and therefore fails. You can have someone who looks like a regular square bureaucrat but gets into a good franchise and succeeds. Since you can't change your genes, its best to focus on finding and creating a business model that works for you. That, of course, is often easier to say than to do. And you have to want to succeed in business. Is that desire acquired by birth or experience? 


Yvonne Fizer • It helps to have been exposed to role models - parents or respected 'grownups'. But, following on Randall's comments, the sustainable, successful venture is determined by the talent that comes to the table. And NO ONE can do it all. Successful entrepreneurs do what they love and build a team of people who love to do what they hate! 

Rory Tekanoff • I think a lot entrepreneurs encounter lucky breaks, to add to any success they may have. Right place, right time.  


Elisa Miranda • It's the school of hard knocks and support from family, friends, or colleagues that makes an entrepreneur. 

P Le Rudulier • Made, of course, the other option would imply no chance for anybody who would fancy becoming an entrepreneur.  

What is an Entrepreneur?

A friend of mine Dan Ohler, ACC, Relationship Specialist & Coach asked an interesting question while we were conducting our recent Linkedin Poll on whether, "Entrepreneurs were Born or Made." 

Dan, I thought it would be good to 'throw' that question out to the contacts we have in our social media networks, and see what responses we get to your question!

The question is: What is an entrepreneur? 

Dan added that he read a definition quite some time ago that said: "Anyone can be an entrepreneur who wants to experience the deep, dark canyons of uncertainty and ambiguity; and who wants to walk the breathtaking highlands of success. But I caution, do not plan to walk the latter, until you have experienced the former."

Thanks for the question Dan.  Please feel free to add your comments and also invite those within your circle of contacts to provide us all with your feedback.

30-SECOND MENTOR - Video Clips ...

Got 30 seconds to improve your business success? 

Thirty seconds is not a long time within which to communicate your message.  None-the-less, these Canadian 'champions of change' provide stimulating food for thought as they respond to a variety of business questions and issues in only 30 seconds!

The Financial Post, together with the firm of Ernst & Young provide us access to many interesting insights and perspectives through the "30-Second Mentor" series. Before viewing some of the video clips, take a few moments to think about how you would respond to the types of questions addressed in the series. In fact, why not add your comments to this POST and let our audience know your thoughts on the following questions that we thought were interesting:

How would you respond to some of the questions:

• How are you prepared for the next downturn?
• What is the scariest part about being an entrepreneur?
• Who is the better hire? Under 30 or over 50?
• If your business plan isn't current, why not?
• How do you handle rude, aggressive customers?

These "Mentors" offer their insights, which at the very least provide us with the opportunity to consider these questions in more detail, and how we can apply creative solutions to the challenges faced in business today. 

Click here to view the "30-Second Mentor" video clips.

Your Comments - Part 5 - "Born or Made"

We promised to provide you with some of the feedback being received on our Linkedin Poll, where we asked the question: Are Entrepreneurs Born, or are they Made?

Our Linkedin Poll was launched on December 18, 2011 and your response has been overwhelming!  Thank you to all who contributed to the debate or voted in our poll.

Below are just a few of the comments that were provided. We have generally not edited what you see below. We trust that it being place on this BLOG will allow opportunity for other to join in the discussion.  Enjoy and please ADD your COMMENTS to this POST!

Ian Hope • We are what we make of ourselves. We have the power to reach as high in life as we want, even though most people aren't concsious of that fact. We're not born to be just this, or just that... I've seen the toughest circumstances which resulted in an alcoholic mother raising 7 alcoholic children- were they born to be alcoholics, or were they to a great extent shaped and perhaps limited by their circumstances and what they learned or didn't learn early on? I've seen families with children born into wealth who became remarkable 'underachievers' and kids from the wrong side of the tracks that now own the railroad... I think for the most part we have the opportunity to make our own fate, and are not born into it.  


John Kuypers • Entrepreneurs have an extraordinary need to achieve. The ones I know often get that way because of childhood circumstances. I think all of them want to prove something to someone. It's an ego-based drive that creates many good things for society but not always good things for family and marriages. As a therapist I respect once said to me, there are only two questions in life: What do you want? and, What price are you prepared to pay to get it? Entrepreneurs are prepared to pay a major price. I say, God bless them! 

Tuulikki Juusela • Women everywhere in the world are interested in entrepreneurship and becoming entrepreneurs. According to the statistics of OECD 35 % of all enterprises in the world are headed by women. Entrepreneurs, both male and female, play a significant role in creating wealth and jobs. Firms with less than twenty employees provide a quarter of jobs. A growing number of these small new companies are led by women. Women`s Enterprise Agency in Finland is giving entrepreneurial training courses. They have been designed to help women entrepreneurs acquire useful business know-how and create networking opportunities. These courses cover all areas of a business plan. You can read more http://nyek.fi/doc/Becoming_an_Entrepreneur_GUIDE.pdf

Arlee C Hoecherl • Jim Good Question. Everyone else excellent Response. In my opinion, this is from doing estate files, and Audits, and business coaching.. Seeing the real life self employed. All the education in the world, with out application.. does not provide success. And then on the other hand what is success ? We tend to use a narrow view of success... Sales growth and Physical accumulation of wealth normally networth statements or dollars. I would submit that there are several OTHER measurements of success. For example going out business Or megers, or sales of business to employees , say closing a businesss, that could be successfull, if the owner prevented further bleeding of capital.. The reason I Said made.. is it reflects a Cognitive process and those who exercise judgement, knowledge, in the process of decision making.. On the other hand Yes there are those who are BORN,, I.e. Kids of Millionaires.. But under further examination, the failure rate is fairly high.. (example the Eaton Family in Retail ) . Often those that are born add to thier birth right, some period of apprenticeship. Look at the Donald Trump family... Do you agree, that the trump children had to Apprentice "CUT thier Teeth" ? Very seldom is it only by birth. Automatic success. "Made" to me is learn by doing. As evidanced by what we are told on the Donald Trump Family, Re family members children Apprenticing under the father.  

Your Comments - Part 4 - "Born or Made"

We promised to provide you with some of the feedback being received on our Linkedin Poll, where we asked the question: Are Entrepreneurs Born, or are they Made?

Our Linkedin Poll was launched on December 18, 2011 and your response has been overwhelming!  Thank you to all who contributed to the debate or voted in our poll.

Below are just a few of the comments that were provided. We have generally not edited what you see below. We trust that it being place on this BLOG will allow opportunity for other to join in the discussion.  Enjoy and please ADD your COMMENTS to this POST!

Karen Carleton (LION) • Usually I hear this question with regards to teachers, managers or other occupations - made or born? It boils down to Nature vs. Nurture, yet of course the two factors are inextricable so it becomes a chicken and egg argument. Things are not that black and white for me. Nature: intrinsic motivation, cognitive/physical/emotional capacity, personality (shaped by experience, and genetics to a lesser degree). Nurture: having guides/mentors, necessary resources, valued colleagues, gaining needed knowledge/skills, and learning by doing with environmental reinforcers (rewards/incentives) for entrepreneurial behavior. Given the right motivation, conditions, resources/supports and reinforcers, an entrepreneur can be made but it's not without a lot of effort. From what I've seen, entrepreneurial spirit tends to be more common among children of entrepreneurs, an idea that supports Bandura's social learning theory. 

Pierre Cormier • I agree with David's comments regarding all the factors that come into play in the making of an entrepreneur. The better entrepreneurs do need help along the way "to learn" on how to be an entrepreneur via growth/learning, pain, failure and success. 

Brian Wrightson • One cannot separate the born and made" elements entirely. Two children from the same family will be different at birth before environment conditions take their toll. One must possess certain intrinsic attributes to succeed in any field be it athletic or academic. I might have all the attributes to by a star cricket player (read entrepreneur) but I have never seen a game so we will never know because my environment never "allowed" this development. Or another question - is a latent entrepreneur still an entrepreneur?  


Stever Robbins • Just to be a bit provocative, might I suggest that the question is irrelevant. If someone is unemployed and can't find a job, they may be forced to start their own business regardless of whether they are an 'innate' or 'made' entrepreneur. Likewise, offered a $1mm/year salary at an established investment bank being a spreadsheet monkey may seduce the most 'innate' entrepreneur into a life of complacency. Furthermore, if we take a non-innate entrepreneur and train them in the basics of business and put them through an experiential boot camp of getting out there and actually starting something, they may well find they love it. So other than giving people an excuse not to go for it ("I'm not an innate entrepreneur and therefore shouldn't bother trying"), I'm not sure the question serves any useful purpose.

"Picture the Results" of our Born OR Made Poll

If a picture is worth a thousand words, we'll let the image speak for itself.  Thank you to all who participated in our Linkedin Poll.  We'll be adding some of the comments that were provided over the next few weeks. 

Please feel free to continue the discussion by adding your thoughts to any of the posts that you see in our Business Success BLOG. That's exactly what we plan to do as we review the feedback and remarks that are provided.  Thank you once again for your participation!

The original Linkedin Poll can be found by clicking on the URL embedded in this line.

Your Comments - Part 3 - "Born or Made"

We promised to provide you with some of the feedback being received on our Linkedin Poll, where we asked the question: Are Entrepreneurs Born, or are they Made?

Our Linkedin Poll was launched on December 18, 2011 and your response has been overwhelming!  Thank you to all who contributed to the debate or voted in our poll.

Below are just a few of the comments that were provided. We have generally not edited what you see below. We trust that it being place on this BLOG will allow opportunity for other to join in the discussion.  Enjoy and please ADD your COMMENTS to this POST!

Ed Davies • HI Jim, good question. I believe that entrepreneurs are created by the example of family and friends, business experience and by being blessed with the abilities needed to get the job done. It's not what we have been given however ,its what we do with it that makes the difference. The greatest support an entrepreneur has is a strong sense of self worh based on a solid understanding of who you are. It's like any other relationship if you don't love yourself you can't love others. And in a business relationship if you don't have a good sense of who you are, what's important to you, and that what you have to offer is of value life will be difficult. 

Dawna Allard • Such a great question as we strive to support Alberta's entrepreneurs realize their aspirations. I agree enterpreneurs can be made however, they fall under the 80-20 rule where the minority are the truly successful ones that have a natural born trait. When this trait is mixed with the other necessary ingredients of timing of education, work and life experiences - we get our Great Entrepreneurs. So both born and made applies!  

Stever Robbins • It's interesting how many of the comments here deal with willingness to take risks. The research I was exposed to when working at Babson College (#1 in the world for entrepreneurship for 15 years at both grad & undergrad level) is precisely the opposite: entrepreneurs are NOT more risk-seeking than anyone else. They are often obsessed with minimizing risk, in fact. Entrepreneur-as-risk-taker is a very, very common stereotype that is unsupported by the data. See: http://www.jstor.org/pss/255515 http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100331/SMALLBIZ/100339984# http://davetroy.com/posts/tag/effectuation 

The work of Saras Sarasvathy doing cognitive profiling of successful serial entrepreneurs suggests that (successful) entrepreneurs bound their risk to what they can afford to lose and work within that budget. They don't perceive it as risk because they've made the a priori decision that they are willing to lose the resources on the table. See http://www.effectuation.org for details on her fascinating and extremely applicable research. 

Also see http://actiontrumpseverything.com/ for her work as it's being brought out of the academic community into the mainstream. 

Your Comments - Part 2 - "Born or Made"

We promised to provide you with some of the feedback being received on our Linkedin Poll, where we asked the question: Are Entrepreneurs Born, or are they Made?

Our Linkedin Poll was launched on December 18, 2011 and your response has been overwhelming!  Thank you to all who contributed to the debate or voted in our poll.

Below are just a few of the comments that were provided. We have generally not edited what you see below. We trust that it being place on this BLOG will allow opportunity for other to join in the discussion.  Enjoy and please ADD your COMMENTS to this POST!

Oliver Baezner • I believe that entrepreneurs are made, but it's not completely cut and dry. Having completed dozens of behavioural assessments on entrepreneurs, I have found that often they have strong Director type qualities. It takes these qualities to have the "guts", "determination" and "drive" to break out on their own.

Dan Ohler, ACC, Relationship Specialist & Coach • Great question, Jim. I believe that anyone can be an entrepreneur. However, based upon behavioural style assessments, and a new profiling system I'm learning (called M_DNA), I think there are some people who are born with the hard-wiring that makes entrepreneurship more natural. They have the internal drive, tanacity, passion, and willingness to fail forward. That said, anyone can learn these things, and I believe it comes down to values. When clear on values, people will do almost anything to support those values. 

Neil Kaarsemaker • My vote was based on the premise that while anyone can seek to be entrepreneurial, you need some inherent attributes to thrive at being an entrepreneur. You can teach the skills & disciplines of being an entrepreneur but those who are hot wired for risk and with a strong self-believe and focus for achievement will generally find greater success as entrepreneurs. A voice from the dissenting camp.

Colin Christensen • I was born to be almost anything I want. My skills to be an entrepreneur are native, yes. But, my willingness to deal with risk are the choices I make. A great quote I saw. [Entrepreneurialism] is like jumping out of an airplane with all the materials needed to build a parachute. -- Glenn Bickenstaff

Your Comments - Part 1 - "Born, or Made?"

We promised to provide you with some of the feedback being received on our Linkedin Poll, where we asked the question: Are Entrepreneurs Born, or are they Made?

Our Linkedin Poll was launched on December 18, 2011 and your response has been overwhelming!  Thank you to all who contributed to the debate or voted in our poll.

Below are just a few of the comments that were provided. We have generally not edited what you see below. We trust that it being place on this BLOG will allow opportunity for other to join in the discussion.  Enjoy and please ADD your COMMENTS to this POST!

Greg Gazin • If you agree with Toastmasters new tag line, where leaders are made, you would have your answer. Before I joined, leadership, especially talking on the role as District Governor, akin to a CEO, was never on my radar. Toastmasters - the people & the program helped open that door for me. Therefore.... Leaders (Entrepreneurs) are Made! 

Stever Robbins • Once upon a time, EVERYONE was an entrepreneur. The "company man" (or woman) phenomenon is only about 150 years old. Entrepreneurship is a behavior that can be learned by anyone who really wants to learn it. (In fact, I would argue we're naturally entrepreneurs and train it out of people when we send them into the corporate world.)  

Michelle Devlin • I concur with Stever in that we are ALL entrepreneurs in some way - we're born with it. Our whole life we are "selling" ourselves, so in my mind the question is, who keeps that burning desire, takes risks and puts finances on the line to do it? Had the question been: Are SUCCESSFUL entrepreneurs born or made?... I believe they are MADE - through their experiences, mentors and knowledge. 

David Abday • Entrepreneurs in my opinion are made but I believe that there are a number of factors that influence how difficult the "making of an entrepreneur" becomes 1) The personality type and the associated approach to risk, 2) childhood experiences associated with entrepreneurs (success/failures and associated emotions of those affected), 3) mentors, parents and other heroes/villains, 4) motivational factors (rebellion against authority, factors that drive success, seeking approval of specific people) ... etc. Overall making of an entrepreneur is a transforming process usually involving pain, growth, failure and success.

Entrepreneurs ... Born, or Made? (Follow-up Part 3)

HERE is our third segment related to the question: Are Entrepreneurs Born, or are they Made?

BTW - this may be your last opportunity to participate in our Linkedin Poll related to this question, please do so before the poll closes at the end of January 2012.  Take a moment to review the responses and feedback that people have provided!  Cast your vote, and learn from the many who have have already posted. For those unable to access Linkedin, we'll post some of the best comments that we've seen to this BLOG, so be sure to watch for updates!

Here are a few additional findings from "Nurture or Nature: Decoding the Entrepreneur," the report that was released a few months ago by Ernst and Young.  (A survey of 685 entrepreneurs from E&Y's worldwide and in-depth interviews with winners of the Entrepreneur Of the Year award.)

Entrepreneurs share common traits

While our research suggests that entrepreneurs are made, rather than born, the survey did find entrepreneurs will typically exhibit a combination of behaviors and attitudes that are likely to be different from many of their peers in more well established corporate organizations.  When asked what the top three most important qualities of an entrepreneurial leader are, over three quarters of the entrepreneurs identified ‘having a vision’, 73% ‘passion’ and 64% ‘drive’.  The scores for flexibility (33%), relentless focus on quality (18%) and loyalty (14%) were much lower.  

Maria Pinelli, the new Global Vice Chair Strategic Growth Markets for Ernst & Young concludes: “These findings highlight that most successful entrepreneurs share a unique combination of seeing opportunity where others see only risk.  And they tend to be optimists and believe they can succeed despite the fact that everyone else is telling them they cannot.”

Source:  http://www.ey.com/GL/en/Newsroom/News-releases/Entrepreneurs-are-made-not-born

“From Business Dream to Business Plan”

It's great to 'dream' of having a successful business, but where does the path to business success begin?  Where do those who want to start a business of their own begin?   (Let me come back to that in just a moment ...)

There are in fact many places that people can go to get additional information and training.  One group that I've had the privilege of helping over the years is Edmonton Public Schools Metro Continuing Education. 

Jim Ewing with Kevin Stevenson

In fact, I recently shared a wonderful evening together with many of their staff and instructors.  It was great to get to know them a little better and build relationships that I believe will be mutually beneficial in the future.  I was fortunate to be able to speak with Kevin Stevenson - Director, Metro Continuing Education.  Kevin and other presenters addressed the outstanding history of the organization and tribute was paid to those who greatly contributed to that history. 

One thing that I learned that evening - I did not know that Edmonton Public Schools Metro Continuing Education was able to trace their beginnings to having provided night school programs for adults in 1891.  Since then, courses have significantly expanded to meet the diverse needs of Edmonton's growing population - something that remains as driving force.

One of the programs that I am pleased to instruct: “From Business Dream to Business Plan” provides attendees with an opportunity to take their business idea through a process of evaluation in order to help them better determine what they need to do prior to starting a new business.  Participants are introduced to exploring business ideas, start-up considerations, marketing, planning, financing, operation and managing a business. Experienced guest speakers address some of the challenges that can be expected along the way.

 * If you are in the greater Edmonton area and would be interested in participating in the 4 session series, they are being held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm.

Start date is February 8, 2012, and the last class is on February 29, 2012.
More information about this program is listed on the Metro Continuing Education website (course number: 43000033  -01 in the Adult Continuing Education: Business & Management section.)

Click here to open the website where programs are listed in alphabetic order.

Entrepreneurs ... Born, or Made? (Follow-up Part 2)

HERE is another segment related to the question: Are Entrepreneurs Born, or are they Made?

BTW - if you have not yet participated in our Linkedin Poll related to this question, please do so before the poll closes at the end of January 2012.  Take a moment to review the responses and feedback that people have provided!  Cast your vote, and learn from the many who have have already posted. For those unable to access Linkedin, we'll post some of the best comments that we've seen to this BLOG, so be sure to watch for updates!

Here are a few additional findings from "Nurture or Nature: Decoding the Entrepreneur," the report that was released a few months ago by Ernst and Young.  (A survey of 685 entrepreneurs from E&Y's worldwide and in-depth interviews with winners of the Entrepreneur Of the Year award.)

Entrepreneurship is rarely a one-off decision

For the majority of entrepreneurs launching only one business venture is clearly not enough.  Sixty per cent had started three or more companies, 20% six or more and 10% said they had founded more than ten companies in their career to date.  That doesn’t mean that having created these companies they automatically cut all ties with their previous interests.  Among the survey respondents, 45% say that they have retained some ownership in each of their previous ventures, and 28% say that they have retained a stake in some of them.

Funding, people and know-how are the biggest barriers to entrepreneurial success

Among the 6 out of 10 respondents who experienced obstacles in their ventures, the most common barrier to future growth cited (33%) is the lack of funding or finance.  This reflects the current environment, where many entrepreneurs said they continued to experience problems with accessing finance, despite a gradual easing of credit conditions in many countries.  The two other most-cited obstacles are recruiting the right people with appropriate expertise.

Source:  http://www.ey.com/GL/en/Newsroom/News-releases/Entrepreneurs-are-made-not-born

Globe and Mail's Top 10 Business Books of 2011

A colleague provided me with a link to the Globe and Mail's Top 10 Business Books of 2011

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/management-book-excerpts/top-10-business-books-of-2011/article2270068/

While each may make for some great reading, one that jumped out for me was, "Great by Choice" by Jim Collins and Morten Hansen (HarperBusiness).  The article makes the following comments:

"After his towering bestseller Good To Great, a number of critics seemed to be waiting in ambush for Mr. Collins when this book came out, looking for faults to pick. Ignore them. This is another lively, clearly written book, with his partner this time, University of California’s Prof. Hansen. It has a solid research base that adds some more clues on how to manage for success."

If in fact, this book is anything like, Good to Great, I would also recommend it to business owners wanting to discover what it takes to build a business that stands the test of time. Look for many new and wonderful lessons to help move your business forward and take it to new levels of success1"

Entrepreneurs ... Born, or Made? (Follow-up Part 1)

We asked the question: Are Entrepreneurs Born, or are they Made?

Since we began our Linkedin Poll on December 18, 2011 we've been amazed to see the response and feedback that people have provided!  If you have a Linkedin Profile, we encourage you to visit the poll, cast your vote before the poll closes at the end of January 2012, and learn from the outstanding comments that many professionals and entrepreneurs have posted. For those unable to access Linkedin, we'll post some of the best comments that we've seen to this BLOG, so be sure to watch for updates!

While the question of whether entrepreneurs are 'born' or 'made' has been asked by many people over the years, I came across a report that was released a few months ago by Ernst and Young addressing this same thing.  Here are just a few of the findings from their survey of 685 entrepreneurs from E&Y's worldwide and in-depth interviews with winners of the Entrepreneur Of the Year award.

- Nearly 60% of them have worked in a corporate environment; 

          FYI - 33% say this was key to their success

- 45% of entrepreneurs start their first business after age 30
- 10% of entrepreneurs started ten or more companies

The research challenges the stereotype that all entrepreneurs start their companies without completing a formal education and without any experience of corporate life. Although many of the entrepreneurs that were surveyed started at a young age, 45% of the respondents said they did not start their business until they were 30 or more. 

And nearly 60% described themselves as “transitioned” entrepreneurs, who have previously worked in a corporate environment before setting out on their own.

When asked what was the most important source of learning in terms of their career, one third of all entrepreneurs (the highest ranking) said it was their experience as an employee. Thirty per cent highlighted higher education and 26% mentors.

Maria Pinelli, the new Global Vice Chair Strategic Growth Markets for Ernst & Young explains, “Entrepreneurial leaders are defined as much by their early business experience, cultural background and external environment as they are by any innate personal characteristics. Nurture not nature does appear to be more important in shaping the entrepreneurial mindset.”

Source:  http://www.ey.com/GL/en/Newsroom/News-releases/Entrepreneurs-are-made-not-born

Secrets to Networking Success!

One of the keys to great client service involves developing and maintaining a solid network of key contacts.  Building, strengthening and tapping into those contacts are important to the advancement of what you do! 

READ THIS POST and then share some of your "Secrets to Networking Success" by adding a comment below.

The attached link by Rick Spence of the Financial Post was provided by my friend, Michael Hughes.  Michael has developed a reputation as North America's top networking guru!  The full article offers some great tips that can help each of us maximize the value of our individual and business related networking activities.  I encourage you to read the entire article and here are a few key points that I’ve pulled out for your benefit.

Tips from the full article:

1.      Look for an area of "need, interest or value" to your business or organization, and a way to participate that will make a difference.
 

2.      Most of your business and referrals will come from the 5% of your contacts who matter most.  So you have to identify these VIPS and focus most of your attention on them and their networks. "It's not a shotgun strategy, but a laser strategy," he says.

3.      To prioritize your leads, Hughes suggests making a list of all the important contacts, clients and influencers in your business, and then rate them (from 1 to 10) according to key attributes: 

• Your level of comfort with each other; 
• The amount of trust in your relationship; 
• The potential of each individual (and their network) to your business objectives; and
• The amount of fun in your relationship.  

The people with the highest composite scores are the high-value relationships you should focus on most.  Get to know them better and develop a contact plan and follow-up strategy for each. Your goal is to build the relationship on three pillars: trust, value, and reciprocation. Before you can expect anyone to do anything for you - or even pay attention to you - you have to demonstrate your value to them.  

Why not try to complete the suggested exercise that is noted in #3 above?
  

Here’s the link http://www.financialpost.com/news/network+design+default/5811115/story.html

Visit the Website for Michael J. Hughes, Canada's Networking Guru
www.NetworkingForResults.com

Work Less, Do More, and Have a Great Life!

Work Less, Do More, and Have a Great Life!:

As you head into 2012, here’s a simple thought to keep in mind. Sometimes what we care most about seems like an afterthought, but it really isn’t. Here’s how to make sure you don’t get lost in 2012.

Please read the rest of this article by my friend:

Stever Robbins, <http://www.SteverRobbins.com>  serial entrepreneur, productivity expert, adjunct lecturer at Babson College, and host of the top-10 iTunes podcast, The Get-it-Done Guy <http://www.getitdoneguy.com> . You can find more of his work at http://www.SteverRobbins.com.

Entrepreneurs ... are they Born OR Made?

It's a very interesting question and the answer is still up for debate!

We've set up a Poll on Linked-In and hope to share some of those responses with you following its close at the end of January 2012. 

If you have a Profile on Linkedin, please take a moment to vote in that poll at: http://t.co/5RIHzsME

PLUS - we'd love to hear your comments on this question ... 

"Are Entrepreneurs Born OR Made?"  

What are your thought on either side of that debate?

Success is a Team Effort!

As we were preparing a POST for our ProVision - Mentorship BLOG, we came across some wonderful information related to Andrew Carnegie.

The following can be found on the Website for the Carnegie Mellon Institute of Technology at: http://www.cit.cmu.edu/giving/index.html

Andrew Carnegie was a penniless Scottish immigrant who became a steel-maker, controlling over 25% of American steel production by 1899.  By 1902, he was the richest man in the world.  But if that was his only legacy, by his own words, Carnegie would have "died disgraced."

"There is no class so pitiably wretched," he said, "as that which possesses money and nothing else."

Over the course of his lifetime, Andrew Carnegie would give away over $350 million dollars. In today's economy, those gifts would surpass a half billion.  Most of us don't have $350 million dollars, much less a half a billion, but we can make choices about how to use the money we do have.  We can decide to make an impact.

The inscription on Andrew Carnegie's tombstone reads, "Here lies a man who knew how to enlist the service of better men than himself."

As we ponder those words, I am reminded that SUCCESS in virtually any field of endeavour is more likely to come only after years of dedication and discipline.  The reality is that this "success" has often taken years to achieve. Furthermore, there are truly very few success stories that are genuinely 'solo efforts'. The work that we do, and the work of other successful people has almost always involved others who have in some way played a part in the advancement of that effort.  (As was noted on Andrew Carnegie’s tombstone.)

That's why we believe that success is a 'team' effort!  It is possible to achieve success and help others to be successful in their development. That's why Mentorship is so important in the development of people.  Mentorship helps people to more quickly and more fully develop their full potential.  And that's why we've added these resources and made them FREELY AVAILABLE for anyone who is looking at developing their potential. 

View some of the video clips that we've put together.  We trust that you will enjoy and learn from our many interviews with people spanning a wide variety of careers and industry sectors.  

Visit our YouTube Channel at:
    http://www.youtube.com/user/ProvisionMentorship

Please feel free to comment on, and pass along the URL for our Mentorship and Business Success BLOGs.

The Biggest Challenge I Had to Overcome

Who doesn't love a good success story?  There's something that really inspires us when we hear of the challenges that others have overcome to reach success.  When it comes to "Success Stories", I'm reminded of the perspective that Dan Jelinski shared in our video clip, “Everyday Heroes” - one of several videos in our "Stories that Mentor" Series.  Dan describes the three stages found in the classic, Hero's Journey.  View his video now on our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ProvisionMentorship    or at the direct link provided here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eUwW4QTHRE )

Perhaps you've got a story of overcoming a challenge!  Why not take a few moments to share it with others?  We'd love to hear from you!

Here's the perfect opportunity for you to express your unique story, of facing and overcoming some of the biggest challenges that a business owner may face along the road to success. 

Try using this simple framework to help guide you:

1) Tell us a little about the background and nature of the business.

2) What was the situation that you were facing? (The problem or challenge.)

3) What were some of the options that you considered, and the pros/cons associated with them?

4) What was your decision, how did you proceed, and what was the outcome?

5) Were there some lessons learned from the experience?  What would you do differently if you were given the opportunity to face that challenge again?

We welcome your contributions to this POST, and encourage you to provide a SECOND POST with your contact information.  This will be helpful because editing of your post is not permitted.  Having your contact information separately will allow us to get in touch with you for any further clarification and perhaps an interview for one of our future video clips on Business Success!  Thanks - We're looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Small Business Statistics in Canada

Every now and again I'm asked for information on how many small businesses there are in Canada. Here are some recent statistics that were recently compiled by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) related to small business in Canada:

Interested in how much small businesses contribute to Canada's economy?

Want to know how many small businesses are there in Canada, or how many people they employ? 

More information is available at: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/10-surprising-stats-small-business-canada-095704808.html

Canada - One of the Best Countries for Small Business

Please forgive me for doing something that Canadians are not known for doing ... but I couldn't resist 'running this up the flagpole' and letting others see this article. 

By all means, please read the full article in the Oct 31, 2011 Financial Post, written by Eric Lam   – http://business.financialpost.com/2011/10/31/world-beaters-for-startups/

Canada is one of the best countries among the G20 for small business owners, but there is still plenty of room for improvement, especially as the country will need to lean on younger entrepreneurs coming out of the current recession, Ernst & Young said in a new business barometer released Monday.

The study, prepared for the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Summit in Nice, France, that starts Monday, surveyed 1,000 entrepreneurs across the G20 (50 in each country).

It found Canada is among the leaders in several areas, including business confidence, startup costs, strong banking sector, and good coaching and education programs for young entrepreneurs.

“There is only one G20 country – Canada – that can claim that high levels of confidence among entrepreneurs in their country are reflected in a similarly high number of new businesses registered,” the authors of the study said. “For all other countries there are significant opportunities for improvement on one or both of these key measures.”

Read the full article in the Financial Post at: http://business.financialpost.com/2011/10/31/world-beaters-for-startups/

Working with Others Successfully

We recently had opportunity to take in the now world-famous production, STOMP.  Perhaps you've heard of it ... and, I'd be really surprised if you haven't!  :)


To be truthful, I wasn't really sure what we were going to be 'in for', but I anticipated that it would be LOUD. So, yes - I came prepared!  I had a set of ear plugs, just in case the volume became too overwhelming, and I also brought a couple of extra sets of ear plugs that I could pass along to others in our little group ... again, just in case they were needed!


Well ... I am pleased to let you know that the ear plugs were NOT required. In fact, the entire evening was a very pleasant surprise and totally enjoyable. VERY INTERACTIVE with the audience, funny, captivating, a definite production to take in - great for kids too!


NOW ... WITH RESPECT TO WORKING WITH OTHERS ... there isn't much getting away from it, is there?  You may operate your business as a sole practitioner, independent contractor, proprietor etc. BUT the reality is that every business is dependant upon OTHERS for their success!  The 'others' that I am referring to could include: customers, suppliers, employees, sub-contractors, funders, regulators, just to mention a few. The key to success is to find a way to work with the important 'others' that are a part of our lives.


We invite your suggestions in a comment to this POST, on HOW CAN WE BETTER WORK WITH OTHERS?


REGARDING "STOMP": (from http://www.stomp.co.uk/about/)

STOMP is a group of people, with very strong personalities, who work together using simple building blocks to create something complex , something everyone can identify with: everyone has, at some time, to engage in group activity, whether they like or know the people they are working with or not. It’s the little idiosyncrasies, the differences between people, and the games of one-upmanship that ensue, which define the group dynamic.

STOMP has no words – everyone can understand it. It has little or no melody in the traditional sense, so it doesn’t matter if your taste in music is jazz, classical, dance or pop. STOMP is about rhythm, which is common to all cultures. Everyone knows rhythm, if only from the beating of their own heart – it is the basis of all music.

BTW - there is a very funny sketch on NBC's Website from Saturday Night Live that I recommend you watch. It was referenced on the STOMP Website and comes with their endorsement!

Link to the SNL Digital Short: Stomp

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/snl-digital-short-stomp/1359562

"Success Thoughts"

I've been having a great time putting together a few "Success Thoughts" over the past month, and I'd like to share a few of them with you now.  Your comments, additions or contributions that will be helpful to others are welcome! (Feel free to share an example that supports one of the "Success Thoughts" listed here, although you may want to remove personal and business names in order to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of those involved!)

On Making Connections with Others: 

There is a very real difference between making "contact" and making "connection" with someone else. We all have contacts on a daily basis, but most of them are handled as ‘a matter of course’, providing a piece of information, a referral, or something that is similarly efficient. Sadly, real connections seem to be few and far between, so making an effort to build deeper relationships, with stronger connections, has great value and should be cultivated by us - at home, in our communities and in our places of work.

 

On Goal Setting: 

If you think about the importance of having a sense of purpose for your life, then Goal Setting really becomes a natural extension from that. If you know your purpose you will want to know your progress in relation to that purpose. The way to measure progress is by taking stock of the smaller goals that you have reached along the 'path' that is your life.

On Winning:
When we approach situations in life there is a tendency to think of someone Winning and therefore, someone else is going to be losing. Long-term, successful relationships are based upon finding creative ways to establish a "win-win" relationship. A "win-win" relationship will last infinitely longer than the one where the other party discovers that they have come out on the short end of the relationship. Therefore, real Winning needs to be "Win-Win".

What's Stopping You from Starting a Business?

Earlier this year (June 2011), I added a Post to this BLOG that mentioned some of the good research that the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has done. In a more recent study commissioned by CFIB, done in partnership with Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co. and Intel of Canada, Ltd. - Angus Reid was commissioned to complete two opinion polls in order to better understand the public's opinions about small business. While many factors were addressed, it took an important look at aspects impacting entrepreneurship and conditions important to maintaining a vibrant small business sector in Canada.

Overall, the report highlights the high level of respect that the majority of Canadians place upon small business. Through the report, small businesses share a number of valuable insights related to the early stages of their development, and their plans for the future, including the use of technology.  

See the full report on the CFIB Website.  As of the date of this Post, it was located at:  http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/cfib-documents/rr3231.pdf

One of the highlights included the following CFIB Question and assessment that came after 2,028 responses to the Angus Reid Forum poll.

Question: What prevents you from going into business for yourself?

CFIB Comments:  The answer is that there is much at stake in terms of financing and risk. The biggest barrier to business ownership was the lack of money (57 per cent). The public’s views are very much in line with findings from CFIB’s Banking Matters report, which shows that 61 per cent of business owners had trouble securing term financing or a loan from their bank. (CFIB, 2007)   The next biggest barriers are the amount of risk involved (40 per cent) and uncertainty about the success of the business (36 per cent).

Other reasons included:
   Lack of skills or knowledge (29 per cent)
   Lack of resources (22 per cent)
   Lack of time (21 per cent)
   Other (19 per cent)
   Lack of support from friends and family (5 per cent)

SO - What do you feel holds people back from starting the business of their dreams?