Creative Clarity: Week 1

NXLevel Entrepreneur Program:
observations & highlights 

Our first class opened with 15 students and the amazing diversity among people and ideas that we so often find in here in the valley is soon evident.    We talk and realize we are not alone.   Everyone struggles, has challenges, hurdles to overcome.  I feel compassion and humility for myself and others.

We all have expectations, even if we think our minds are open.   This first class was a case in point.  I did not expect, 30 minutes into class that a comment, briefly made, would have such a dramatic effect on me. Three simple words spoke to a part of me that has been clamoring, quite unsuccessfully, for attention.  Maintain your health.   Work on it.   Appreciate and bless it.   Who among us lucky generally healthy folk hasn’t pushed the limit on this more times than we can remember?   ( Not only is good health a wise choice for obvious reasons,  it's a cost effective one.  The self-employed don’t have paid sick days. )  Maybe we get the message on our health when we are ready to hear it.  Maybe we get the message in time to do something about it.    In any case, I have scheduled several exams, someRolfing sessions and started taking vitamins again. Got to give ourselves some love too.  

Guest speakers from the community are scheduled for all our classes and Anthony Poponi  (entrepreneur,  director of Coal Creek Watershed Coalition, foster father)  came in and casually shared his insights and philosophy.

  

Here's a list of commonplace things that successful entrepreneurs do. (Over and above being able to spell entrepreneur.)  Yeah, some of them are simple and obvious and maybe that's why they can be undervalued.  Make them part of who you are. 

• Network and be active in the community
• Talk about your business, see every situation as an opportunity
• Be genuine
• Don’t be intimidated by others
• Be intentional and outspoken about what you have to offer . . . you never know who you are talking to 
• Think about where you hang out and who you may meet/see while you are there  
• Remind people all time of what you have to offer 
• Think of ways to compensate for being an introvert 
• Step out of your comfort zone
• Get your personal priorities in order   
• How am I different and what do I have to offer? 
• Put that sign you made over a year ago on your bike . . . . stupid and what about some window advertising on the Subaru?
• Ask folks for referrals 

Why do the simple things seem hard?   Or is it just me?

 

Background:  

The NXLevel Entrepreneur Program is a 10 week class being hosted for the first time in Gunnison, CO through the SBDC and Western State College.  I am a designer and artist and am taking this class to become better organized, more knowledgeable about my strengths and weaknesses and to learn to be a better business person.   I'm also assessing how this program works for a right brained person who doesn't necessarily 'get' things in the way most people do.   It should be interesting and most certainly challenging!