There are some key issues he supports, on which my ethics do not conform with. I was not an Obama supporter prior to the elections. I still don’t support quite a few of his politics, but I am bowled over by his work ethic, charm and willingness to bring change.

Whether right or wrong, I never doubted his sincerity! Obama can inspire you beyond the racial or political affiliation one may have. He sure inspires me a lot. Man, is this an extremely hard working dude or what? He is focused, determined on the issues and is intent on solving them. He is always tackling one problem to another at record pace. He sure earns his paycheck deservedly.

I am glad we have someone in the White House, who is looking to get things done as opposed to engaging with mere fluff talk and flat footed hyperbole. Things do not change in our lifetime simply because we have talks and discussions or different points of views.

Things change because smart folks like Obama, are constantly in ACTION, taking ACTION, taking CHANCES to see what works and what does not and in the process, trying to get THINGS DONE. If you don’t act, your thoughts, plans and intent are merely that – Wishful thinking. Go Obama!

Susan Boyle – This world learned a simple lesson in humility, love and appreciation. So much for ‘What you see is what you get!’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Six Traits That Separate the Achievers From the Wannabes

Cheryl Dorsey, president of Echoing Green, a social entrepreneurship funder which has dispensed over $27M to projects such as City Year and Teach for America, says the people who make things happen share certain common traits.

Each year Echoing Green vets about 1000 ideas to come up with 15 projects they want to fund. The trick, Dorsey says, is ferreting out which of those submissions is not just a scalable idea, but has a person behind it with the right stuff to make it happen.

“There’s truly magic to doing this work,” she said. “You’ve got to find the right person, with the right idea, who can execute, and who’s at the right moment in time for idea to take flight.”

To separate the worthy from the wannabes, Echoing Green canvassed the characteristics of more than 500 Echoing Green fellows. They distilled them and put them together into something they call the social entrepreneurship intelligence–with a nod to Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence (EQ).

Running out of time, Dorsey listed six:

1. Core identity formation and alignment. “These folks,” she said, “have reached a level of authenticity in life. They have found purpose and passion. They know what they’re on earth to do. They’re in the Social Change ‘zone.’ They have head/heart alignment.”

2. Focused and ability to execute with alacrity. “It’s not enough to have an idea. You must be able to prove your model is having an impact and build on it.”

3. Solutions oriented.

4. Asset based thinking. “Most of us deficit based thinkers,” Dorsey said. “But instead of seeing the world as filled with problems, they see opportunities. They see the glass as half full, and execute against all odds.”

5. Resource magnet. They’re able to draw money, garner human capital, and attract media attention.

6. Deep and unshakable commitment to a cause.

On The Net : Fast Company

Are you deceiving yourself?

This question is 100% directed to those self appointed entrepreneurs. You see, if there was an institution which gave away entrepreneurial credentials upon completing the required education, it would be a nurturing experience.

Alas, other than gaining a crash course in business management, MBA or acquiring some business skill, there is no agency, institution or authority, which can grant you recognition as an entrepreneur.  Either you are an entrepreneur or you are not. And the critical element in establishing your entrepreneurial credentials does not lie with your assumption. Your business and the state of your enterprise dictates that.

On the flip side, there are too many entrepreneur wannabes who fake themselves as entrepreneurs. On the surface, they essentially do all the right things. They talk business all the time. They network. They attend meetings. They have kept some aspect of their business afloat. They may offer some services relevant to their enterprise.

But, what sets an entrepreneur apart from a wannabe is (among many other virtues) is constructing a solid foundation upon which the enterprise will rise up from.

I have met many people over the years, who, upon being introduced, claim to be in business. I have met the same set of people, who have given up on the business they claimed to be in, when I first met them. They are now pushing an entire different business model banking on it to click. An entrepreneur never JUST chases the next hot opportunity. He or she, creates one.

One can never be an entrepreneur, if the needs of the self takes over the needs of the business. The business must remain the #1 priority.

One can never be an entrepreneur, when one is involved with drugs or any form of substance abuse. These folks are worst kinds. Their illusions are so real to them that, these fools hardly understand the quiet laughter of disdain from the smart crowd. They hear it as applause. If you do any kind of drugs or substance abuse, then please, join a circus. Clowns like you make the profession look bad.

One can never be an entrepreneur, if one does not take care of their physical well being. If you are not around, your business won’t be either.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, if one does not engage in well educated risks, even though it may be overwhelming to average mortals. Remember, an entrepreneur is not an average entity you may find on the street hustling to reach their cubicle for another day’s worth of slavery.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, if one does not know how to sell. If, you have not made a pitch to sell your products or services yesterday, then there is no better time to start NOW and continue, every day. Else, stop this charade of calling yourself an entrepreneur. You are a slave in a business attire.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, when one does not  document their actions. Consider what you did for your business yesterday. Write it down. You know you are deceiving yourself if you could not write 2 strategically important things you did for your business yesterday. Stop making a fool of yourself by calling yourself an entrepreneur. Go get a job. At least, you will have 10 things to document at your workplace.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, if you don’t follow up with your actions of yesterday. Every attempted action related to your business must be analyzed for expected ROI. If you networked yesterday at an event, you ended up wasting perhaps an entire evening, if you did not measure expected ROI in its estimated time. Do me a favor? Don’t call this networking. This is socializing.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, if one does not write down achievable written goals. If you have not written your goals, stop calling yourself and entrepreneur. You are making yourself look bad.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, if one cannot take RISKS. Entrepreneurial risks are not the same as the risks people take at the casinos. To a great extent, you are in charge. You control the wheel. If you are afraid to ride on that slippery slope, you might as well not ride the vehicle of entrepreneurship at all.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, if one conducts their business with emotions. Well, we all react to the high’s and low’s of our business and emotions do play a part. I do too, and oft times very candidly and brutally without regard to what others may think of me. I seldom care. But they (emotions) should NOT play a part when coming up with important decisions. Take emotions out of it. Decide what is good or bad for your business with salient research, pros and cons and its short and long term consequences.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, if one seeks instant results. You must learn to sow your seeds and nourish and nurture the sapling before its roots are firm and the tree grows tall and strong. Only then, will it bear fruits.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, if one is unethical.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, if one engages in harming its competitors by using a bully pulpit or unfair means.

One cannot be an entrepreneur, if one merely socializes and spends time with other entrepreneurs.

Finally, one cannot be an entrepreneur, if one does not make money worth some consequence. Keep in mind, your business must deliver results. If the barometer of your entrepreneurship is measured by making money, then make certain, your business does. You can fool yourself only so long.

If your business did not make $10 this week or to be fair, even $5 this month, then, there is something wrong. The business model is flawed. And if you are 100% certain, the business model works, then it is YOU who is flawed. You are doing not nearly anything enough to make it work.

All the points I have mentioned about is not just a good read. They are relevant to your enterprise everyday. “Did I say, everyday?”

So, before you hand over your business card to a prospect, before you attend another business event, before you entitle yourself the credentials of an entrepreneur, take the test of being a real entrepreneur. And you will have to take this test everyday. For, if you don’t, you are merely deceiving yourself.

You know how you feel when someone scams you, when someone rips you off. Scamming and ripping yourself by deceiving the self, is worse.

I know a lot of them myself. They do a poor job parading themselves as entrepreneurs. And that my friend, is a shame.