Where Did That Come From?

by Dianne J. Shaver, Founder and CEO of EMW

How did they think of that?

Where do all of these amazing entrepreneurial ideas come from?  For every entrepreneur there is a dream of what they want to be in the world.  What they want to contribute.  It is their passion - what they have to do to feel complete.  The interesting thing is transforming the dream and making it into an actual business.  The dream might be to change the world, which when translated into a business, might not actually look like the original dream, but it might be a something that influences people positively and gives them hope, inspiration and the kind of help they desperately need. 

It may directly address an issue that affects people in a positive way.  Perhaps we do not need to try to change the whole world.  It's enough to change our small corner. When we are true to ourselves and make our dreams happen in whatever way we can, we are setting an example and empowering others to have the courage to do the same. The dream is huge and though the actual business might not seem as grand, you never know whose life you change. It is up to each of us to honor that dream and to follow it where it leads us.  As we do that, other ideas will come to us to add to or build on our original idea.  When we honor who we are, then all the doors open to us.  We will find people to help us create our business, mentors to guide us and opportunities we never thought of will open for us. Once we provide fertile ground, the ideas keep on coming.  Ultimately, it's not for us to judge whether the ideas is grand enough, but  understand that it is only the beginning.

This quote from poet T.S. Eliot says it perfectly,

“Between the conception
And the creation
Between the emotion
And the response
Falls the Shadow”

The inner dream may be huge and the act of translating it into a business might seem like a letdown.  But trust yourself.  Know that how the dream manifests itself in a business will be just right and exactly what the world needs.  Know that you will always be building on it, changing it, re-creating it as your business progresses. That is part of the entrepreneurial makeup and that is exactly how a business remains fresh, relevant, responsive to the current culture and therefore, successful. 

Entrepreneurs are problem solvers. We want to dissect an issue and create the solution.  We have an intense curiosity about life and about how things work. There is also passion and drive to make something happen. When you put those qualities together with the inner dream, you have a very powerful combination - an entrepreneurial spirit; a creator, innovator and doer. The drive to create and to innovate is the earmark of a true entrepreneur.  Trust your intuition, trust that voice within you that is urging you on. Trust yourself.

Business is the vehicle for getting our ideas into the world.  Everything is a business, even the arts.  If there is something in you that wants to find expression, allow yourself to explore it. Speak with others who have done something like it to find out what they did, even though you will create your own path.  As you speak to people who have gone before you, it will make your dream seem more real to you. You'll be speaking the language of people who understand your drive and your passion.  The fact that they succeeded opens the door for your success.  You will know it can be done. You will come to believe that you, too can do it.  This is yours to do and this is the time and the place.  Go for it! Let the ideas flow!