Yesterday Beyonce appeared at a campaign rally for Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and no matter what your political views, there are lessons for entrepreneurs in the event.
I am a person who has always believed that you can teach old dogs new tricks. I run my business with that idea in mind. Entrepreneurs should be mindful of the fact that there are lessons to be learned in a variety of ways and in a variety of places. Not all lessons are taught in traditional courtrooms. This is important to remember because it can keep you from missing lessons in surprising or unexpected places. No matter an entrepreneur’s political affiliations there are three lessons entrepreneurs can take from Beyonce’s performance at Hillary Clinton’s recent political rally. The lessons are the following:
- No woman is an island.
- Some else’s shine does not put you in the dark
- Share your big vision
No woman is an island.
Entrepreneurs often think they are in it alone. This is particularly true for entrepreneurs who are solopreneurs or those who work from a home office. When you are alone in your work, it is hard to believe that you are an island and have to do everything alone. This is not the case. Even if you are the Chief Executive of Everything at your company, take time for form relationships and bonds with others in and outside your industry. Create a group made up of other solopreneurs that you can talk to, ask for advice and whom you can support as well. Human beings, even entrepreneurs are social creatures and it is a good thing to be able to interact with other entrepreneurs. Never forget the being a solopreneur does not mean you have to be lonely.
[Tweet “No woman is an island so you don’t have to always go it alone.”]
Someone else’s shine does not put you in the dark.
Often entrepreneurs feel pressured to be the star of the show at their businesses. After all ,if you are the founder, creator, president and CEO you are used to making things happen. It is your responsibility to guide your company and in many cases you are the face of the empire. It is tempting to take those roles and responsibilities and to never let anyone else step up to shine. This is a mistake. It can be beneficial to allow someone else to step up and shine. No employee, partner or customer can diminish your shine. Never believe that your candle will shine less brightly just because another candle starts to shine. This means if a partner, employee or other person can shine brightly and help your business reach its goals, let that person shine and shine brightly.
[Tweet “Someone else’s shine does not put you in the dark so don’t be afraid to let someone else be a star.”]
Share your big vision.
Entrepreneurs must protect their businesses. They must protect trade secrets, business formulas, client information and a variety of other things. At the same time, there are things an entrepreneur can about her business. When you have a big, grand, audacious business plans share them. Find ways to publicize the great things that are on the way. Use social media to create a buzz. Tell your fiends who like to share other people’s successes. Do not keep the wonderful things that will happen with your business to yourself. Find appropriately places to share and then share away. Do not waste the shining light that is your business by hiding your great plans under a bushel.
[Tweet “Share your big vision for your company and allow others to help you make it a reality.”]
If you are an entrepreneur – ABL – Always Be Learning. There are new things that can be learned each day and every opportunity, news event and even songs on the radio have learning opportunities if you are willing to look out for them.