FINAL PART - The survival guide to the Circular Economy (Part Three) - For (future) entrepreneurs an

The third and last part of this survival guide to the Circular Economy. Ohh nooo, snif, snif.

Don't be sad, this last wake-up call will eventually propel you to close the loop between where you are and aspire to be.

Let's be inspired by Andrea Gerosa as founder of ThinkYoung, Véronique Bockstael as CEO of BeCentral and Amaia Lasa as director of consumer experience and digital consultancy projects @HazelHeartwood!

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"Be prepared for bankruptcy." - A.G.

Andrea Gerosa - Founder of ThinkYoung

You launched your first company, everything is rolling, and suddenly you become a bit bored by what first excited you... No panic. For a multipreneur, as Andrea Gerosa for e.g., it's the natural life cycle of an entrepreneur. You need something new to look forward to, a new challenge to look dead in the eye and to give it a wink. Yesss, you're a normally constituted bossing babe or dude, it's all part of the genetics..

Hand it over to a rock solid management, keep an ownership percentage on your baby-company and let it go, to fulfill your burning purpose. Risk-taker.

Remember that everything you will do as an entrepreneur will have some degree of risk involved. Risk is just inherent. BUT this doesn't necessarily mean that taking risks is the secret to success... (Bustin' it!)

"So if there's something strange In your business Who you gonna call?

- Mythbusters!"

And.. if the strange thing is bankruptcy call your lawyer. Maybe she/he has the power to bust creditors away (who knows).

Anyway, don't spend your money in the wrong way. Like calling this lawyer from the beginning on to figure out how to create the company, if you should choose to be a non-profit or a for-profit one, or about how to write the statute of the business, etc. You'll lose 6 months and a large sum of money. That kind of waste has no place in the CE.

Okay, but where to start from then?

- Start from clients. You need someone to pay for your idea. If you find someone willing to pay for it, you've a business. If no one pays for it, maybe it's a stupid idea. Be prepared for stupid ideas, they are a part of the process too.

In any case since you ARE a risk-taker you're prepared for it, or if you still figure out how to be prepared for it, take this advice: start when you still have a job. Take this latter as your safety net and test for how much you really care about your business. Once this one generates you a bit of money, only then take according risks.

- Unfortunately, it doesn't erase the escape plan to survive bankruptcy. You could prepare yourself for the tragedy by setting targets that has to be achieved before a certain period of time. By sounding out how many projects before the business runs dry for example.

On top of that relying on saved money to survive some time after the dip, is useful.

- As a real risk-taker you not only plan your exit, but also your entry, which you best don't do it alone. As an entrepreneur, and human being, mastering everything is out of scope. Therefore having someone challenging every fantasy you have, could spare you from a nightmare or by the same token make that fairytale a reality. Further backing the entry up by a solid team is one of these secret ingredients to success. Investing in brains will always have a greater ROI than on technology, bear in mind: that last one may disrupt short after the cash-out.. (To the banks and insurances, technology salutes you once again.)

- Now that the leap has been made, building up a brand and presence can be achieved by social media marketing. Notably by using Facebook-, Google-ads, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn and the good old cold calls. If these tools ain't so familiar to you, Youtube can help you or you can use the services of Joachim Badejoh & Jessica De Block to boost it in your place.

I hope you do not feel too nauseous after this part. But I bet you get it, being an entrepreneur is like being on a rollercoaster 24/24 and 7/7 in your professional as (sometimes) also in your personal life, before you are completely established. You know with the dog and stuff.

Therefore following a wise man's word cannot be as harmful: "To be ready to fail is to be prepared for success."

Namasté.

In brief: Preparation, Execution, Execution, Execution and sometimes Domperidone.

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"It's not because you are experienced that you are wiser or better than someone younger, you just have another perspective on things." - V.B.

Véronique Bockstael - CEO of BeCentral

BeCentral is on a mission to increase the digital footprint in Belgium.

After all the conferences you assisted, all the advices you ever heard, all the motivational speakers and movies you ever watched (I am guilty too), she will tell you what many others before her already told you:

Don't wait to start, just freaking START.

The 'just' screws it just all over, right? If it was JUST that simple I would JUST have done it already. Precisely!

What if I told you that your pain-&-pleasure associations are just not in balance?

- Do I have your attention by now?

So what if I told you that you just associate more PAIN than PLEASURE to starting?!

- "Well.. No, because you know I'm really motivated and I am really figuring a lot out to what and how and when and where before starting. That's not really pain, that's preparation you know.."

Just. Stop. Here. Please.

It's the pleasure of not starting that keeps you analyzing until getting paralyzed by the countless excuses (we don't even see as excuses anymore).

Aha, enlightenment!

(If getting rid of the pleasure of procrastinating is what you aim for, please be ready for the upcoming jabs!)

The only things you are allowed to use to fight back are a pencil and a journal (uhu, excuses are not allowed on the ring of success)

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First things first: the following steps are primordial to perform, if jabbing the procrastinator monster in you is the troublemaker, and you are ready to change your life for good (told you getting into deep stuff now). Than let's be true to ourselves for the next few minutes. Don't scroll further. Keep the pencil and the journal (or notes-app) by hand and fight.

1. Write down 3 simple actions you need to take, but somehow you put them off.

2. What is the pain you associated to NOT following through with it in the past?

3. What are all the pleasures of not following through you have linked to it?

4. What will it cost you (emotionally, relationally, professionally, in your self-esteem, with the people you care about, etc.) in the next 4-5 years, if you don't do it? (List all the emotions that will be involved)

5. (Finally) What will you GAIN if you DO it right NOW? And for this one, you make a MASSIVE list of gains! (like: "I will gain more control over my life, better feelings, stronger relationships, the girl/guy of my dreams, the spaceship, that one island, etc.)

Once the fight is over and you got everything in perspective, try to see the pains differently and question them by focusing more on the pleasures and the gains (the love of your life, the jets, the travels, financial freedom,... getting the moves?)

Now that you understand where that negativity comes from and have committed yourself to choose to listen to that powerful inner voice, congratulate yourself!!

You can feel damn good about yourself for this massive step forward. (If you did not complete the questions before still feel damn good about yourself, beating yourself up will not help you further. AND I will not forbid you to scroll further, I mean you envisioned to do it later on and even if you scroll further after I warned you not to, I'm NOT the scrolling-police, everyone is badass on this blog anyway!

But still... you really, really, really should complete these life changing questions NOW, just saying..)

So (some of) you HAVE fulfilled the assignment right before, even so there will still be some skepticals, perfectionistas and introverts, who will still think:

- Right, got the perspectives in check. But.. I'm so shy, introverted (I'm one too, so welcome to the club by the way) and the perfectionism in me still get the best of me at times (like not fulfilling the assignment before, because doing it right now will make it less than perfect I understand: been there, done that) and now your inner critic trapped you into:

- What the hell is wrong with me?

Seriously.

I mean, didn't you JUST fulfilled the assignment and so much more a few times ago? And liked/shared/double-tapped that inspirational pic about execution?

I mean, you're a smart person.

Degrees and shit.

You've been looking around at your I'm-Supposed-To-Be-Happy-Because-I've-Checked-All-The-Boxes Life and keep saying, Why am I not where I should be?

And then the GUILT...

Guilt for not being satisfied.

Guilt for feeling lost, uncertain, and unhappy.

Guilt for feeling not enough.

"You should be so grateful!" your inner voice screams (did we not burry this monster already?!)

NO PANIC. Remember the rollercoaster, the Domperidone and pitfalls along the way. They are ALL part of the process.

Warning you, to make it work keep practicing, rehearsing and conditioning yourself EVERYDAY into closing the loop of where you are and want to be, with kindness, gentleness and patience. I promise, you'll get there.

Getting practical.

If being an introvert makes you shy away and question your existence when you are around others, STOP THERE. NOW.

You've every right to be WHERE you are, WHO you are, to have DOUBTS, FEARS, the EXPERIENCE you have had, your AGE, ETHNICITY, to come from PRIVILEGE or NOT, WHATEVER.

In business, personal things are out of the equation. You do business relationships, nothing else.

For all my introverted friends out there, when we go to networking events: put down this fifth glass of coke (it will spare you a third visit to the bathroom).

Also if people come to NETWORKING events they WANT to be 'bothered' and talked to:

If you don't know them you just jump into a group of people: tell them your name, for which company you are working, you shake hands and you give your business card and ask them in return what they are doing and why they are at event in the first place? (getting practical)

Anyhow you'll find a link between you: a same company you worked with in the past, a person you both know, whatever.

The aim of networking events is not to talk for ages, you exchange, connect - give & take the business card - and than you follow up afterwards based on what you have exchanged (hint: add them on LinkedIn after the event & make the invitation personal: "Hi we met at this event, What is your company doing?, I would like to introduce you mine." Bam an appointment in the pocket.) Easyyy. (Getting your pain-&-pleasure balance lean towards the pleasures or reducing the pains is also a tip to take into consideration.) (If books can help you further: Quiet and Feel the fear and do it anyway, are highly recommended.)

In the same fashion perfectionistas find themselves paralyzed by their expectations they have for themselves. Really, YOU are the only one holding them for you, no one else. A nice and tricky trick to try is to hand in when you think you've given 80% of yourself in the work and see what happens. Just try it, once at least, even with typos (badasss). Nobody knows about your 100%, chill down.

Faillure.

The critic in you is still echoing behind the bars somewhere in your head: "And what if we still manage to fail after this whole therapy-thing, smarty?" And what if you just shut up yo face? This last one does not always work for long, so I suggest you remember the following:

- The definition of failure is really something personal that you define for yourself. (Adjust it?)

- Life is meant to try things out, to learn out of the owies, and that in fact after all there are no failures.

- Be a life-long learner and put the standards high for yourself (for this one sometimes you'll have to do it gradually too, to stay motivated, so don't be so hard on yourself. Keep going.)

Marketing & Sales.

As already stated before: "the only constant is the client". That's the starting point for your business and even more as a marketing &/or sales agency.

Who has your money in their pockets? And. How are you going to get it into your pockets? Are the questions to ask yourself. For more on this topic: "The art of Starting" of Kawasaki will open up some perspectives.

Further finding the right and intelligent mix of tools & metrics, based on the reach of each tool, is the goal. Don't overmeasure, you could lose yourself in all these tools.

A recurring marketing strategy is the one about sharing & caring AUTHENTICALLY what you have to give or in another term: being active in The Thank-You-economy.

"You cannot underestimate people's ability to spot a soulless, bureaucratic tactic a million miles away. It's a big reason why so many companies that have dipped a toe in social media waters have failed miserably. Because it's about the hours spent talking to people online afterward, making connections and building relationships.

A customer who spends only a few hundred dollars a year with you could be spending a few thousand elsewhere, maybe with your competitor. You may have no clue that the customer's best friend is the biggest buyer in the category.

What if you were able to build a relationship, make a connection, tilt the person's emotions toward you, and capture 30, 60, or even 100 percent of what he or she spends? Your small customer would become a lot bigger. That's why you have to take every customer seriously." (For more on this topic, I suggest this brilliant article: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219296)

Summed up: Share, share everything you have. EVEN if you have no experience in a specific field, sharing what you already know, is already very valuable! You don't know who you could touch with the this little knowledge of yours.

Investors - the money matters!

If you think that approaching investors by showing off as a wiseacre and proving that you got everything under control and that the future cash-inflows are 100% guaranteed, then you set yourself for rejection.

In startup networks it is better for you to show some humanness, vulnerability, by being honest about the parts of the business model where there is still some uncertainty. Don't be afraid to tell them that you need help because you don't know everything. Tell them about the fact you ain't completely sure about this side of the market, the clients-matters, etc. Bear in mind: "Vulnerability is the only bridge to build connection."

All together: We cannot make all the mistakes of the world to learn every lesson there is. So, to regret nothing at the end of your days take the leap and as Mrs. Bockstael emphasized on: "I would have not waited to know more, experience more or knew more people before starting. If you have the guts/the courage to start something up, DO SO. There's no training for that. Don't wait, just do it."

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"Give the preference to someone a bit less skilled and eager to learn, than the one with all the technical skills that is basically an a**. " - A.L.

Amaia Lasa - Director of consumer experience and digital consultancy projects @HazelHeartwood

HazelHeartwood helps companies keep up with the rapid transformation in consumer habits, data and technology. They help their clients take strategic decisions when faced with significant challenges. They also support the implementation of the projects identified as key to move at the pace of the consumers.

Business Ideas.

Make them simple to communicate, visual, too much explanation is pointless, test them, listen to the reactions of people (get to understand what's working/what's not). For feedback on business ideas just consult your mom and kids, they've the straightforward answers you are looking for.

Networking.

LinkedIn is now more than obvious to you that is THE tool to connect with people professionally:

• Follow the people you are interested in at the one hand, ask them questions, try to than get a face-to-face appointment

• At the other hand you could also offer help which will open doors to a lot of opportunities

• Do the homework. Know what they (potential customers/partners/etc.) want, study their personality, try to know their want better than they do, find out what triggers them & try than to align your story to theirs.

• Focus on them, instead of on yourself. Develop relationships, think about what kind of people you want around you (A winning squad, knows how to win).

• Use the different media at your disposal. Sometimes it's good to keep in mind that people keep Facebook rather for informal talks, but also know where you stand in the relationship with the person.

Organizing.

Tools to organize yourself:

- A classic one: Excel !

- A more sophisticated one: Artificial Intelligence Secretary of Google. This latter has already positive feedback. Give it a try!

- International experiences will learn you that sometimes you'll have to plan differently, adapt your communication and respect foreign cultures. These will impact collaborations and behaviors who are at first sight incomprehensible.

- Don't plan too far ahead in too much details. There is always something popping up from nowhere reminding you have nothing really in hands.

Failure.

To learn from failure there must first be a culture towards accepting failure.

Many successful entrepreneurs worked on brilliant ideas and launched them when the market was just not ready for them.

In this case the idea of failure can be questioned and revisited.

Therefore companies have to be open to balance what worked & what did not work.

Key take-aways when it comes to failure:

• Focus on your people. People skills out-skill the hard skills. Always.

• Choose your people wisely. Open people will be able to collaborate in teams, learn faster.

• Give the preference to someone a bit less skilled and eager to learn, than the one with all the technical skills that is basically an a**.

• Never give up. If there's something sounding strange, search for more information about the topic, ask for help and try to understand it with everything you have.

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I want to close this Survival Guide to the Circular Economy with a special thanks to the ThinkYoung-family, the organizers, the entrepreneurs and the lovely ES fellows who made this journey clearly instructive.

I hope we all make the DECISION and take on the COMMITMENT to (freeeeeeakingg) START. Something, somewhere, somehow.

Even if it's a really little step towards our dreams.

I pray that this Survival Guide will help you somehow along the way and that you stay inspired and motivated by the journey, even if the scars will ache, the nights will get shorter and some anxiety attacks will get you sometimes.

I believe we ALL can change for the GOOD & that everything and everyone deserves a second chance, ourselves included, at life.

I hope we all succeed in the dreams we have for ourselves and each other, I hope we live this badass life without regrets. And the day we take our last breaths, we can look back at the life we have been granted and be proud of the legacy we left behind.

A special and last lesson I reserved for this last and final part of this Survival Guide, which every entrepreneur, EACH ONE OF THEM, concluded with:

Don't forget to love when you are on the journey to your dreams, don't forget to live while you are playing this game of entrepreneurship and don't sacrifice too much of your time on lovers, family & friends.

At the end of your days, people will NOT remember how good of an entrepreneur you were (unless that is what you want to be remembered for), but how dearly you loved, how fiercely you lived and how you made others feel about themselves.

To success,

To messing up,

To a life free of regrets,

And to a life full of love, passion and adventures,

Kindly and with much love,

Rizlène

#bosslady #bossladies #shepreneurs #success #entrepreneurs #circulareconomy #womenpreneur #changemangement