On February 4th, I was pleased to speak onstage with Nicolai Bergmann, a world-renowned floral artist and entrepreneur. As we talked, Nicolai produced a beautiful floral arrangement, which was later raffled off to a member of the audience.
Below are my takeaways from the conversation.
- Even in your twenties, there is no reason not to be an entrepreneur. In many ways, starting younger is better. You have less to lose and fewer obligations like family and a mortgage.
- A passion for what you do as an entrepreneur is essential to overcome the hard work, setbacks, and fear of risk.
- Stay true to your core business and passion. Failures come when you stray from these.
- Passion is like a muscle. Hire only people who have passion. It does not necessarily have to be a passion for what you do in your business but a passion for something.
- Stop considering resumés and interviewing people. Instead, gauge people through conversation. Those who converse with you like peers, ask questions, and have their own opinions are likely better than those who have impressive resumés but are reserved when speaking.
- Let your people develop a passion for your business. Allow those who do not to turn over quickly. Those who remain will likely remain long-term.
- Cultivate lieutenants who can do everything you do as a leader so you can entrust different parts of the business to them later as it grows without compromising your business model or culture.
- As a small business leader, you need to let go to grow. You must work on the business as a leader rather than in the business as an operator.
- Nothing is impossible. Develop a track record of achieving the impossible. It will help you find the confidence to attack the next impossible challenge.
- Legacy matters. What will you leave behind when you are gone? Start thinking about that now. Better yet, start building it.
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