5 illusions on entrepreneurship (1st part)

Author: David "Chabz2001" Chabot

Okay, I admit it, the title is a little bit "click bait". But I still have things to tell you; keep reading before you shoot me rocks by email.

I thought writing a series of articles on entrepreneurship because I believe that a good proportion of the population did not understand the reality of modern entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is a mindset and a way of life that is denatured more and more in the media. With shows like "Shark tank" or "The apprentice", it is easy to fall into the Panel and romanticize reality. Many seem to even believe that it is easy to succeed without too much effort since TV presents an elusive vision of the business world.

I'm in business since 2008 and I too fell into certain traps through my career. I present to you today, 5 illusions which, in my humble opinion, have the greatest impact on the perception of the environment of business and entrepreneurship in general. I fell into all of these panels and I hope that my story will prevent you from doing the same thing.

Illusion #5 - the business world is a jungle and only the wild survive

How many times have you heard that to be good in business, it had to be a heartless who played hard? What it earned respect for its employees that blind discipline and its competitors by bullying? In my experience, reality lies totally the opposite. Without becoming carefree and detached, it is important to act with compassionate human to win the respect of the people who surround us. No need to shout to be understood, a rational and measured speech has more impact.

When I introduce myself in a networking event (I hate it to die, I'll maybe in another article), I always notice the same attitude among a majority of participants. Talking about his exploits, and how his business is the best in the world and o how much competition is fierce. In this context, it is impossible to honestly discuss the realities of the business world and to help each other. In theory, this would be the essence of a Chamber of commerce or a grouping of cases of the kind. Yet hostility reigns everywhere where it talks about big money, trade, and business.

When I started in business, I was filled with these ideas. I tried to play a different role from what I had been educated in my youth by family values. Unsurprisingly, I just had the air of a clown. With time, I understood that to be a human decent would open more doors that it would close. What I considered wrongly as a series of weaknesses in my character was in fact a force that I would have any advantage to develop.

By addressing all the people to whom we speak as humans with intelligence, regardless of the topic or query, it creates an undeniable strategic advantage. For example, when a discussion turns to vinegar and two views confront each other in an irreversible cul-de-sac, I like admit my mistakes and propose a compromise. It may seem logical to seek compromise, but often, the interlocutors are stoic about their positions, to the point of becoming aggressive and combative. The image of Judo, I like to use the strength of my opponent against him. To change the tempo of an also heated discussion destabilizes the opponent and opens up opportunities that would not have existed otherwise.

The humor is also a powerful tool to control the tempo of a business relationship. When I conduct my regular business with my colleagues, I always use humor to make possible the more informal exchanges. In doing so, I control the pace of the exchanges and relations as I decide when and how the tone of negotiations will change. Fable like, by the dint of crying wolf, nobody is focus. In case, the same thing can be said for those people who constantly complain. He it is who has never of admonition to formulate that listens the most because it measured his words and uses the serious tone in a reasonable manner.

A certain capital of sympathy is useful in case. In addition to the fact that being nice and warm is nice for a human, these qualities are also powerful levers for negotiation. Certainly, it will not work always with sharks to the sharp senses, but the majority of the time we will have to negotiate with people for whom a bit of warmth worth just as much as in-game money. At the risk of sounding Machiavellian, kindness is worth its weight in gold in 2014. A compliment or a humorous remark will often set the tone for subsequent discussions and help to break down the wall of mistrust traditionally met when it comes to money.

In addition, leaving a place for discussion, rather than attempting to demolish everything in its path, creates the opportunity to learn from others and involve them in decisions. This involvement is often motivating for employees or beneficial to a business partner. Is to leave room for its partners so that they take advantage of a situation is necessarily bad? Obviously not, since in a relationship where only one party takes profit, no not really wins there long term.

The surrounding speech raises selfishness and the decisive force in the rank of religion. Of course, some situations call to be more aggressive in his actions. But generally to be alert and pleasant to rub shoulders with someone much more offset long-term that scream and try to emulate Gordon Ramsay. Life is a matter of fairness, both in the financial sense as social. Money doesn't tell whole story.

Illusion #4: It is impossible to enter an existing market

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