What Are Your Chances Of Survival?

Statistics show that thousands of people are being laid off from their jobs every day. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that more than 1500 new businesses are started daily. The sad thing is that out of the more than 1500 businesses that are started daily, more than half of them will fail within five years. For every new company started, 1 out of 3 will not make it past the 2 year mark and less than 1 out of 2 will make it past the 4 year mark or longer. What are your chances of survival?

Have you ever seen the realty TV show where people are left on an island to see who will last until the end? Well the show starts out with them being split into teams, working together as a unit and learning to master skills that will help them to survive on the island. Everyone’s working really hard to make sure things work out. For all involved, it’s important to make sure that everyone likes you so that you don’t get voted off. Does this sound familiar? I think this as being eerily similar to a “job”. You want the boss to like you. You want your colleagues to like you. You do everything you can to please everyone so that you can “stay” at your job and move up the employee ladder. You are trying to survive.

After a few episodes the friendliness wears off. You quickly see the teamwork disappear. You start to see one or two people “team up” in order to form an alliance. The real survival mode has just begun. This is where most people learn that “team work” does not always work when it comes to surviving. Sometimes you and the team are not in one accord! I consider this the same as becoming an entrepreneur. It may be hard to get other people to work with you in order to see your vision. It may be difficult to get others on board. The time and cost associated with being an entrepreneur is mind blowing. You are constantly operating in survival mode because if you do not, simply put you won’t eat amongst other things. My question to you again is will you survive?

People always want to know what is that one thing that makes me different from the next person. Why have I been able to accomplish what I have been able to do in such a short amount of time considering my background. I have been told by several people that I have “it” or what one of my mentors refered to as the “yellow Lamborghini” because just like a yellow Lamborghini, she felt that what I have is rare and you only see it occasionally if ever. The funny thing is that I don’t see myself in this light at all. Why? Because I am a survivor and I operate in survivor mode.

The other day I had one of my consulting clients ask me how is it that I get up everyday and do what I do. I told her that I operate in survival mode at least 95% of the time. (Notice I did not say 100% of the time because like you, I am human and have flaws.) Survival mode to me is doing what I must do even when I do not want to do it. It’s making sacrifices that I sometimes do not want to make. It’s about taking chances that most people will not take. It’s about making decisions that I’m not always certain are correct. It’s about being in the moment and doing what’s necessary. It’s knowing that each day I must make some upward strides to move me in the direction of where I want to be versus making lateral moves. It’s about doing things today that others will not do so that tomorrow I can have what others may not have. Entrepreneurship is just that – survival. You do what you need to do to make your business successful and what – SURVIVE THE STATISTICS!

Becoming a successful entrepreneur is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. In order to survive you need to prepare yourself for the long haul. If the statistics are against you then who is for you? The only person you know that you can count on 100% unconditionally is you. So go out and make it happen!

I look forward to helping you strive to reach your goals and dreams. I hope that the information I provide each week will help you to get there!

To Your Health, Wealth & Happiness!

Pam Lawhorne

Pam Lawhorne is a serial entrepreneur, small business expert and creative marketing consultant, who provides advice, guidance, and encouragement to aspiring CEO's around the nation in her popular seminars and publications. She is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Empower U, Incorporated, a training and consulting firm that specializes in interactive workshops, seminars and coaching programs.

Ms. Lawhorne is the author of “From Minimum Wage To Getting Paid! - How To Become A Successful Entrepreneur With No Money, Education Or Experience!" and she is also a syndicated columnist who writes articles on empowerment, entrepreneurship, personal development, creative marketing and real estate investing. Her articles appear nationally in newspapers, magazines, and on numerous business websites and on-line publications. For additional information please visit her website: www.PamLawhorne.com.

The above article is copyright 2003-2008 by Pam Lawhorne. Permission to repost is freely granted so long as the text is not altered in any way, and the copyright and links are included.