entrepreneurs part 3
A few more thoughts from my conversation with Carrie and Steve at In House about what's important to the success of their business.
Professional community. Carrie and Steve met a community of entrepreneurs and professionals who share their interests and ideals. This community wasn't immediately visible to them but once they put themselves out there professionally, they started making connections. The support structure of a group of people who understand what you're going through, personally and professionally, can be, as Kevin says, the glue that holds a new venture together.
Civic life. Carrie and Steve spoke a lot about how important it's been for them to get involved civically. Carrie volunteered a lot when she was first building her business. She attributes much of her professional success to the personal connections she's made. Carrie serves on the Rockland Economic Development Advisory Board and Planning Commission. She's also an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and (most importantly!) a Midcoast Magnet board member.
Desire to learn. Ask anyone who runs their own business and they'll tell you that they have to know something about everything. Steve says that some of the hardest work is learning the new skills of managing a business day-to-day. This isn't necessarily the skill set that an entrepreneur brings to the table. But it's crucial
Hunger. Carrie learned when she moved here that the best way to make it professionally was to start her own business. That's what lies at the heart of Maine's deep-rooted tradition of entrepreneurialism. We didn't choose Yankee ingenuity - it's a survival skill that serves us well in a 21st century economy that needs self-starters who can turn new ideas into new jobs.
Professional community. Carrie and Steve met a community of entrepreneurs and professionals who share their interests and ideals. This community wasn't immediately visible to them but once they put themselves out there professionally, they started making connections. The support structure of a group of people who understand what you're going through, personally and professionally, can be, as Kevin says, the glue that holds a new venture together.
Civic life. Carrie and Steve spoke a lot about how important it's been for them to get involved civically. Carrie volunteered a lot when she was first building her business. She attributes much of her professional success to the personal connections she's made. Carrie serves on the Rockland Economic Development Advisory Board and Planning Commission. She's also an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and (most importantly!) a Midcoast Magnet board member.
Desire to learn. Ask anyone who runs their own business and they'll tell you that they have to know something about everything. Steve says that some of the hardest work is learning the new skills of managing a business day-to-day. This isn't necessarily the skill set that an entrepreneur brings to the table. But it's crucial
Hunger. Carrie learned when she moved here that the best way to make it professionally was to start her own business. That's what lies at the heart of Maine's deep-rooted tradition of entrepreneurialism. We didn't choose Yankee ingenuity - it's a survival skill that serves us well in a 21st century economy that needs self-starters who can turn new ideas into new jobs.