WITH DISCOMFORT COMES GROWTH

When it comes to starting a new venture -- success follows a singular focus on the needs of today. It does not follow the concerns about the unpredictably predictable shit storm of tomorrow. Finding focus in the midst of deep uncertainty is akin to plowing a boat through several feet of ice that’s gathered on top of the water - it's really hard. Anytime you’re starting something new, think of yourself as an icebreaker seeking to maintain momentum regardless of what’s happeni

While it’s appropriate to emphasize the need to understand the fear that’s holding you back from pursuing that amazing new endeavor, it’s equally important to understand how to maximize success for first-time entrepreneurs. So, let’s change the narrative away from fear and learn from the brave souls who dive into the shark-infested waters of something new and different. What motivates new entrepreneurs to move away from a safe career and to invest his or her precious time in

Without question, the worst part of my otherwise amazing business school experience was being immersed in the anxious negative energy created from being one of the five hundred Type A MBA students going through interview season together. I have vivid memories walking through the beautiful Winter Garden at Chicago Booth (below) and feeling overwhelmed by the high-stress energy of my classmates throughout recruiting season. Just from walking into the Winter Garden, where my cla

The difference between entrepreneurs and wantrepreneurs is simple: wantrepreneurs pursue inspiration and entrepreneurs create inertia. And believe me…the power of inertia is stronger than the power of inspiration. There are countless websites dedicated to inspirational quotes. We subscribe to daily inspiration emails. We pay $6.99 for a card with an inspiring line. Co-working spaces spend thousands of dollars to paint inspirational quotes on walls. Ever wonder why we love ins

Leadership is communication and effective communication is always a challenge, even in the most ideal environments. So what does that mean for communication for the time-starved, high-stakes, high-failure world of startups? It means everything – especially for founders. When you think of early-sate startups, think college roommates. Close living quarters and a general lack of maturity lead college roommates to fight; poor communication (of course, binge drinking probably didn

That Ben Franklin – he was one smart chap. Franklin invented bifocals, streetlights, swim fins (yes, swim fins) and electricity. As if that wasn’t enough, Big Ben was willing to prove his worth by flying a kite with a key on it during a lightning storm. Talk about scrappy? As entrepreneurs and creators, there are a lot of lessons to learn from Ben Franklin. One that stands out here at The Disciplined Entrepreneur is Big Ben’s ability to balance creativity with intense plannin

America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand. – President Harry S. Truman When the Navy Midshipmen and Army Black Knights meet for the 115th installment in the greatest rivalry in sports, it will bring together everything that is good and right about football, college athletics, and America as a whole. As The Disciplined Entrepreneur, I love seeing smart hungry young people work towards a noble cause and relentlessly purs

As a leader, your first job is to create a profitable and sustainable business. Your second job is to develop talent and support your team. Right? Wrong. If you’re not prioritizing your team, you’re failing your team, your business, and yourself. The success of your business is 100% dependent on the success of your people. To create a healthy culture, your team needs to know that you care and you’re there to support them, regardless of how convenient it is for you. Too many l

If you’re like a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs, you dream of the day when you meet with a respected investor, deliver a knockout pitch, and an investment is immediately made in your company. That’s a great story-line, but there’s a 99% chance that your reality will look a little different. Many startups have the opportunity to pitch very early on − even before you’re ready for investors. Press and marketing creates buzz and helps to get you on the map, so it’s important for

You created a start-up. Sweet. Go ahead – enjoy a little flexibility in how you dress, talk, and think. Wear the jeans & t-shirt. You’ve earned it. Just be careful that when you throw out the archaic conventions of the corporate world, you don’t also fall into a classic entrepreneurs trap and throw out discipline with the suit & tie. As a strategy consultant (you know….one of the Bobs) and start-up founder, I’ve seen different approaches for running a business. The strategy c