Energy within

Entrepreneurship is a function of the entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is typically a carrier of energy. The entrepreneurial career requires energy. Energy is not only the ability to work, it is also the stability of the worker. Entrepreneurs are thinkers and workers. Nothing works without energy. Everything rises and falls on energy, you are either plugged to energy or you are plagued with lethargy. Entrepreneurship is therefore a function of energy—energy to start, sustain and finish a worthy cause. Entrepreneurs are inspired leaders who make things happen. Nothing works without the entrepreneur at work. Inspiration is from within. Inspired individuals are energy carriers. Inspired people inspire people. Everything rises and falls on inspiration.

The aim of this article is to inspire entrepreneurs and leaders by pointing them to a most sustainable source of energy – inspiration. The greatest asset of an entrepreneur is the energy within. The strength to carry on when one has lost energy is not only divine, it is entrepreneurial. Have you lost anything at all? Someone or something? Is it money or meaning? Your team or esteem? Have you just made a grave mistake and you are already thinking of your grave? Is it a relationship or your health? Are you under pressure or pressure is under you? Have you been betrayed or your trade was messed up? You have every right to quit being sane, strong and stable. But wait, let us consider the value in sanity, strength and stability during chaos and leverage it to create an entrepreneurial path and image.

The entrepreneurial journey is a journey of energy. What electricity is to industrialisation is what inspiration is to the entrepreneur. What the internet is to ICT is what energy is to the intellect. The energy to think and act like an entrepreneur is beyond motivation which is external, it is a force from within which rejuvenates the mind of an entrepreneur to be a positive person and not just a positive thinker. One can be motivated to become a positive thinker in negative circumstances which is unsustainable, but being a positive person is a function of an internal locus of control—a fountain of stability which perpetually affords the entrepreneur to take responsibility for success or failure, rise above the tides and make giant strides in spite of setbacks or adversities.

Just like creativity drives ideas, energy drives the mind and muscles of an entrepreneur to start, sustain and finish a cause. Ideas don’t rule the world, energy does. Those who make things happen take the energy dose within. Those without the energy within should please take this inspiration dose to build emotional strength and leadership capacity for their entrepreneurial journey.

Locus of control is the degree to which people believe that they, as opposed to external forces (beyond their influence), have control over the outcome of events in their lives. The concept was developed by Julian B. Rotter in 1954, and has since become an aspect of personality psychology. A person’s “locus” (plural “loci”, Latin for “place” or “location”) is conceptualized as internal (a belief that one can control one’s own life) or external (a belief that life is controlled by outside factors which the person cannot influence, or that chance or fate controls their lives).

Entrepreneurship is a function of the entrepreneur. E = f (e). With respect to Locus of Control (LoC) – controlled energy within, entrepreneurship is a function of energy.

Energy to an entrepreneur is the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity. Just like the solar energy charges a solar system through a solar panel, emotional energy charges the mind through the heart. Just like the Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), grown-ups should have a UPS that keeps them steady and ready, stable and suitable for the entrepreneurial journey. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted, you have started and you must finish!

Motivation is not sufficient to keep you going. Sometimes you are emotionally drained and overwhelmed by circumstances – you feel you have failed and think of suicide. The greatest asset of an entrepreneur is his/her mental health because there lies the energy to renew the mind and re-invent himself/herself for sustainable entrepreneurial attitude. Once something goes wrong upstairs, nothing steers the ship of an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is a function of the entrepreneur’s mental health. So, be like an ocean; it always renews itself no matter the garbage thrown into it. Shake it off, champion. You are not the only one who has failed in many things, neither are you the only one who has never succeeded in anything. Stop crying, keep trying. Stay away from folks who drain you, train your mind to be calm in every situation and guard your heart energetically.

No matter how strong a car engine is, without energy, its movement is limited. The entrepreneurs who go far did not get there by LUCK, they got there by LoC (Locus of Control). LoC is everything about leadership, organization and courage.

Leadership is strength of character and character of strength. It is the ability to make things happen and also make people happy. Courage is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Entrepreneurs are inspired and guarded leaders. They are regarded as pacesetters and trailblazers. Without strength of character, leadership is dead. Leadership is courage! Courage is leadership!

“Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.” – Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” – Steve Jobs

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

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