Entrepreneurial Success: Becoming V.I.P.E.R.S

Have you ever heard the phrase “… separates the men from the boys”? This phrase got me to thinking about what separates mega successful entrepreneurs from the average business owner. Success can be defined on so many different levels, but I’m talking about the men and women who revolutionize industries and changed the way people live. These entrepreneurs are V.I.P.E.R.S. and here are their traits: Vision – This is where it all starts those people who have started companies and revolutionized society as we know it are people of great vision. They see what others don’t; to them the only end is infinity. Roadblocks are merely opportunities for them to fly over at breakneck speed on the way to fulfilling the vision that drives them. Innovation – A rolling stone gathers no moss, and V.I.P.E.R.S. never stop creating change. They stay ahead of change, they are the change makers. Have you ever wondered why Microsoft® has its corporate paws into seemingly everything? Or why Virgin® has over 200 companies and is still growing? Companies and entrepreneurs that do not innovate, change, adapt, and lead the way get left behind to gather the crumbs that fall from the table. V.I.P.E.R.S. stay two to three steps ahead of everyone, they are on the cutting edge and are also finding ways to improve, develop, and create new avenues and industries. Passion – It is the passion for what they do the lifestyle of V.I.P.E.R.S that keeps them coming back for more, it is what drives them internally to succeed, create, and continuously strive for better. Passion keeps them going, despite what comes their way. It is what keeps them up late into the night. It is the passion along with the vision that allows these V.I.P.E.R.S to surround themselves with professionals that can assist them in building stellar companies. Energetic – Necessary to live the lifestyle of an entrepreneur. This energetic characteristic carries the entrepreneur and keeps them going. When others are sleeping, they work. Energetic people who have passion and vision create opportunities where others cannot. Risk Tolerance – Boldly stepping out where others dare not tread. Having no tolerance for bearing risk is a recipe for continual employment, playing it safe keeps many on the sidelines; V.I.P.E.R.S chose to play and are willing to lay everything on the line. There is a concept called risk/return ratio, the more risk one takes the greater the reward should be for that risk. V.I.P.E.R.S understand this concept and are willing to take on the risk because they have their eyes fixed on the reward. Spirit – It is an entrepreneurial spirit that encompasses everything, it changes the way they act, think, speak, and work. The spirit of the V.I.P.E.R.S is the fluid that brings and binds all of the above characteristics together, singly the characteristics work, but only when bound by the entrepreneurial spirit can bring about greatness. There are caveats to each of these traits, there needs to be a balance between them all. There can be too much of one thing (too much innovation can fail, New Coke® anyone?) and that can bring about a failure in the entire system. Another caveat is that the traits cannot be taught, they have to be caught by other V.I.P.E.R.S or you have to be born that way. So the question that begs to be asked is this, are you one of the V.I.P.E.R.S. and if not do you have what it takes to become one?