4 Important tips for Entrepreneurs
This video was inspired by one moment of success after 1 year of hard work, I realized that I needed to put my wisdom into writing to share with you.
Nothing worth doing is easy, discipline, hard work and PERSEVERANCE is key. Watch this video, and watch until the end!
Your best amiga entrepreneur,
Rebekka
Hey Friends!
It has been a few days since I last blogged. As you know, I am busy creating new projects and new ventures. In less than 3 weeks, I will be on a plane to Taiwan. I’ll be there to find my half brother who I have never meet as well as grow my clothing business. I am looking for people who believe in my vision and who has a few bucks to spare! Here’s the link: http://www.whenyouwish.com/project/taiwanbrother
Here is my vision for the future: run for local office, become a public figure, speak internationally, change the world by telling my story! Here’s my timeline of what was, what is and to come:
Now, on to my 3rd step to creating your business- don’t compare yourself!
Yes, it’s okay to analyze other peoples’ business, and to even imitate a few aspects of their business, but listen to your own heart…don’t compare! Just because another business is thriving now and yours isn’t doesn’t meant that you should give up. Growing up, I heard a lot of discouragements from my elders.
“Do you want to end up like us?….we followed our dreams and look at us now!”
I always wondered whether they were right. Yet, I realize….they just gave up TOO SOON. If dreams were easily reached, everyone would be living their dreams. I think that anything worth fighting for is going to be difficult at times, but worth it.
So now that you have a vision, faith, and you are not comparing yourself but believing firmly in your own vision of what you want…you are truly growing your tree.
Mine looks like this, you can create yours by drawing a tree with your growing array of skills, talents and passions.
Without Faith It is impossible to do what you want with your life. You ask, what is this mumbo jumbo? Faith is belief. Do you believe in yourself? Do you have belief in something greater? Do you have belief that your business is viable?
I had a dream last night that I had won a $5,000 scholarship to achieve my dreams. In the dream I kept showing people a collage board I created, “LOOK GUYS! This is the exact amount I needed!” There were pictures of cars.
It reminded me of all the scholarships I won when I was about to attend college. I challenged God “If you want me to go to fashion school, then provide the funds”. Ever since then, I have had this mentality. If I have enough faith to move the universe, then I have what it takes to become a successful business woman. Of course, instead of hanging out at lunch, I was always running into the career center and applying for scholarships. I applied to over 50 scholarships, and was able to write my way through college.
One summer, I did not have enough to pay for college the next year. I was stumped. I wrote down the possibilities- work in the summer or go overseas for volunteer work. One day, while waiting for the bus, I received a call from a foundation I had applied for the previous year. She told me that she wanted to award me a scholarship because I was a runner up the previous year. She said that instead of looking for new applicants, she would just award me the scholarship for this year. I was so blown away, I just stood there in shock. Looks like God really does exist. I don’t think anything in my life is a coincidence and I have much more stories like this to prove my point.
Another time, when I was first starting my unconventional, non-business plan, let’s see where this goes business with a big vision, I was short on rent. I was short by $400 as of that day. I was praying and heard “someone will give you money”. I was surprised and wondered who. That day, my friend and I went to a cafe down the street from silverlake, the barista loved my ring and wanted to buy more. I drove back home and got my whole case of jewelry.
I was nervous that day, and extremely stressed…
Right there, at the cafe I sold $100 worth of jewelry to the baristas and cafe workers. I mentally reduced the $100 from my rent. I needed $300 more. I continued to have faith even though I had no idea how I was going to make $300.
That afternoon, I went to my friend’s house to get my eyebrows done. She does a fabulous job of plucking my eyebrows. She gave me a christmas card. I did not think anything of it. I just continued to have faith in my heart. When I was driving off, I opened the envelope and out dropped $300. In the note, she had written that she had actually been blessed by a car accident and received money from the incidence. She wrote that since it was God’s money, that she would bless me with it since she knew I had been struggling with my business.
Yah, you guessed it, I started balling.
I have not experienced miracles this intense, especially when I felt like my life was at stake (or the roof over my head). Sometimes you just don’t see miracles until you put yourself on the line.
Mind you, I did not tell my friend about how I was lacking this amount for rent. I did not even tell her about my rent situation that day. She gave me the exact amount that I needed.
You can call it a coincidence or you can call it divine contribution.
Call it what you may, but you need to dream big and do big things first, before seeing any evidence that it will succeed. Sometimes, we need to move the universe, God with our dreams and the universe will be delighted to provide what we have had faith for. If you have a vision, nothing can stop you…even the small stress balls that get thrown your way.
This tree represents you. The stronger the root, the better. The more you know who you are, your identity, preferences, brand, etc the better. Slowly as you develop, your ideas develop (via the branches). Your knowledge, education, wisdom, background, upbringing, experiences form your bigger branches.
The Next 5 Days I am going to share my tantalizing story of how I became a multi-entrepreneur. My GOAL is to encourage you and show you that IF YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE MISTAKES and PLAY, then you can become a business woman or man. Yes, you heard THAT right. If you know how to MESS UP, time and time again, then the entrepreneurial road is for you. If you know how to GET UP after falling hard, this is also the road for you. PS- By 5 days, I mean the next 5 blog posts, because tomorrow I’ll be attending Forge in LA.
Revealing NUMBER 1: HAVE A VISION
When I was a kid, I created manga memberships and sold toys to my 8 year old friends. I was always entrepreneurial. I grew up in the church and went to many mission trips. I had a heart for people and thought that I would become a missionary. However, I just hated the way missionaries dressed (back then). I seriously did not want to wear ugly big t-shirts that did not flatter my body. Plus, I could not imagine living in a hut, eating nuts (no offense but I like my chinese hot pot), and not showering for days. I knew deep down, that I had a heart for people….but did not like the structured starvation lifestyle.
When I learned about human trafficking, I wanted to go overseas and fight human trafficking. I wanted to rescue women out of slavery, but thought that it might be dangerous. Then I thought that I wanted to created jobs for survivors of human trafficking. I could teach them how to sew and they could work at my factory where they would create my designs.
I gained all the skills I needed to, but it stemmed from my passion. I attended fashion school and learned fashion design and business management. I did not do it just because I could teach other people, I did it because I loved fashion and I was business minded. You get what I’m saying? I learned because I thirsted to learn how to create and manage, not because I saw the end goal just yet.
When I finished school, I went to the far countryside of China and taught music to the young 5 year olds, living in sweat and bug bites. I wanted to collapse, I missed the luxuries of modern living. When I returned, I got a job as a trim buyer and up until 3 months in, I was about to suffocate from normal living. This IS NOT THE LIFE I want to live, in a box and a chair.
My creative brain started churning, I bought a pair of Nike Dunks at the store across work during lunch for $20. I sold it on Ebay and made $30. I could do it again. I went back and bought 2 more to sell. I was elated, I could do this all day! I found other things to sell at home and started taking photos of all my old clothes. I started creating an additional source of income while working full time. One day, I just had enough. I quit my full time job and that was the end of my full time anything and voluntary unemployment.
I won’t go into detail, but when I quit, I wrote a list of things I wanted to do in life. I also wrote down my vision.
“To provide healing and work for survivors of human trafficking” which has evolved to:
“To empower others to live the life they were created to live” to
“To help people become full alive”.
Essentially, we long to feel alive. Fully alive.
As I focused in on my vision, I realized that I had to first become whole, to create the life I want so I could show others…hey it’s possible! If you simply commit to it. Thus, have a vision first.
Having a vision has helped me continue in those first few months when I could hardly pay rent. I’m no trustafarian, as immigrants, we did not benefit from the foreign exchange, let’s say I have sacrificed much of my youth for my vision. I could have worked full time and accrued funds to use for youthful partying and lax living, but I cut corners and found creative ways to create furniture, blinds, and even toilet paper! No matter how many businesses you have, boot strap style, if you have a vision, you can continue when the valleys get real low.
See you next time!
What is your vision?
Comment below and share 🙂
Most people will say, “Don’t look into the past” and “don’t dig up your grave”.
Actually, after waking up from a dream about my high school friend and remembering who I was back then, reminded me of what I may have lost during the journey of youth. When I was in high school, I was very feisty and strong-headed. I never let anyone step on me and fought for what was right. I fought for people too because I saw injustice in classes.
Back then, I was voted most unique and was known to be either special, weird or unique. Sometimes, I was not seen in a positive light, but I accepted the attention. I used to wear un-matching socks, one high and one low. One vivid memory was when I first one of my best friends, I was wearing a superwoman knee sock. Those were my favorite socks. On the other leg, I wore a low-sock. I ruled back then. I knew everything I wanted to do in life and rocked life to the core.
10 years later, I am still the same person, but perhaps- like you, I have gotten a little jaded from work and responsibilities. When everyone started getting married, I thought to myself, “it would be so easy to get married right now”- being independent is not easy. Trying to make it on your own is not easy, that’s why God created us for companionship. Perhaps your road is to become the next Donald Trump, then you have to accept the responsibility of your calling. That doesn’t mean you have to be lonely, but you just have to be strong in who you are and not accept any less. That means you can not settle for marrying rich, but perhaps you have to create your own path and when you get there, show women that you don’t have to rely on men to get you there….that God has given us gifts and talents to make it there ourselves too.
Otherwise, you may end up having kids and blame them for blocking you from your dreams….when in actuality, you chose that path. In actuality we all do, we all choose a path that determines part of our destiny.
Who was I? I was a hot-headed warrior. I had dreams that I fought for. After 2 years of being self-employed, I can see why I have become a little less hot-headed- broken dreams and friendships/relationships, failed businesses, a taste of hunger and strife, a taste of true adulthood. It is not always easy! Who was I? I was very confident in my calling and identity. No one could doubt that, yet 10 years later, I waver because my life does not always reflect my confidence, I waver because people around me may not always support my hot-headed dreams.
I choose to be that hot-headed dreamer and warrior again. I choose to let go of what I need to let go of to move forward. Sometimes we need to see that transition means we have to be emptied out first in order for a new revelation to fill us.
Do you waver from the hot-headed dreamer that you used to be?
Who you were are signs of who you want to be still. Don’t give up. Don’t let life destroy you, stand up from the ashes and keep fighting, even if your leg or arm is still healing, even if you are jaded. Life matures you, don’t be afraid to grow in wisdom. Just don’t give up on yourself. Ever.
Little me in Germany
The wild musician
The spunky non-conformist
The solo backpacker and vegabond/world traveler
The Fashion Designer & Trend Setter
The who gives a hoot let’s just have fun Business, Real Estate, Creative Entrepreneur Woman
The Professional Picture, with all my past and experiences wrapped into one. Even though I might be wearing black, I am still the spunky non-conforming business woman!
Do you waver from the hot-headed dreamer that you used to be? What has jaded you and how have you managed to translate your story of who you are into one professional image?
Comment below, I would love to hear from you personally! 🙂
You are the average of 5 people that you spend time with. Jim Rohn
We rarely think to clean out our friends list right? But we clean up our finances, we clean out our closets, we evaluate our goals and change our tactics to improve our careers, but we often don’t evaluate our friendships. There are moments in life where we become close with certain friends, but especially when your paths change and your vision leads you onto another path (not necessarily a better path, just another path), you must learn to let go of that friendship.
When I was younger, I remember times that people would tell me to calm down. I always had this fire and passion, but it was too difficult for others to absorb. I learned to detain this fire.
However, I realize I am detaining a fire that is too big to selfishly hold onto.
This fire is a fire for love, passion, life, an overflowing life, justice, human rights, womens’ rights, and much more. I know this won’t be an easy path, it has never been an easy path…but at the same time I have realized that my passion will lead me far in life. Instead of suppressing the fire, I need to set it on the mountain so others can glean from it as well.
So next time a friend tells you to calm down, perhaps it is time to evaluate a new path and new friends.
Write down 5 people you want to spend a majority of your time with- do they share similar values? Do you add to each other? Is it a two way street?
What Is Love? See above! My brainstorm of the day.
I got this ingenious IDEA to write a blog post about how TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP with an entrepreneur, whether you are their significant other, boss, friend, relatives, parents, etc…..
BIG DO’s FOR HOW TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ENTREPRENEUR:
1. Give them space and support to grow and be who they want to be. Entrepreneurs change constantly and have a NEED to expand, learn, grow, travel.
2. Encourage them, constantly. There are not a lot of people doing what we want to do in life…some of us want to change the world, some of us want to be wealthy and live a better life than we used to live, some of us want to innovate new technology or do something against the norm. We are constantly pushing against the grain, we receive negative criticisms and have climbed mountains to find a place of sanctuary where we can create our business, art or life. If you want to be in relationship with an entrepreneur, learn to encourage even if you don’t UNDERSTAND what they’re thinking.
3. PROMOTE THEM! Promote them like mad, especially when they have no backers, angel investors, big corporations behind them…promote them if you believe in them. When they become Asian Oprah, they will remember you and give you dibs (referring to myself). SHARE their blog posts, retweet their tweets, tell people about them, be their cheerleader and they will be forever grateful. Angels will reward you GREATLY for your support. Trust me! When I have a talk show, I will invite all my supporters and get them front row seats with free gratis and free VIP room treatment.
BIG DON’TS FOR HOW TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ENTREPRENEUR
1. Don’t Tell Us What To Do (In a direct way)– I don’t know about you, but most entrepreneurs I know are hard headed and rebellious towards society in certain ways. The reason we were able to get THIS FAR is because we did not listen and conform to the norm. We’re CRAZY Einstein’s. If you have suggestions, you might want to say “Have you thought about…..this idea or that idea?”, “Have you thought about …..marketing your business…this way or that?” If you want to tell us something directly, let us trust you enough to hear you. It takes time, but it is worth the effort! Ultimately entrepreneurs understand their own vision and ideas the best, so let them decide what to do.
2. Don’t UNDERVALUE their business- One time these acquaintances bought my friend and I drinks, commenting “don’t worry, we have jobs”….as if we did not. Both of us had our own business, but the acquaintances had 9 to 5 jobs. Please, that is a DON’T. Even if you want to buy us lunch, there is no need to say such things. We have jobs in which we are the boss and will never get fired from ourselves.
3. Don’t Compare Entrepreneurs- Okay, we’re not Tony Robbins, Oprah or Richard Branson, YET. Just because we’re not there yet, does not mean we give up now. All of them had a tough road they walked and conquered. Listen, all entrepreneurs have a UNIQUE path and calling which ONLY they know in their hearts. We are sensitive about our dreams and really hope you understand.
Love your entrepreneur or share this with your loved ones!
rebekkalien@gmail.com
Thanks!
http://www.twitter.com/rebekka_lien
http://www.facebook.com/houseslady
The Creative Business Guru
PS- ONE QUESTION, please comment below- What is your version of earthly Utopia. I think all entrepreneurs envision their own UTOPIA. My Utopia involves….
1. Not waking up early to drive in traffic.
2. Doing things WHEN I WANT TO
3. Grocery shopping when everyone else is working so I don’t have to wait in line for hours
4. Watching the sun rise while working
5. Being able to attend events on weekdays and wake up a little later because attending events is part of my work (networking).
6. Having GREAT community that shares my vision and are also entrepreneurial.
7. Not having people tell me what to do
Your Life Is Lived From The Inside Out
Somethings won’t change until you change on the inside.
Until you forgive that one person you need to forgive, until you let go of an outcome that is actually limiting you.
Until you let go and let the universe. Until you relax a little bit.
Until you forgive yourself a little more, until you give yourself a break and let go of that pedestal you put yourself on.
Somethings just won’t change until your inner world changes.
Have faith and you will see the outer world change with the force that is unstoppable.
Lately, I have been convincing a friend to pursue his dreams. It seems almost impossible to help him make the next step. This friend seems to want to know what his life will look like after he takes that next step. He wants to know the day to day tasks that he has to complete in his newfound freedom, a new career. I am in awe of this.
And I find that most people do want to know everything, from what will happen next to what will happen in the next 10 years. We chart our lives as though we can predict it….but as much as we plan, we won’t be able to change our circumstances if we still live in a spirit of lack, a spirit of jealousy, a spirit of hate and bitterness. We must become aware that we carry these heavy spirits which stop us from moving forward in life.
We will achieve one thing after another without true happiness.
We will still feel that gnawing emptiness.
We must seek something deeper, something more substantial, something we can’t buy, something spiritual.
Seek and you will find.
I am on this journey with you friend!
Your journey friend,
Rebekka
“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, or worn. It is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace & gratitude.” – Denis Waitley
In the beginning of the year, I had decided to buy a betta fish because I wanted something new in life and also something alive to come home to. I named the fish Allen because I drove by Allen Ave in Pasadena.
It grew and became a beautiful purple fish. I wanted to prove to myself that I could take care of life. When I was young, I had turtles and fishes, but somehow they all died fast (according to my memory). Every time a fish died, I felt a bit of my soul sadden. Our family had a dog for one day, named Arnold. My mom decided to return it because it was clingy like a kid and she could not bear having another kid around the house.
I think I literally cried until my eyes looked like a puff fish.
After my fishes Allen and Catalina died on the same day, I had dreams of Allen swimming.
I was relieved and sad that they had died, and felt that it was better for me to focus on work, rather than spend time changing out water and feeding a fish.
The next day, my boyfriend came over. He was holding a petco bag that I assumed was his dinner. “Is that your dinner?” – I asked. Turns out, IT WAS A FISH! He bought me a goldfish which was much bigger than my betta fish. I had never seen a gold fish like this. I was honestly touched and surprised.
Looks like the fish is getting too big for its tank- maybe it is symbolic that I am becoming a new fish, too big for my tank. I need to get a bigger tank for my life. Perhaps YOU are growing too big for your tank, whether it is your immediate circle of influence, workplace, or life goals. Maybe you need to set new visions, expand to a bigger office, get a bigger loan and investors for your business, make more like-minded friends, quit your job and start a business…think BIGGER.
Another lesson I gleaned from this story? Life is about trying over and over again. I heard Donald Trump went bankrupt 4 times! Look at where he is now! He is far more wiser and smarter because of his experiences. Maybe you have been hurt over a broken relationship, scarred by bad people, made mistakes that made you NOT want to try it again…don’t give up. Keep trying.
I backpacked in the jungles of Ecuador and throughout Brazil by myself last year. If I had listened to all the fears that people were spewing, trying to warn me of dangers and diseases, I would not have experienced the incredible time of my life, listening to birds in the dark night and watching the rapids with native Ecuadoreans.
If I had listened to people asking me how I was going to afford rent when I quit my full time job, I would not be a realtor and entrepreneur today. I would not be waking up on a Thursday morning at 8:20 AM in my pajamas writing this blog (In FACT, I would be getting ready for work and driving in LA traffic- Thank GOD I don’t have to do that).
How HAVE YOU become the person you are because you CHOSE to try again, to try bigger things despite what people said?
How can you try again today?
My NEW FRIEND Frederick
Today I decided to record a video for you!
I did not script this video…to show you that it is OKAY to be authentic with your speech.
HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD FOR FREE:
How Will You Change the World?
Share below!
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Rebekka Lien 