Bill Taylor's Commentary on, "4 Actions Toward becoming An Agile Entrepreneur," by Taffy Williams

In reading "4 Actions Toward becoming An Agile Entrepreneur," by Taffy Williams, it struck me that it has some similarities to Jim Collins findings in “Great by Choice.”  What Williams calls an agile entrepreneur describes some of the critical leadership characteristics Jim Collins found in his studies, as described in his book, Great by Choice. More specifically, these are traits needed if an entrepreneur wants to survive and even thrive in these difficult and unstable times. Collins found these exceptional leaders had 3 traits that set them apart: 1.  Fanatical Discipline,  2.  Hyper Vigilance and 3.  Empirical Creativity.  Williams 4 actions are different aspects of these three traits.  Collins found these traits were interactive and created an ongoing fluid process to deal with situations. For example, Collins leaders would be guided in their studies and planning by what they found as a result of their experiments and their hyper vigilance.  Adjustments were guided by these same factors but their discipline would cause them to be methodical and deliberate in the steps then taken.  Williams ideas are a good start in creating the mind-set needed to be a successful entrepreneur.  

Bill Taylor's Commentary on " 5 Unusual Ways to Start Working Smarter, Not Harder," by Belle Beth Cooper

In talking to my friends about the ideas of this article - 5 Unusual Ways to Start Working Smarter, Not Harder by Belle Beth Cooper (i.e. take naps, take more breaks, change locations during the day, etc), I was most surprised by their surprise.   Apparently, many people have not learned there is a point of “diminishing returns”.  An underlying fear is: “If I stop, I’ll never start again.”  The ideas of this article are very old.  It is the “Yin & Yang”.  Gestalt Psychologists call it “Figure/Ground”.   If you look at an object, the background becomes fuzzy, and if you look at the background to a figure, the figure becomes fuzzy. Shifting from one to the other allows you to est see both.  Staying with just one causes fatigue and dullness.  I heard a professor once say: “Changing the subject is as good as a nap.”  The old saying, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, applies equally to a workday as it does to a lifestyle.

Bill Taylor's Comments on "3 Secrets Behind the '80/20 Rule' of Giving -- and Getting More In Return."

"3 Secrets Behind the '80/20 Rule' of Giving -- and Getting More In Return" is a fascinating article!  
If you you think about it, it’s pretty logical.  When do we horde?  When do we least feel like sharing our toys with others?   It is when we don’t feel very good about our situation or ourselves.   Entrepreneurs  build-up their  self image by “doing”, by “undertaking” things.  People who live mundane/unchallenged lives are  often afraid if they give up something they will not be able to replace it.  That creates more bad feelings.     
       
The thing I love about my business is that your success is directly tied to the success of others.  Giving is rewarded.  

Economic Opps' William Taylor comments on, "Designs On Being An Entrepreneur? 5 Things You Need To Know."

        As I read Jim Dyson’s "Designs on Being an Entrepreneur?  5 Things You Need to Know." ( He is the vacuum cleaner inventor), it struck me that he was looking back on what he did to become a successful entrepreneur. I like the definition of entrepreneur he sites: it is “a doer” or “one who undertakes things”. What have you accomplished in your life?  What have you taken a risk on and decided to undertake, whatever “it” is. 

        What I love about my business is that the risk is pretty well limited to your time and effort, not your life savings.   The company is the innovator and your job is to find out what works for you and never give up until you do.


That is what separates entrepreneurs from the rest of the people looking to be paid to sit in a chair, where they dream about wealth and success falling in their lap like a winning lottery ticket.