Working for visionary leaders like Ted Turner and AOL co-founder Steve Case, I have discovered a crucial aspect of success – you should always be an entrepreneur in your own business. No matter how small your business is, or how large it becomes, it is important to maintain an entrepreneur’s contagious hunger for new ideas and opportunities. Here is how I have done this:
Do not define yourself by your resume.
When I went to America Online in 1997 as senior vice president and chief communications officer, I originally thought I would be out of place in a company full of technology focused people. I realized I had the skills to translate the techie experience to the general public. It is easy to limit yourself because you think you do not have the right background or title, but if you do a thorough and honest self-appraisal you often see you really do have the ability to tackle the most daunting challenges.
Trust your gut - but double check with facts.
If you do not follow your basic gut instinct, you miss out on the chance to find a big idea. From the theory of relativity to industry-changing businesses, great ideas have often sprung from one person’s intuition. After you’ve found that big idea comes the time to evaluate and test it. Surround yourself with teams of talented and vested people who can weed out mediocre ideas, check facts and viability, and then champion the ideas that make the most sense. Those “big ideas” will rise to the surface and everyone will feel some ownership of them.
Run a marathon, not a sprint.
Do not be afraid to get your hands dirty.
Along the same lines, I have noticed that women are often so focused on 100% perfection in the job or task in front of them that they do not notice what else needs to be done. They are missing the opportunity to think about what position they want down the road and expand their skills.
Broaden your current boundaries and ways of thinking.
She really educated me on Latin America, and had an important influence on the global work we do at the United Nations Foundation. It’s a challenge to encourage yourself to learn and think differently. That’s one reason I value the opportunity to mentor upcoming leaders like Maria who have a different life experience than I do. No matter how successful you become, you should always allow yourself room to learn and grow.
Kathy Bushkin Calvin is CEO of the United Nations Foundation, and a mentor for Vital Voices.
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