A recent discussion around the Bootstrap Austin Network is worthy of sharing here, for it rings true for every entrepreneur trying to make a difference through his/her venture. An entrepreneur was contemplating legal action on an issue that was not core to his business. Several entrepreneurs got into the discussion. Barry Thorton, founder of Clear Cube and several other successful companies, admonished though to “keep your eye on the Prize”. Be true to the core of the business you’re building, and blow off all other issues that are not core to the business (especially in the case of considering legal action on something that did not protect the core of the business). Here’s a small excerpt from his statement:
This story of yours suggests that you have guided yourself far afield from your business.
I always push the MLK saying “Keep your eye on the Prize”.
I would suggest that you have drifted far from that Prize and you are now asking others time to join you in that pursuit.
You know what your Prize is, you have been pursuing it for years.
Does this seriously threaten that Prize?
How much time have you spent on this and how has it gotten you closer to the Prize?
Relax, tend your field, it is your Prize. Don’t get distracted, it will only cause pain.
Good luck, Barry
I think that many of us as entrepreneurs, as we are passionately slaving towards a goal, loose sight of the prize that we’re working towards. As an example, around the Tech Ranch Austin, recently I recognized that one of our entrepreneurs, who is passionate about serving persons that have diabetes, was talking about how to go get investors here, and investors there… yet had yet to just serve the constituency that he is passionate about. He’s now has the first 10 diabetics that he is serving… and the business has taken on a whole new tone of possibilities. It does not matter what the distraction is… anything that is not core to the business can distract you from the Prize (as it has me too). Keep your eye on the prize. Build your business. Create success for yourself, and those that you serve. And through doing this, you’ll be making the world a better place.
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