April 10th, 2021 / 2 min read
Entrepreneurship symbolizes freedom for many. The idea of the 9 - 5 has become a controversial choice for many people in the time and day where technology is evolving exponentially, innovation is king and ideas are funded by angel investors and/or capital funds because new markets are being created in sync with these technologies. However, entrepreneurship and self-employment come with a set of attached strings. In a way, entrepreneurship can feel a lot like parenting.
Concept Me was founded and continues to be managed by Nina Parvaresh; its Chief Vision Officer. According to Nina, there are two main factors that enable a person to survive the constant ordeals, unplanned drama and unexpected surprises that come along with managing and owning a business.
The first is resilience. In more ways than one, resilience is innate. Some people have a stronger tolerance to changes and stressful situations. Here’s a case example courtesy of Concept Me’s Nina Parvaresh. A business trip to Los Angeles was 6 months in the making. 12 hours before the flight, Nina decides to go to gym - she’s going to be sitting down for a while on that flight, so might as well. One stretch, two stretch and suddenly, her knee is on the other side of the gym. Immediate surgery was in order. Nina was being rolled into the operating room with her laptop propped open, adding final touches to one of Concept Me’s works in progress. Through the pain, the insurance company’s millionth phone call and the team sending drafts, work could not be put on pause for Nina. This resilience is not a stubborn showcase of one’s dedication, but a method of having a get-it-done attitude, which is the second factor.
A person running their own show should avoid wasting time on being upset, trying to understand why things went wrong and wallowing in their feelings of disappointment or frustration and find a solution. This get-it-done attitude is something that comes hand in hand with resilience, but it is also something that requires motivation and a strong belief in one’s end goal.
Here’s another Classic Parvaresh Scenario. Early on in the company’s life, Nina had the chance to sign an important project - but she lacked the legal license to execute it at the time. That didn’t mean to her that she was incapable of doing it. And so, queue a hundred phone calls, countless visits to legal institutions and pressuring representatives along with reassuring the client to be. In no time, the license was retrieved, the contract was signed and Nina had another project to her name. All of this sounds exciting in retrospect, but the stress of the moment can feel exhausting.
‘Why is this my life?!’
Nina Parvaresh
When it comes to entrepreneurship, get ready to feel like you’re competing in your own season of Survivor. Prepare for unexpected resignations, client shifts, financial constraints, legal shifts, etc. And then add your personal challenges to that hurdle track. It’s a race, and your business’ survival depends on motivation, flexibility, resilience and the will to always, come hell or high water, find a solution.
This is your baby and your parenting style determines how it grows up. So, that’s what to expect when you’re expecting freedom from running your own business!
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