Randall Howard

Entrepreneurial Toolkit Summary: It’s All About Personal Growth

New York Times on Sunday contained an article which immediately caught my attention, as it appears to provide the missing piece pulling together all of my recent postings outlining an “Entrepreneurial Toolkit”, so far consisting of these five core skill sets:

1. “Fearless Passion”
2. “Don’t Drink Your Own Bathwater”
3. “Embrace Change”
4. “Taste the Cash Burn”
5. “The Power of Two (or Three)” (coming soon)

The article, “If You’re Open to Growth, You Tend to Grow”, New York Times, 6 July, 2008, in extolling an individual’s openness to change and personal growth, really provides a common thread, weaving together the above skills.

To quote Carol Dweck of Stanford University,

“People who believe in the power of talent tend not to fulfill their potential because they’re so concerned with looking smart and not making mistakes. But people who believe that talent can be developed are the ones who really push, stretch, confront their own mistakes and learn from them.”

The notion that nurture trumps talent, is an interesting one. It underscores why defining some great attributes for an entrepreneur in my Entrepreneurial Toolkit is such a good idea. For the right people, if they strive for personal growth, each and every one of these attributes is in reach.

I’ve always held an innate belief that hiring is about way more than the credentials from the best schools and relevant job experience. By finding people who value “stretching themselves”, companies are adding those who can navigate today’s complex and every-changing environment to their team mix.

It’s also a very positive and empowering message.

Good mentoring and management, like good parenting, works.

Think about it.

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