Qualities of Success: According to Jane Pollak
July 10th, 2007 by Cristina Favreau
CNN published
Q: As an expert on home businesses, what would you say are the qualities of a successful home business?
A: I think you have to have personal drive. Nobody is there saying “time to get up, time to do this,” so there has to be a tremendous sense of motivation individually. Persistence goes along with that, so personal characteristics of discipline, persistence, motivation are key. I’ve heard this term recently, it’s called a “forcing mechanism.” In a home-based business there’s no forcing mechanism cause you’re not on payroll and you don’t have a boss so you have to create your own forcing mechanism.
I think a vital thing is creating support for yourself, because it’s very isolating, nobody knows what I’m doing, nobody’s around saying “did you finish that job, what’s exciting in your life,” so I’ve spent probably a decade and a half creating fabulous support for myself. Tonight I’ll go to something called a master mind group that I’ve been participating in for 15 years, where we’ve all set goals a month ago, and of course I’m doing it this morning so I can be accountable for it tonight, but that’s one forcing mechanism, one of many. I’m meeting somebody for coffee at 11 today, there’s structure all over my day that’s outside of my home that keeps me really supported and joyous.
Do you agree? How do you describe the qualities of a successful entrepreneur? What do you attribute YOUR success to?
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I totally agree. I work with clients on this very same issue. People who were extremely successful in a corporate job, can find entrepreneurship rather challenging at first.
Because – there is no one else to report to. There is no one in the immediate vicinity to be accountable to – there is no one else to take direction from. It all comes from the business owner. Which can be liberating – but also debilitating until you get your feet under you.
I like the idea of a mastermind group. I’ve been part of a couple of groups like that and it is nice to have that type of accountability. I’ve also worked with a coach and have taken group coaching programs. Having that accountability piece made all the difference. Because – I was still the head honcho, but I had someone there to help guide me, and I knew that if I didn’t get done what I said I was going to do, there better be a good reason
I’m thrilled to find out about your site, Cristina! Thanks for including me on your blog.
[...] The Savvy Entrepreneur recently featured an interview with Jane Pollack, an entrepreneur and home-business coach. [...]