Why do you do what you do?

One of the questions that has been on my mind as of late is: why do I do what I do? Let me explain.

Have you ever thought about why you work for the company that you work for? Why are you in the career that you are in? Is it your dream job, or are you just doing it to pay the bills?

As I've discussed pros and cons of certain positions with other entrepreneurs, I have noticed that we are all in our careers for different reasons. Some may love what they are doing, others may dread waking up in the morning because they have to go to work. Some may see the opportunity as a means to make money, while others see it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

I honestly love being an entrepreneur. To me, the excitement of creating something of value (and enjoying the learning experience and new relationships along the way) is the reason that I wake up in the morning. Already, we have created job opportunities for 7 people (and hiring 2 more soon).

So while some entrepreneurs are only in it to make their millions, I am not one of them. Don't get me wrong -- I will not turn down a large exit if that happens, but such an exit will just be an added bonus -- I love what I do!

Speedpitching Results

A few readers have asked me how the speedpitching luncheon turned out, so here is the update: it was a terrific success! We had about 35 angel investors in the room to hear 10 very qualified entrepreneurs. The greatest part of it all is that we believe that 3-4 of the entrepreneurs will get funded as a result of the luncheon.

In addition, we were featured on the news, radio, and in 2 of the state's top newspaper publications. Here are the links:

1. KSL News & Radio
2. Deseret News
3. Salt Lake Tribune

We are excited to take the idea into other geographical locations. If you are interested in planning an envent in your area, let me know.

Results-Based Leadership

I have recently started reading the book Results-Based Leadership by Dave Ulrich, Jack Zenger, and Norm Smallwood. Thus far, I've really enjoyed the book.

The main point is that the measure of an effective leader can be found in this simple equation: Effective leadership = attributes x results. I agree.

Many leaders are so focused on results that they forget about taking care of the key stakeholders (customers, employees, organization, and investors). Relationships become unimportant and the achieved success will only be temporary. On the other hand, if you focus too much on attributes and relationships, your company will not produce the results necessary to be long-lasting.