Let’s face it, 2020 was the year that felt like it would NEVER end - and flew by with lightning speed – somehow, both at the same time!

And yet, here we are. We’re almost a week into 2021 already… (*looks around furtively*) …how’s it going so far? LOL It feels like tempting The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse even asking, doesn’t it?

This week, on “I’m a Millionaire! So Now What?” I wanted to honour this bright new year by sharing a roundup of some of the best fun, frank, advice our fabulous guests have shared over 155 episodes.

And yes, I did forget to celebrate when it turned 150. Sigh. My first bit of advice? Make sure notable dates and anniversaries are in calendars well in advance! *laughs*

I’m flying solo again this week, but back to regularly scheduled programming – AKA insightful interviews with incredible entrepreneurs and business owners just like yourselves – very soon.

Let’s get started.

Flying Into 2021 with Fun, Frank Advice

Be prepared: Everyone thinks when you start a business that suddenly **boom** it's just going to happen. Instant success! All I can say is you've got to read “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't” by Jim Collins. It’s one of the best business books I’ve ever read, and I really encourage people who want to start a business to read it, and then stay focused and be willing to work REALLY hard. Also, be a giver. Help others. Mentor. Provide opportunities. Look outside your own bubble. I firmly think when you're a giver, you're going to reap the rewards and be blessed.

Be a little crazy: Don't be scared to do the opposite of what everybody else is doing. But when it comes to entrepreneurship, you have to be a little bit crazy (ok, maybe a lot crazy!). It’s okay to lean into the crazy a little bit. And understand that your own path is your own path, and you don't have to follow anyone.

Be flexible: Don’t “baby” your business - let it grow up. If you've got a seven-year-old baby? Quite frankly, that's embarrassing. Your business should go through the rites of passage: let it become a petulant teenager, then let your business become an adult child that moves back into their parents’ basement, and, most importantly, let it be an adult. It WILL go through those different phases, depending on the supports you have around you, the structures, the institutions, changes in legislation, etc. But let that business grow, not so it’s autonomous, but so you can become more autonomous. That’s so important, not only for your mental and physical well-being, but for your own growth.

Be kind to yourself: Speaking of mental health - look after yours!! Get outside and walk, exercise when and where you can, socialize a little, be bold about meeting new people. And don’t let limiting beliefs of what you can accomplish hold you back.

Be relentless: Don't ever lose sight of your mission. What you were trying to accomplish when you became an entrepreneur. Understand you're going to have to weather the highs and the lows, and sometimes they will be extreme (hello, Covid-19). But you'll get there. And just when you think the worst thing has happened, and you're not going to recover from it, guess what? You will.

And lastly…

Be brave: Think about all the things currently in your metaphoric rear-view mirror, times when you thought you’d never recover. Or would never dig yourself out of X hole. But here you are. Members of the Self Made Nation always get past a problem! It’s part of the joy of running a business, right? Ok. Maybe “joy” is a stretch, but you know what I mean. It’s the nature of this beast that is entrepreneurship. Keep going, persevere. And you will get there. This is a bright, bold, new year full of possibility. Let’s do this.

There’s a lot more fantastic fun, frank advice in the episode. Give it a listen if you can.

If you’re an entrepreneur looking to exit, or you’re at the helm of a thriving business or startup, I would love to talk with you about your stories! You can drop me a line here.

Plus, if you are craving like-minded conversation with growth-oriented business owners, consider joining me and eight other business owners, investors and entrepreneurs for our next edition of Elevated Conversations - watch this space for more details!