Entrepreneurs As Celebrities, Uber Tractors, and Tackling Burnout
How Entrepreneurs Became the Celebrities of the Business World
Successful entrepreneurs are a new breed of celebrity (think: Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Oprah). So, what is it that makes them so compelling?
They give us hope
Steve Wozniak was expelled from college for sending prank messages through the school’s computer system before linking up with Steve Jobs. Richard Branson tried his hand at selling Christmas trees and parrots before bringing his entrepreneurial vision to life. George Soros survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary before escaping to London and finding success in banking.
We love to hear the rags-to-riches stories of tenacity and perseverance that humanize these business moguls and remind us that we all have to start somewhere.
They’re in demand
Twitter holds all the proof you need: Richard Branson has 12.4 million followers. Mark Cuban has 7.8 million. And everyone’s favorite media mogul Oprah has over 41.8 million followers.
When these entrepreneurs have something to say, everyone wants to hear it.
They offer a wealth of knowledge
Successful entrepreneurs have unique skills and experience that can be invaluable to aspiring entrepreneurs. In some cases, a 20-minute meeting with Lori Greiner can open more doors than a full semester in business school.
People gravitate toward success, and wealthy entrepreneurs are living proof of the upward mobility and business achievement that is so attractive to others hoping to follow in their footsteps.
They’re philanthropic
Many entrepreneurs are grateful for their success and have a desire to give back. A survey by HSBC shows that 64% of the entrepreneurs surveyed believe they have a duty to make a positive social and economic impact on society.
That’s something we can all get behind.
Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/323553
How ‘Uber for Tractors’ Became a Thing
“Manuel farm work sucks,” says Jehiel Oliver, founder of Hello Tractor. “Imagine being in 100-degree heat, with a little hand tool with a short handle, digging through hard, stony soil for hours every day for 30 to 40 days straight.”
When Oliver realized that access to the right tools could help poor farmers complete a month’s worth of manual work in a single day, he planted his entrepreneurial seed and Hello Tractor took root.
The platform’s technology has been hailed the “Uber for tractors,” with an on-demand app that accepts tractor requests and helps equipment owners and contractors rent out tractors (and earn extra revenue) that would otherwise sit unused. Hello Tractor aims to fill the labor gap while offering machinery that drastically improves the time and cost spent on farming, as well as improving quality of life for farmers.
The app also features monitoring technology, which has paved the way for Hello Tractor’s partner companies, like John Deere, to work with banks and create low-interest loans for parties who might otherwise have difficulty getting funding.
Oliver studied economics at Cornell University and initially launched a career in investment banking, which didn’t last long. “I come from a long line of hippies,” Oliver says. “I knew I had to spend my time in a meaningful area.”
Source: https://www.freeenterprise.com/how-a-banker-turned-entrepreneur-invented-uber-for-tractors/
Burnout: The #1 Enemy of Entrepreneurs Everywhere
For many entrepreneurs, stress is a part of daily life. When business is booming, you’re racking your brain to think of ways to maintain that level of business and ensure that all the work you put out is top-notch. When things slow down, you’re up all night thinking of ways to get ahead of the game and wondering if you should just pack it all in and sign yourself up for a desk job.
It’s exhausting.
The good news is, you can learn to manage the stress so you’re not consumed by the pressure — and eventually — burnout. Here’s how:
Don’t forget to disconnect
Pay attention to the warning signs: the tension headaches, the inability to focus, the daily feeling of wanting to crawl back into bed at 4pm. This is stress starting to take its toll.
Instead of waiting for this to (inevitably) happen, proactively make time to disconnect and focus on other parts of your life. This could mean making time for your family, your favorite hobby, or even an exercise class.
Taking time away from your business will make you more focused and productive during your “connected” hours.
Set boundaries
Setting boundaries is an important part of learning to disconnect. It’s not healthy to be completely plugged into your business 24/7.
Identify some areas where you can take a step back and create some separation. Your success, happiness, and — most importantly — your health, depend on it.
Stop doing things you hate
Every entrepreneur has something on their list they hate doing. Maybe you’re bored by all the backend bookkeeping/accounting. Or maybe you’re a behind-the-scenes type who would rather let someone else do the talking.
Keep the things you love to do and delegate the rest. You DON’T need to do everything on your own.