Winning is important

As was once purportedly pronounced by Vince Lombardi, the infamous National Football League head coach, "if winning isn’t everything, why do they keep score?"

Business, as with the game of football, is a complex game structured in rules, played offensively and defensively, and championed by the best executed game plan. The opportunity to win in business centers on your desire to take chances and play to your advantage.

Football fans are an assorted bunch of sign-makers, face painters and pretenders. They live their dreams through the actions of someone else. They know all the plays and are quick to strategize the situation and tell the coaches and players what needs to be done to achieve victory. They dream it but don’t live it; they say it but don’t do it.

Business is littered with the same types of fans; those who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. The so-called wannabe entrepreneurs who would love to get into the great game of business but are not committed enough to adequately prepare to compete. They would love to don the business jersey and give it a go, but just can’t seem to gather enough gumption to try.  

Through my consulting business I get the opportunity to visit with a lot of people who tend to fit this mold. They desperately want to achieve something greater, but are hesitant. They want to be their own boss, but have trouble following their own lead. They want to do what makes them happy, but cannot commit. I feel for them. They want so badly to get into the game but, in the end, don’t believe in themselves.

In many ways the path to entrepreneurship is being somewhat misrepresented. The prevailing belief promulgated by the media and being touted by governmental entities and those institutions that get some of their funding from the government, is that new government programs are the best way to promote the development of entrepreneurs. While I understand the intent, I do not agree in the strategy.

When I consider all the people who have discussed their entrepreneurial dreams with me, the most consistent missing ingredient for many would-be entrepreneurs is experience that comes from playing the game. Not knowing what might happen; not being privy to the challenges and stresses they will face is the common thread that binds all potential entrepreneurs.  

Each team is made up of experts; those that do something really well. No one member of the team possesses all the skill, so the entrepreneur, just like the football coach, must assemble the skills and talents needed to win the game. An entrepreneur’s team must be able to create a product or service; sell it in a competitive environment; and, manage the business. What too many would-be entrepreneurs think is that they have to be able to do it all themselves.

With these realities in mind, an innovative opportunity called "The Edge--The U.P.’s Business Plan Competition," begins this month and is a great opportunity for entrepreneur-minded individuals to make their dreams come true. A local business collective of The e-Loft, Concepts Consulting, Elegant Seagulls, The Big Chair Club, and Grandchamp, McBride & Prophet have teamed together to sponsor a business plan competition that gives the winner the absolute best chance ever to successfully bring their idea to market. With a prize package valued at $10,000 to the owner of the best plan, the collective that includes consultants in business, accounting, marketing/branding, and finance will aid the winner by providing their expertise and experience at no charge.

Unlike other business plan competitions where the winner gets cash to spend on anything they want, this prize aims to not only celebrate a great idea but also to transform the idea into a profitable new business.

For the value of the prize package, the competition is no-risk, high-reward. Not only is the winner receiving a high-valued prize, but also guidance from expert consultants in all aspects of the business they have always envisioned.

In the end, what are you looking for as an entrepreneur? If you are looking to attend a class or seminar, if you are interested in a better understanding of what goes into writing a business plan, if you are looking for ways to find hired help, or if you want to secure a loan, there are plenty of government-backed programs to help you. These are affordable because they are underwritten with tax money, and the folks providing the service do a good job. But if you really want to bring your idea to market, why not gain the insight from some of the best business minds in the area. Entering and winning The Edge Business Plan Competition might be your best chance yet.

For more information go to the eLoft website.

David Saint-Onge is president and principal strategist for Black Ink Assets, a business consulting company providing organizational assessment and performance enhancement services, business growth and sustainability implementation strategies, computer information technology consulting, and formation of exit strategies and corporate transition plans. David is also the author of Built To Fail - How Uncertainty is Killing Intuition, Invention and Investment in American Small Business, and The Exit Equation - How to Leave Your Business with Your Money and On Your Terms, which is set to be published in early 2012.