EP #91: How to be a Driven Entrepreneur with Don Cote
Entrepreneurism is the most rewarding thing. It’s also extremely hard and that is part of the reason why it feels great to build a successful business. It starts with a vision, it continues with a plan, and is fulfilled with execution. So, why doesn’t everyone complete these three easy steps? Many are equipped to complete one or two of them but struggle with the other(s).
Don Cote is a serial entrepreneur. He started shining shoes when he was a kid and would flip his profits to candy and double his money. Some people have an entrepreneurial mindset but everyone can train themselves to work with a purpose. Don insists that you have to lead instead of sell and leadership starts with self. This has come up before and Don does a great job of explaining how to begin the process. It starts with identifying values.
What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:
Why life isn’t fair
Why you may need to read a book more than once
What a serial entrepreneur is
How to lead yourself
Why global leaders don’t actually set out to do that
Why global leaders train to be better messenger
Why leaders cannot lead with ego
How servant leadership is the only form that works
What % of people are visual, audible, and kinesthetic learners
How to practice the different types of learning
How visioning, planning, and execution work together
How baking relates to business
Why values are essential to success
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“I never told you life was fair.” - Don Cote *quoting his dad
“By its nature, philosophy doesn’t have any how to.” - Don Cote
“The interesting thing, phenomenon, that happens when you lose everything is that you exactly who your friends are because they’re the only people left.” - Don Cote
“This just looks how life works..” - Don Cote
“I can’t uncollapse the concepts of leadership and entrepreneurism.” - Don Cote
“I thought everyone would want to improve their lot in life but that’s not always true.” - Don Cote
“I have to teach mindset first to make the ground fertile.” - Don Cote
“You can’t be a leader unless someones wants to call you.” - Don Cote
“Put a “-” between the “E” and “C” of recreation you get Re-Creation.” - Steve Snyder
“What was it about this frail man in a bedsheet…” - Don Cote
“Most people know very little about their World War II veteran.” Steve Snyder
“When elected official gets elected, that’s a leadership position…but they can get fired..” - Don Cote
“You have to be crystal clear about what your vision is in order to be a great leader.” - Don Cote
“There’s always principles in the foundations of success.” - Don Cote
“You learn and you get better at something.” Bob DePasquale
“Maybe you weren’t thinking about accounts receivable at that point in your life.” - Bob DePasquale
“The unknown is so scary.” - Bob DePasquale
Resources In Today's Episode:
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Bob’s Book - Personal Finance in a Public World
This week’s E-Impact Blog Entry
Episodes Referenced:
