Valentine’s Special: Falling in love with the hustle

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we often find ourselves reflecting on the things we love. 

If you’re an entrepreneur or simply interested in the field think “is this something I love?’ Do you love the process of entrepreneurship or do you love the idea of it? 

Being a successful entrepreneur and business owner isn’t just about what you can do, but do you have the love to do it?

Growth over comfort

Entrepreneurship allows for a world full of potential for you and your venture. While staying in your comfort zone feels safe and familiar, it is important to explore possibilities outside of your comfort zone.

Staying inside a box of comfort can hinder the potential growth for you and your innovation. Stepping outside of this box can be scary, but is so important for growth.

For example if you’re at an event or workshop you should network with the people around you. Talk to these individuals about their day, their business, the ups and downs they saw. With networking you can gain valuable advice and connections that can help you succeed in the long-run. If you’re more introverted it is important to take a leap and network with anyone you can.

Across Texas State University there are a variety of opportunities that can allow you to not only network but also learn more about entrepreneurship and the “behind-the-scenes.”

Check out a previous blog that lists resources across campus and within the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) that can help you.

Every leap you don’t take can be a missed opportunity for you and your venture. Don’t always choose short-term comfort over what can be long-term growth.

Fall in love with the process, not just the outcome

Becoming an entrepreneur, business owner, and innovator is not an easy road. It’s a process.

Running a business takes more time than people may realize. You have to spend time creating or providing services to your customers, managing your business, looking for ways to further grow and improve your business.

Even before you have officially started a business, you have to spend time brainstorming the idea, creating the products, and promoting the services. Whether you have to find the business idea or already have a game plan in mind, there is a process in creating and building this idea.

While having a successful business or idea is an extraordinary outcome, it is important you remember why you wanted to become an entrepreneur in the first place. Was it because you wanted to make a change or did you simply just love creating? 

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) has a variety of resources, workshops, and opportunities to help your business soar. The CIE will help you turn your idea into reality, but you have to have the determination and love for entrepreneurship to reach a successful outcome.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about the money

This goes hand-in-hand with falling in love with the process of entrepreneurship. The reason you become an entrepreneur shouldn’t simply be because you can make “easy money.”

When building a business you are ultimately starting from the ground up. You’re turning an idea into reality. You should make a list of goals at the very beginning highlighting what you want your business to look like and where you want it to be in the future.

While having financial success is a great outcome to starting a business, it shouldn’t be the only reason you are doing it. 

Think:

• Is creating these products already a hobby you love?
• Are these services/ products solving a problem you’ve observed?
• Is there a change in already established products/ services that you want to create?

The hustle with entrepreneurship should be intentional growth for you and your business. Step outside of your comfort zone and fall in love with the process. You never know where your business can be if you don’t take these leaps.

For more information about the CIE events and activities, check out our upcoming events.

Follow us on all of our socials - LinkedIn and Instagram. To find our events list, visit our linktr.ee.

About the CIE:

“Where underestimated talent becomes unstoppable.”

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship follows a mission of providing hands-on experiences to turn into something meaningful and impactful. The CIE supports “underestimated people and early-stage ideas with strategy, grit, and belief.”

The vision of the CIE is to make Texas State University “a place where entrepreneurship and innovation are real and accessible to anyone with the courage to create.” The CIE provides opportunities for students, faculty, alumni, and the community to turn ideas into lasting ventures.

Media Contacts:

To become involved in the CIE as a student, faculty or staff, alumni, or community member, connect with the CIE team:

Quinn Valentine, Director for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, McCoy College of Business, at quinn.valentine@txstate.edu 

Kendall Perkinson, CIE Program Coordinator

Email: kendallperkinson@txstate.edu