Advertisement
You don't choose the trailblazer life; it chooses you.
Attitude is everything.
If you're hoping to read a guidebook with a set of steps to follow, you'll never become a trailblazer. You must be an obsessive innovator and not let the status quo get in the way.
A lot of people can become entrepreneurs, but not everyone
can be a trailblazer. Trailblazers don't just see a need in the
market--they create new markets, and they forge their own paths to get
where their outsized visions tell them they need to go.
Take Steve Jobs,
for example. No one knew they needed a tablet, or a smartphone, or a
better way to listen to music until he changed the rules with his
innovative vision. By daring to envision what was possible and then
acting on it, he brought his dream to life and offered it to the masses.
Somehow, he knew what consumers wanted before they did.
And that's the definition of a trailblazer.Attitude is everything.
If you're hoping to read a guidebook with a set of steps to follow, you'll never become a trailblazer. You must be an obsessive innovator and not let the status quo get in the way.
To blaze a trail, you must possess deep conviction in
yourself and in your vision, drive straight forward with blinders on,
and ignore the distractions, detractors, and Debbie Downers surrounding
you who will tell you it's impossible.
Trailblazers share some notable, defining traits. Across the board, they are:
1. Ingenious. Trailblazers
make their own rules and don't buy into what has always worked in the
past; they find a gap and fill it. For instance, Sarah Blakely
famously cut the feet off of her control-top pantyhose to create a
blemish-free look under white pants--lifting the bottom lines of
millions of women, as well as her own.
Tony Hsieh
created an online shoe company focused on incredible customer service
that revolutionized the entire industry. These two saw opportunity where
no one else did, and then ran with their ideas.
2. Visionaries. Not
everyone can be a trailblazer. People either don't have visions, or
aren't willing to follow their visions through to execution. In fact, so
many people lack the visionary mindset, if you're lucky enough to be
struck by something (an "aha!" moment) that you can't shake off, it's
probably a pretty good sign you should pursue it. It's a rare gift.
As co-founder of Emmi Solutions, Jordan Dolin,
says, "Being an entrepreneur is not about love at first sight; it’s
about having an idea that intrigues you and increasingly pulls you in
until you can no longer ignore it."
3. Relentless. A vision will not only guide
you, but also provide the impetus and resilience to not give up.
Trailblazers persevere in the face of uncertain success. They make
habits out of venturing outside of comfort zones, challenging obstacles,
taking chances, failing repeatedly, and persevering until they achieve
their goals.
When Amy Wilkinson
researched the most successful entrepreneurs to discover skills they
had in common, she found that every single one of them had failed--but
had never given up. The most successful entrepreneurs learned from their
mistakes and kept striving. Some even channeled the naysayers to
inspire them to overcome even more.
4. Collaborative.
Wilkinson also discovered that these trailblazers drew upon other
people's ideas to solve problems that arose while growing their
businesses. She observed that successful entrepreneurs actually gained a
competitive edge by building positive relationships through helping
others.
Trailblazers surround themselves with teams and resources
that enhance and help them reach beyond their own strengths. Ask any
successful entrepreneur about his or her story, and it will invariably
include others who helped along the way. Rarely has anyone ever created
something visionary entirely on his or her own.
A longtime colleague and fellow innovator and trailblazer,
Jay Samit, has just published a fantastic new book entitled "Disrupt
You!" which, in part, dissects and shares more unique facets of what it
takes to be a trailblazer. The book is a must-read for any aspiring
trailblazers--and certainly for all entrepreneurs.
Becoming a trailblazer isn't easy. The only way to know
you've succeeded is when others say you have. It's a title that's earned
and granted, but can't be chased down. With the right mindset, you can
blaze your own trail and change the name of your industry's game.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.
Post a Comment