| When I think of the entrepreneurs I have the pleasure of partnering with as their executive coach, I am impressed by their passion, commitment, and ability to pivot. One of my former clients asked me to meet with her the other day because she was in a tough spot. When I showed up at the local Starbucks, she had six to ten poster-sized Post-It notes covered with ideas, processes, and revenue numbers. She was spinning. Being alone at the top can be challenging. We all need people to bounce ideas off of, to help us reset, and to push us when things go sideways. This is especially true for entrepreneurs. The people we surround ourselves with really matter in business and in life. One of my dear friends, Dennis Volpe, agreed to share his perspective on successful entrepreneurs in today’s blog post. Read on… |
| Worth The Share |
| CAST Your Way to Success: Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs As a mentor with the Founder Institute, a board member with New England Invents, an investor in small businesses, and a partner with the Leadership Research Institute, I’ve seen firsthand what separates successful entrepreneurs from those who struggle. A recent conversation with a Founder/CEO provided additional reinforcement |
| for the four essential elements of entrepreneurial success: Clarity, Alignment, Structure, and Team. If you want to land the big opportunities, you’ve got to get out of your own way and be ready to CAST. Clarity of Vision and Value Successful entrepreneurs have a clear understanding of both their business and their own role as a leader. They recognize the “why” behind their venture and how their personal values align with their company’s mission. This clarity helps them lead with purpose, setting a course that inspires their team and attracts the right customers. The key is consistently refining this vision as they grow through deliberate and consistent reflection and feedback. Alignment of Energy and Effort Entrepreneurs are naturally full of ideas. Aligning those ideas with their core vision is essential. Alignment is about learning to prioritize and build discipline around continually refocusing of what really matters. It requires founders to develop the self-awareness to know when they’re being pulled off course and the emotional resilience to resist distractions. This clarity of focus fosters faster, more sustainable growth. Structure for Success One area where founders often struggle is in creating the right structure for predictability and accountability. I encourage entrepreneurs to establish structures that not only serve the business but also their personal leadership development. This might involve time-blocking to focus on strategic priorities, adopting systems for delegation, or building accountability mechanisms to keep themselves and their team on track. Structure isn’t just about running a smooth operation—it’s about freeing up the mental space to think creatively and strategically. Building the Right Team Some entrepreneurs make the mistake of surrounding themselves with people who think like they do. Successful founders are those who build diverse teams that push them to grow. They embrace feedback, are comfortable with being challenged, and invest in developing their team members as much as they invest in themselves. The CAST Mindset for Success Entrepreneurial success is as much about mindset as it is about strategy. Founders who embrace a CAST mindset—Clarity, Alignment, Structure, and Team—are those who lead with intention, emotional intelligence, and resilience. The more intentional they are in these areas, the better positioned they are to achieve their goals and lead their company toward long-term success. To connect with Dennis, you can find him on LinkedIn or the Leadership Research Institute website, or Dennis’s website. |
| #wisewords “Your ability to attract, evaluate, and forge strong working relationships with co-founders, early employees, and investors often means the difference between failure and success.” — Clara Shih, Co-founder of Hearsay Systems |
| And Finally… |
| I want to double-click on the T in the CAST system Dennis mentions above, challenging each of you to take a minute and reflect on who is in your circle. Who is on your team? Who challenges you and helps you be the best version of yourself? Who listens without judgment, asks the tough questions, and supports your growth? |
| One more thing about Dennis is that, beyond his many achievements, he is also a retired Naval Officer. On Memorial Day and September 11, he asks this question of all of us: “Am I living a life worthy of the sacrifice of the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice so others may live? For me, some days the answer is yes . . . some days, I’m not sure because there is always more that can be done.” |
