Mike Seiman's Blog

Being a successful entrepreneur, I get this question a lot. It took until my second nomination for E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Metro NY to realize the answer was more than just a lot of luck and hard work, and although that had a lot to do with it, it is so much more.  

Looking back at when I started my own company, I realize that true vision and risk was what it was all about.  Every step of the way, I always had so many opportunities to take the “easier” road, whether that was getting a job out of college, or taking some startup capital, or taking VC money at valuations I didn’t agree ,with or futures I didn’t feel were right for my company; risks were the real success.  

To be a successful entrepreneur especially in today’s world, a great idea is nothing.  Everyone has a great idea, and everyone wishes they could execute it. The reality is you can, you just have to commit.  Commit to a life of hard work, a potential for failure, and a clear vision, and you just might be able to make it as a successful entrepreneur.  So, if you have that great next idea, I implore you to heed my words and go for it. But, if you're not going to give it everything you have and risk it all, then wait until you can.