Link to the original Forbes article
Thomas Aronica is the founder and CEO of Biller Genie, a solution that automates accounts receivable to get businesses paid faster.
If I were ever able to go back in time and give my younger self a piece of advice, it would be this: When you’re starting out, it’s easy to get caught up in every opportunity that comes across your desk and sparks that fire for innovation and expansion, especially in an industry like the technology sphere. Don’t try to do everything for everyone all at once. Instead, focus your attention and effort on being really good at what’s in front of you and always trust your gut.
The Necessity Of ‘No’
So, if you were to ask me what the personality profile of a serial entrepreneur is, I would say this is the crux of it: There are always more opportunities than there is bandwidth and more desires than there is time to fulfill them. An entrepreneur at heart has a mind that does not rest. It is constantly innovating, contemplating and strategizing. Consequently, saying “no” is one of the most difficult things we have to learn at the onset. Why? Because the reality of the situation is that when it comes to manifesting something new and spurring our capacity to disrupt and innovate, the first answer is always yes!
The Success Of Failure
Two additional challenges we must surpass? Perfectionism and moderation. We always want to do more, and we always want to do it perfectly! But, given the fact that we’re human, we do have limits that we must honor and fallibility we must accept. Being able to take your failures and turn them into your greatest successes is something that this path will inevitably teach you. The truth is, you will fail many times, and sometimes you will fail miserably! But having the humility to admit that your vision was misguided, as well as the ingenuity to recalibrate your strategy, will turn any failure into a monumental success that you can both learn and grow from. These individuals are irrepressible and have the potential to recover fast from failure.
The Gut Factor
When it comes to generating momentum and creating success in any industry, one of the most important things is the capacity to listen to your intuition and genuinely trust your gut. What makes that so important? It comes down to survival of the fittest. When the risks are that great and the rewards that high, an instinctual awareness of whatever path you should take is crucial. This means trusting your gut even when your ego tells you it wants to go in another direction.
The Gravitational Pull
Serial entrepreneurs are curious and restless. They find a potential opportunity in every gap and have the desire to create something amazing out of it. They are driven by the thrill of taking on a challenge, and they are unrelentingly competitive with themselves. But it’s not just about the money. While it’s true that any successful entrepreneur hopes to turn his or her new venture into a million-dollar trade, that’s not the driving force. The real gravitational pull comes from generating money in new and innovative ways. For them, it’s much more about the journey than the destination.
The Employment Crisis
There are many serial entrepreneurs out there that speak of their obsession with innovation as more of a calling than a choice. In fact, one of the most frustrating things early on for this personality is they are oftentimes unemployable. They are such visionaries that it’s virtually impossible for them to work for anyone but themselves—not because they can’t take direction or follow protocol, but because they consistently see the bigger picture, and that prevents them from being successful anywhere but in the driver’s seat.
The Serial Effect
So, what is it that makes serial entrepreneurs so good at what they do? Their sensational optimism is matched by no other, along with their desire to keep innovating. As a result, they don’t allow their setbacks to challenge their momentum toward their long-term goals. They’re typically blessed with a very high level of self-reliance, and for those that do not have it as readily available at the onset, they will develop it quickly. Their understanding that money isn’t everything provides a level of detachment that is extremely useful, while their bold resiliency prevents them from needing to depend on outside sources for validation or motivation. Instead, it drives them forward with a passion that can often be categorized as obsession.
You either have it or you don’t. In fact, if it feels like a choice, there’s still too much hesitation there. When it’s innate and in your blood, it chooses you, and that serial effect gives you no other option but to show up and make it happen—for better or for worse, but always for certain.