Bootstrapping Makes Great Leaders, Or Managers, Rarely Both
Modern-day entrepreneurs need to be able to wear a lot of different hats.
There's the entrepreneur who excels in inspiring everyone around an incredible idea. The ability to win people's hearts and minds comes almost as easy as breathing to them.
Then there's the entrepreneur who knows how to operate a tight ship. They have their vision and know what to do within the background of a business to execute that vision.
The problem is you need to be both of those entrepreneurs and people rarely tick both boxes. In most cases, you're one or you're the other.
Upskill Your Way to Success
You're a great leader or a great manager; how can you possibly be both?
You've been through the tough times, all the lows and you're ready for the highs. You won't get to the heights you've worked for if you're not prepared to pull yourself up by the bootstraps. Except, that saying is tongue in cheek because it’s impossible to pull yourself up by the bootstraps.
In entrepreneurship, it's about staying scrappy and in doing so, uncovering new talents and skills in yourself and the people around you. You're putting yourself in a position where you have no choice but to get better faster. It gives you more control over your business, to learn the ins and outs of every nook and cranny. Just because you're not accepting money from investors or there isn't an option for that yet, you can upskill.
Ultimately, the only way forward is to upskill. It doesn't matter how much you know, there's always more to learn. What do you need to do to become an expert in your industry?
Beyond Bootstrapping
Flying by your bootstraps will impact you as a person, and a professional, but here are additional steps to take if you want to succeed at a high level. If you're an undergraduate but not a manager, there's a path for you – Graduate Diploma of Management – Learning. If you're a business owner and you want to develop your managerial skills and gain experience, there's a learning path for you, too – Australian Accredited Online Certificate Courses.
If you want to expand your business and attract top talent, you have to build an attractive company, which means a willingness to upskill to improve your abilities. It also means making upskilling an option for the people you headhunt for your business. There's no such thing as a weakness, it's simply an opportunity for improvement!