Suddenly, a spark of inspiration! It may come while tinkering in the garage while sitting at the desk of an intolerably boring job, or while experiencing a need that is not readily filled in the marketplace today. It may be the extension of an existing product concept or something completely undiscovered. But whatever the idea is, in that very moment, an inextricably driving force attaches to the idea – I call it “Entrepreneurial Faith”.
Faith has many connotations, both secular and religious. Faith is the driving action in all that we do and plays a significant role in the development and sustaining of a business venture. Entrepreneurial faith is an inner determination, a confidence, a hope, that drives the courage to act; to set out on the journey of creating a new business. Without faith in a new venture idea, neither the inventor nor the investor would risk the journey.
What I have found is that an entrepreneur’s creative force is contagious and pulls people in until soon everybody’s on the same page. Successful entrepreneurs are very good at communicating to others their ideas and their belief in the venture. They garner support from spouses, family members, and potential partners. Their confidence in the project combined with research wins over people and capital to support the idea. Helping others to believe in the idea comes naturally from the heart. Communication with the power of entrepreneurial faith generates both human and capital resources to the company from startup through even the difficult scaling years.
Faith reveals a future gleaming with possibilities. Entrepreneurs can envision the end even from before the beginning. They can imagine a successful company whose products and services are loved by an abundant customer base. They see people, materials, equipment, and processes coming together to achieve success. In this state, they must guard against blindly moving forward by thinking critically about the financial and personal costs of the venture. The thrill of creating something new must be tempered with reason and steady analysis. It’s a bit of a two-edged sword to be aware of, but without which no one would ever embark on a new venture.
Faith causes entrepreneurs to trust their instincts, summon inner courage, and take the leap into business ownership. It inspires entrepreneurs forward past the naysayers, endless to-do lists, meetings with skeptics, and taxing investment pitches. It cannot guarantee a successful venture, but without it, there would be no attempt. In the end, the entrepreneur’s exercise of faith and the resulting actions materialize into profitable business operations that bless owners, workers and the communities where they reside. I have felt and responded to entrepreneurial faith and have pursued my dreams. I continue to exercise and follow my faith as I lead Insperity today.
Originally posted on ForbesBooks.