This papers tells the story of becoming an entrepreneur. It is meant to help people who want to take the entrepreneurship path by telling my history. It is a positive story that show how ordinary people can become business owners.

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Becoming an entrepreneur - Fives W
written by
Diego Martín Sánchez
Introduction
This paper describes the beginning of my journey as an entrepreneur. I wrote it to share
with other people what happened to me and how I felt, with the hope that I might help others
along the entrepreneurship path. The aim is not to be a formal guide or rules to be followed,
but an story that might support those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
How did it begin?
It took me some years to think, see, feel and believe in my conception about what a
business could be for me. I have read lot of books about starting your own business and
through the years I studied this captivating topic so I could understand and learn.
As I began consider the definition of my own business, I realized that being an entrepreneur
is about loving what we do, rather than having a job or making money. I found myself asking
questions like: What is my purpose in life? Am I really happy with my life? If I die tomorrow,
would I say really enjoyed life? What do I really want? That led to a lot of doubts and worries!
For the first time in my life, I was fearful about making a decision. Becoming and
entrepreneur and starting my own business was a big choice, one that could change my life
forever, impacting my own wealth and happiness.
From my point of view, the business conception comes from our core values. Our vision says
lots of about who we are, about what we love to do, and the contribution we can give to our
community and the society. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that it is not about money and
fame, driving a fancy car or any other status icons representative of the society in which I
grew up. It is something that demands full responsibility of our actions and social
commitment.
Defining the business
When you are working on your business, there are many points to take into account to
define it and make it successfully. One of them is explaining your vision concisely and
clearly. This reminds me of an Albert Einstein quote which says ​“If you can’t explain it
simply, you don’t understand it well enough”​. You need to share your plan with the world,
from potential investors to potential customers, even friends and family. It was easier for me
to share when I remembered that my business is for me, it is me making a contribution for
others.
To define my idea in a simple and concise way that was straight to the point, I found these
five questions valuable. They made me think and declare my business idea in a way others
could understand.
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The five questions
1. Why ​I am​ here? the big existential question.
2. What do I ​believe​ in?
3. What is the ​business​ ​idea​?
4. What do I have to ​get​ this idea ​real​?
5. What is the ​plan​ to execute the business idea?
1. Why I am here? ​This first question goes beyond business, it is for relevant for life. The
answers to the other question rests on the answer to this question. It is foundational. Ask
yourself: why you are here, what do you look for, what makes you really happy and
complete. Be honest with yourself. Lying to yourself will not serve your goal at all.
2. What do I believe in? After you have clarity about why you are here, you will need to dig
a little bit. Ask yourself questions such as: What are your core values? What are your key
beliefs? What things will never ever do? What gives you meaning? How do these answers
relate to the business you are considering? These kinds of questions help you build the
foundations of your business.
These two first questions ​“Why I am here” and ​“What do I believe in” are close to our value
system, moral values, beliefs and roots. They say much about who we are as human beings.
If we want to enjoy the work we do, our business must be based on them.
3. What is the business idea? ​Now yes ! the business idea. What do you want to do? How
will you benefit customers and society? What is new or unique about your idea? Is your idea
an improvement of a product or service? Who is your target market?
4. What do I have to do to get this idea real? ​OK. You got the idea. Everyone has ideas
(especially when friends come around to drink beers and discuss how to change the world)
but what do you really have to do to bring your idea to life. Your research and analysis
support you in getting started, but this is about defining the actions you need to take to
create the reality you envision.
5. What is the plan to execute the business idea? In other words, this is the call to action!
You need a plan, and there is only one plan: “Plan A”. Remember Hannibal Smith from the
A-Team: “There is no Plan B” or Christopher Garner who said “Plans B sucks”. An idea
without a plan remains as an idea or just a dream. The key to success it is not the idea itself
but the plan to bring it to life. In business’s history, there were many silly ideas with good
plans that made many people successful and rich.
Executing the plan and keep going
Implementing the plan can take years. It may be hard, very hard, even painful, but in the end
worthy, if you’ve done your homework. On this entrepreneurial journey, no matter what,
remember to:
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● Believe in yourself.
● Be positive.
● Be persistent.
● Do something everyday to get the objective. Everyday you must work on the plan, no
matter if you work 15 minutes or 15 hours. At the end of the year every minute
counts.
● Understand that today’s circumstances do not determine the person you truly are.
You are what you do, to get what you want. If it is today or in five years is the same.
We must be "verb" not "noun".
● Be strong. Many times on this journey you are going feel tired, weak and alone. No
matter what, never fold.
Final words
At the beginning of starting a business it is quite difficult to find the path and destination of
the journey, especially for a young entrepreneur as myself. You have lots of stuff in mind and
you do not know how to begin. It is difficult because you do not have any money, time
(probably you are still an employee), contacts, business experience and all these obstacles
trouble you. But It is OK, all successful people went through that and got over it.
Answers to these five questions gave me the foundations to set the “how” for the way I want
my business to be. If you analyze every question in detail, you can execute a detailed
business plan and start on your journey.
This is a worthy journey. You are making your dreams come true, something only a few
brave ones are willing to do. Be one of them and live your dreams while you are awake.
About the author
Diego Sanchez has been working in the software industry since 2002 as a Java
Programmer, Software Architect, Middleware Admin, Project Leader and Technology
Consultant. He has worked for companies such as IBM and Oracle in primarily the bank and
retail industries. During his career as consultant, he traveled around Latin America working
for the most prestigious banks of Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru and Ecuador. He has been
a teacher for many years specialized on programming and middleware technologies. In
addition to teaching, he loves writing and traveling.
Since September 2016 he is founder of ​Technologies for Business starting a new career like
an entrepreneur oriented to provide development services and ​products related to the retail
business. You can contact Diego at ​diego.m.sanchez@​techforb.com.
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