Posted on December 7, 2011 by Dave Crenshaw
One of my favorite causes is Kiva. To help promote them and to do something a little different for the holiday season, I've posted a special video expressing my gratitude for the opportunities entrepreneurship provides. Watch this video, and then comment on this page for a chance to win one of two $50 gift certificates to Kiva.org. Action Steps:
  1. Post your gratitude or questions about entrepreneurship for a chance to win one of two $50 gift certificates to Kiva.
  2. Return to this page in two weeks to learn who the winners are!
Principles:
  1. Entrepreneurs have a powerful impact on nations, communities, and individuals that work in the businesses they create.
  2. Entrepreneurs are the "Indiana Jones" of the business world. They are willing to leave behind comfort, security, and stability to strike out on their own in pursuit of “fortune and glory”.
  3. Often, entrepreneurs fail. But they don't stop. Their willingness to get up and try again is a part of their greatness.
 
This post was sponsored by Kiva. Make a Small Loan, Make a Big Difference - Check out Kiva.org to Learn How!
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  • Meggin McIntosh

    LOVE Kiva!!!  I happily “invest” money there…and of course, never take it back but just put it right back into the kitty.  Thankful for that opportunity.  And I’m a happy entrepreneur, too.  Thankful everyday.  Merry Christmas, Dave!!

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      That’s the best way to use Kiva. Thank you for all that you do in support of entrepreneurship, Meggin!

  • Michael Tasner

    Dave, I am grateful for my staff, and my clients.  Without them, I (the entrepreneur) would not in existence.  At christmas time , I also do some heavy reflecting, and always realize that while I may complain about not having the latest Ipad, or a 10,000 square foot house, none of that stuff really matters.   Family is all that really matters at the end of the day.  

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      You are the classic entrepreneur, Tas. Makin’ it happen. May you find both lots of time with your family and more “fortune and glory” in the coming year.

  • RobBurnham

    Dave,  Thanks for introducting me to Kiva a couple of years ago. Since that first gift certificate you made to me, I have seen investments in several entrepreneurs around the world be paid back and reinvested. It is sobering to see how a $25 loan can make such a difference in the lives of people. When I get a notice where $1.38 payment has been made on a loan, it really makes me count my blessings.  

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      I had forgotten about you getting a certificate, Rob. (It was during my Invaluable book launch, right?) It really is amazing to see how “flat” the world is, isn’t it? We’re all on the same team, no matter where we are in the world. 

  • http://www.synergetic-solutions.com Faith Fuqua-Purvis

    Hi Dave – What an interesting spin.  You “win,” you receive the opportunity to give money to someone else rather than receiving something for yourself as typically occurs when you “win”.  Very creative and the hallmark of entrepreneurship…doing something different.  Thanks for raising awarness of Kiva.  I had not heard of them. 

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      Kiva is a fantastic organization. It provides people a hand-UP instead of a hand-out. Thanks for the comment, Faith!

  • Shannon Wilson

    Thank you so much Dave for the inspiring video and the needed reminder about how fortunate we are to be entrepreneurs.  Although I am experiencing the “failure” side of all this right now, I am still so grateful for everything I have, including my family, my employees and especially the opportunity to be an entrepreneur.  I look forward to “starting again” in 2012, and paying it forward to all those around the world who have the same dreams.

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      Thanks for sticking to it, Shannon. You’ll come out the other side stronger and inspire others in the process.

  • Angy Ford, Bravo

    My favorite part of this video was the line stating entrepreneurs have “brilliant madness.”  That describes me so well some days, the madness describes me most days! You’re right that we are blessed and need to appreciate all we’ve worked for.  Many of us have worked decades becoming what we are today and taking just a moment to relect on our success and failures can help us realize we have already made it!

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      Yes, you are brilliantly mad, Angy … or is it madly brilliant? :-)  Either way, thank you for your comment. That can be sometimes part of the curse of entrepreneurship–not recognizing or taking time to appreciate your successes.

  • Anonymous

    I am grateful for the risk and the example that entrepreneurs before me have taken, otherwise I would not have had the courage do so myself. I’m still working through the process of attaining a steady client base, but reading and hearing about other entrepreneurs encourages me to not give up. Persistence is key.

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      “Persistence is key.” True that.

      As I’ve told my clients AND myself many times, “Impatience is the enemy of
      success.” True entrepreneurs recognize that “get rich quick” is another word for “fool’s gold.”

      • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

        Congrats, DFSBlog! You’re one of the Kiva gift certificate WINNERS!

        Please connect with me on Facebook at http://facebook.com/davecrenshaw and then send me a private message there with your email. Then we’ll get your gift certificate right out to you.Thank you for your support!

  • J.

    How do you teach the critically important concept of ‘service to others’ to someone incapable of experiencing empathy or grasping the importance of others?  There are many who become very successful in business but only as a result of using or stepping on people.  There are many examples of this in the world today.   How can such a repeat of history be avoided?

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      Hi, J. Personally I don’t believe there’s anyone “incapable of experiencing empathy or grasping the importance of others.” In fact, in my experience working with entrepreneurs, I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t have a higher nobler purpose for building a business than just making money. (See: http://www.davecrenshaw.com/business-cause/ ) They may forget it occasionally, but it’s always there.

      May I make a couple of friendly recommendations, both dealing with focus?

      First, I would focus on the positive and not the negative. For every story of someone who lets greed drives their business motives, in my experience there are 10 or more of people who do good, positive, uplifting things for those around them. Unfortunately those aren’t the stories that get reported in the news or retold around the office because, let’s face it, negative news sells.

      Second, I would focus on what you can control. What you can control are YOUR own actions and motives–not the actions and motives of others. This is part of the spirit of entrepreneurship. It’s assessing all your resources, including one’s limitations, and then trying to make the most of what you have. I’ve been unsuccessful in trying to get someone to change who is unwilling. So the more important question is, am I the one willing to change, and what am I going to do about it?

      • J.

        I would love to believe as you do that everyone is capable of experiencing empathy or grasping the importance of others.  I understand the importance of focus and feel that we all have the innate ability to create our own reality via thoughts and affirmations.  I’m also a huge fan of Catherine Ponder, especially her book  ‘Open Your Mind to Receive’.  I do however think that some people as a result of a range of social, environmental and genetic factors end up getting wired in such a way that they are quite capable of acting without regard to or consideration of the actual consequences that result.  NPD is a well-documented condition in the medical field.  From a business/entrepreneurial standpoint I believe it is important to have this awareness in order to make the most informed decisions possible.  I appreciate your position on controlling “Your” actions and motives. Absolutely.  I just think it is important to know or at least have an idea of who you are dealing with on a day to day basis and side-stepping where appropriate. 

        • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

          Hi J. I’d recommend you check out “The Secret Code of Success” by my friend Noah St. John: http://amzn.to/wxpPsP You’ll enjoy it and it will expand your mind about the power the questions you ask have on your attitude and focus.

          Also, please remember that a diagnosis of mental condition doesn’t necessarily mean someone is incapable of change. I’m living proof of that, being “off the charts ADHD” yet becoming a small business productivity expert who lives what he teaches. ;-)

          • http://www.facebook.com/noahstjohn Noah St John

            Noah St. John here, Dave’s friend and author of The Secret Code of Success. Thank you very much Dave for your kind words and recommending my book to your followers.

            J, I’m a big Catherine Ponder fan as well. She was one of the first people I started studying in the personal growth field. 

            You can also get a free download on the power of empowering questions at http://noahstjohn.com 

            Kind regards,
            Noah

          • J.

            Thank you Noah for the link on the power of empowering questions.  I look forward to reading your book! 

          • J.

            Thank you for the reading recommendation..The Secret Code of Success.  I had a feeling it was going to be a matter of reframing things in a fairly significant way. Thank you for showing me the next step…  And congratulations on addressing ADHD.   I hope you are taking CEOs and the like under your wing and re-educating them on such things as the value of a dollar in relation to human factors (building community, protecting the environment).  Thank you again! 

  • Rashid Rashidov

    I would like to point out a word you mentioned, Dave: “madness”. Now I remember another line – “People who manage to change the world are those one who are are crazy (mad) enough that they believe they can”. So I would like to thank entrepreneurs for being crazy (mad) enough to be entrepreneurs.

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      It really does take a bit of insanity to think you can build a business. Often it’s done by people who think “I can do that! That’s easy.” Then it’s AFTER they jump in and work at it for a while that they realize, “What was I thinking? This is really hard!” The successful ones love what they do enough that they push past the difficulty and keep learning what they need to in order to succeed.

  • TedLeeSadler

    The marriage of Risk and Reward make beautiful babies. Our liberty was fought for by hard working people – many of them self-employeed. The opportunities open now are beyond imagination. I look forward to exploring Kiva – it looks great!

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      Thanks TedLee!

  • Delton Childs

    Entrepreneurship is it’s own reward.  If you take the journey you’ll be faced with challenges  rewards, disappointments, excitement and all the emotions that come with them but it’s helped me grow, maybe even spiritually.  Changing the way I seem myself and my life.  I can’t do it alone either, as an entrepreneur I go out into the world and every now and then I meet like minded do-ers and those can turn into some pretty beautiful relationships, though they may seem few and far between.  

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      I like how you emphasized the need for help from others, Delton. I recommend that all entrepreneurs have at least two type of outside accountability 1) a coach and 2) a mastermind group (of “like minded do-ers”). Thanks for the comment.

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      Congrats, Delton! You’re one of the Kiva gift certificate WINNERS!
      Please connect with me on Facebook at http://facebook.com/davecrenshaw and then send me a private message there with your email. Then we’ll get your gift certificate right out to you.Thank you for your support!

  • David Pappoe jnr

    well said dave well said.. you need to be crazy mad lol to be able to grow a business form the ground up

    • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

      You would know, David. You’re one of them! :-)

  • http://www.DaveCrenshaw.com Dave Crenshaw

    Thank you so much to everyone who posted and participated. There were many great comments to choose from. 
    Delton Childs and DFSBlog will be the winners of $50 gift certificates to Kiva.org. 

    Even if you didn’t “win” you can still be a winner by helping a fellow entrepreneur this year. Please visit http://kiva.org/invitedby/invaluabledave and participate in Kiva!