quarta-feira, 15 de setembro de 2010

Why do young companies die? Por que empresas jovens morrem?

Businesses mortality is one of the favorite subjects of Management magazines, consultancy companies, students and professors. I have come across the same explanations in most articles and discussions on this subject: lack of planning, business knowledge, difficulties in leading with growth and family crisis (when it is a family business) among others. However, risk tolerance and the “illusion” of an easy way of getting wealthy as an entrepreneur are hardly ever mentioned .

I like to allude to dreams as glamorous dragons when referring to entrepreneurship, and do believe our dreams are never plain and do deserve this sort of comparison. But achieving them is hard work; no free lunches; no guarantees of a steady income in the end of the month. I talked to several people who alleged giving up their adventures after six months or a year because the venture was not worth the profit, that they could not make a living out of it. Well, let's analyze it: there is the investment- the venture capital, the market recognition work, the competitors... yes, all should be part of the business plan. But what is the real reason for such instant frustration?

The entrepreneur is, in fact, mythical, famous for being a genius or a lucky person, sort of a Midas who whatever touches turns into gold. Yes, he has vision, takes risks and seizes opportunities, but not everything works just fine. His passion and will of making his dream come true makes him keep going, and even after many failures, he finds himself two jobs, raises some capital to reinvest in his dream and motivates people to join him.

I believe the market lacks entrepreneurship courses rooted in the every day reality of the entrepreneur, where case studies shown will be the ones of the bakery and drugstore at the corner, or about friends and acquaintances that create or are creating success. How did Jefferson's consultancy company was born? How about Felipe and Karen's Mistralis? And Romanha? Vapza?

I know a lot of people and their companies and decided to become a story teller. I will need your help, though. Tell me your stories and I promise I will post and translate them. Let's go international!

"Harlem"

Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore -

And then run?

Does it sink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over? -

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does is explode?


A mortalidade das empresas é um dos assuntos favoritos de revistas de administração, consultorias especializadas, alunos e professores. Tenho encontrado as mesmas explicações na maioria dos artigos e debates a respeito: falta de planejamento, conhecimento do negócio, inexperiência em lidar com o crescimento, crises familiares (no caso de empresas familiares) entre outros. Mas a tolerância ao risco e a ilusão de enriquecer facilmente como empresário são poucas vezes comentadas.

Gosto de me referir aos sonhos como dragões glamorosos quando falo de empreendedorismo, e realmente acredito que nossos sonhos nunca são banais e merecem toda essa pompa. Agora, é trabalho duro, sem muita folga, sem a certeza de faturamento igual todo final de mês. Muitas pessoas com quem converso que desistiram de suas aventuras alegam não ter dado certo pois em seis meses ou um ano ainda não estavam tirando um lucro que valesse a pena. Vejamos: há o investimento inicial, o trabalho de reconhecimento do mercado, os concorrentes... sim, isso tudo poderia fazer parte de um planejamento inicial, mas o que causa tamanha frustração?

O empreendedor é de fato um ser mitificado, que recebe a fama de gênio e sortudo, aquele Midas que em tudo que toca vira ouro. Sim, ele tem visão, corre riscos, aproveita as oportunidades no momento certo, mas nem sempre tudo dá certo. Aquela paixão, o sonho e a vontade de conseguir realizar o sonho é o que o faz prosseguir, e após várias quedas tentar novamente, arrumar dois empregos, levantar um capital extra para reinvestir no sonho, motivar outros e seguir com ele. Acredito que faltam cursos de empreendedorismo mais pautados na realidade do empreendedor, com estudos de casos que contem a história toda: como foi que a loja, a panificadora, a farmácia do bairro surgiram? E a consultoria do Jefferson? O Mistralis do Felipe e da Karen? Resolvi virar uma contadora de histórias, mas pra isso vou precisar da ajuda de vocês. Contem as suas ou as histórias de outros conhecidos. Prometo postá-las aqui e até traduzi-las, já que esse é um blog internacional!...; )

"Harlem"

Langston Hughes


O que acontece quando se adia um sonho?

Ele seca...

como uma passa ao sol?

Ou inflama, como um machucado -

E então purga?

Ele fede como carne podre?

Ou cria uma crosta açucarada -

como um doce açucarado?


Talvez apenas pese

Como uma carga pesada.


Ou explode?

Um comentário:

Anônimo disse...

Blog Post 9/20/2010
Liane is correct. When we follow our Dreams, do we encounter Dragons, albeit beautiful, alluring, glamorous dragons, that breathe fire and wilt our energy. With knowledge we can pursue our dreams and succeed. Where do we come by this knowledge?
While living in Brazil this past year and doing research on Fundo - FGTS, I came across an article, Working in Brazil by Danilo Nogueira (http://accurapid.com/journal/08legal1.htm). He makes the observation, while exploring Brazilian Labor Law and attempting to translate the Portuguese terminology into English, that many Brazilians are cashing out all their retirement reserves and investing in their own business venture. He concludes, “Férias vencidas e proporcionais, plus aviso prévio, FGTS com multa and God knows what else, can make up quite a lot of money. In these times of rising unemployment, many people are using their termination pay to open a franchised shop, a move that is making our shopping centers a nest of amateur merchants. Those would do well by reading something on bankruptcy I wrote for a previous issue of the Translation Journal. May come in handy. One never knows.”

His observation is that of mine and Liane’s. Most of these dreams will wither and the businesses will fail. How to help?

I suggest a resource is available. The E-Myth, or the mythology of the entrepreneur. Liane observes that we attribute the successful entrepreneur to be a modern day Midas, a genius or very lucky. Michael E. Gerber, the E-Myth creator, ( http://www.e-myth.com ) would suggest that the entrepreneur, as we view him/her, is a myth. The successful business person uses a systems approach that allows for success. Creating and maintaining a business successfully is more than luck or magic, it is all about dreaming and then planning. He would suggest you “plan your work, then work your plan”, based on the observation that most people, “Do not plan to fail, they fail to plan!”

As you explore with Liane the concept of resources and telling your stories for helping the would be entrepreneur, I highly recommend Gerber’s work. I have just finished a recent offering, “The E-Myth Enterprise: How to Turn A Great Idea Into a Thriving Business”. A nugget from Gerber – Manage systems, not people!

Keep dreaming and start planning, systematically.