by Case Lane

Lead, follow or get out of the way – phrase attributed most often to General George S. Patton and others

Some people have great ideas for how to get things done; some people want to work for, or with people with great ideas; and some people are indifferent one way or another.  They are prepared to consume the good ideas when they are made available, but they have little interest in participating in the rise or fall of changes and risks. 

And then there are people – too many people – who are not interested in any ideas.  These are people who have something negative to say, or pushback against ideas, and generate essentially zero progress for the evolution of humankind.  Those people are the obstructionists.

Identify the Obstructionist

Obstructionists try to convince rising entrepreneurs not to start their business, or tell ambitious self-starters they will never be successful, or are convinced the life they are in is the only life they – or anyone else they know – will ever have. 

Obstructionists are standing in the way of those who want to move the world forward.  And quite often obstructionist thinking is standing in the way of aspiring entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs who also operate as obstructionists diminish their own chances for success while negatively affecting others.

Plan to Be a Leader

The fundamental idea of an entrepreneur is to take a good idea and put it where people can make use of it.

But often the road to make that happen is full of obstacles.  Some physical, some verbal, some administrative.  Obstacles that are erected and maintained by people who do not want you to go where you’re going.

The first time an entrepreneur decides to verbalize a business idea is often fraught with peril.  The entrepreneur likely had an epiphany perhaps after seeing something in a store or experiencing a frustration in the marketplace.  The idea is based in a genuine recognition of a gap in the marketplace, and a consumer need.

But often when the idea is communicated, in non-entrepreneurial worlds where the majority live, the response is negative.

Those closest to a rising entrepreneur – family, friends, neighbors, teachers, religious leaders -are often the last to support the idea.   They fear the risk of beginning a new venture with no guarantees. 

They may also be embarrassed to have that one person in the – family, neighborhood, community – who will not do what everyone else says is the right thing to do. 

Some aspiring entrepreneurs will get past the negative thoughts and start a business anyway.  Others will never be able to move forward.

Unfortunately negative programming leads people to believe that the others are right.  If no one you know has ever done what you are proposing to do, you must have the courage to face the unknown.  And few hold to that courage.   

Where leaders rise

In the entrepreneurial world, leaders are the people who take their business idea and turn it into a viable business regardless of the obstructionists.  Courageous entrepreneurs face obstacles, overcome negativity, struggle to find the time and the money, and patiently refuse to take ‘no’ for an answer while making their business a reality in the global marketplace.

The example set by these entrepreneurs has set the stage for many other who eventually follow.

Where followers begin

Followers watch and learn from leaders.  In fact, many leaders are also followers, incrementally adding to their knowledge by emulating what other leaders do. 

Followers are excited to be around leaders.  They have an opportunity to contribute by supporting the leader in achieving a vision that they support.

When an aspiring entrepreneur gets started as a follower, they put themselves directly on the path of leaders.  With digital resources that facilitate the ability to follow a leader through articles, videos and on social media, an aspiring entrepreneur can pick a leader they admire, or a company to learn more about, and read, watch, listen and support the leader’s activities. 

Followers even go to work for the leader or their company for the experience of learning from a proven success.  These learning experiences help the original follower become a leader.

And obstructionists disrupt

What about getting out of the way? 

Leaders and followers need obstructionists to get out of the way.  Those that try to diminish the work of innovative thinkers, entrepreneurs and investors are limiting their own world. 

Obstructionists tend to be those who are trying to slow down the world to suit their purposes.  Instead of contributing ideas and inventions to build a better world, obstructionists are trying to hang on to the status quo, to protect themselves, and fading power.

Rising entrepreneurs have to find a way to get beyond the obstructionists and keep pursuing business goals.  But sometimes the obstructor is in an individual’s own head. 

Overcoming obstructionists, includes surpassing a personal tendency towards limited thinking and negative programming to become the businessperson you really want to be. 

It also means overcoming the human need to better than the next person by criticizing other people’s work, plans or dreams while sitting on your own unfulfilled intentions.

There’s no reason to obstruct yourself or others.  There is plenty of room for everyone who wants to create a business that adds value to the global marketplace.  You can be a contributor who makes a difference in the lives of others by bringing a product or service into the market.

Be a contributor

Entrepreneurs are contributors.  Leaders within their own world, followers of other leaders who provide constant daily fuel for the global economy, and hope and opportunity for employees and customers.

As you work on developing your business, keep in mind that you want to stay connected to contributors.  Trying to stop others from achieving their stated goals will not make you successful.  Neither will negative feedback, comments or bad-mouthing.

Focus on what you are doing, not what others are doing.  Stay on top of your plans and dreams, not the activities of others that have no effect on you.  

Top-flight global entrepreneurs do not spend their whole day criticizing others?  Not if they want to be successful.

They work on continuing to deliver value. They focus on personal development, and meeting and surpassing their business goals.  If you turn your own mind on to such pursuits, you will reap the benefit in the rising success of your business.

Contribute to your own life

Contributing also applies to how you run your life.  Eliminating obstructionist behavior in business can transform to improving your personal relationships, and the opportunities of your own life.

Focus on positive, individual effort and goals.  Focus on what you are doing and how you can make your world better through your entrepreneurial business ideas.

To Be a Contributor:

• People are asked to lead, follow, or get out of the way
• Unfortunately many people choose not to move, they are obstructionists who refuse to do anything but get in the way
• Obstructionists try to prevent you and others from achieving goals by providing negative feedback, or physical or mental barriers to success
• Sometimes that obstructionist is you.
• Perhaps you have been negatively programmed by other obstructionists, or perhaps you like looking for excuses
• To push back against obstructionism, you must be a contributor
• Global entrepreneurs are contributors
• You provide value by bringing a product or service into the global marketplace
• And you reject obstructionism and its many barriers, in favor of having the life you have always wanted running your own business as an entrepreneur