Monday, January 08, 2007

Best-Ever Entrepreneurship Quotes: Week 14

Continuing our series of powerful motivational quotes personally selected to get your week off to an inspiring start. This week we hear from a real Canadian entrepreneur.

“Had the men who undertook any great enterprise since time began realized half the obstacles and discouragements they would meet, they would never have started. But fortunately they didn't – and don't.”

Sir William Van Horne (1843-1915). (American-born taskmaster who completed the Canadian Pacific Railway, Canada’s greatest megaproject; he later served as president of the CPR, where he oversaw much of the industrialization of Canada)

My take on it: I’ve talked to countless successful Canadian entrepreneurs who have said that if they had the chance to do it over again, they wouldn't. It was just too hard, they say, took too long, cost too much (financially and personally).

I’ve never known whether to believe them or not. Their very natures usually dictate they do something impossible every day.

But the real takeaway for Canadian entrepreneurs is this: Do your planning. Plan some more. Revise the budget to account for all the obstacles and delays you can imagine.

Prepare for the worst, and no setback will break you.

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