Nine characteristics of an Entrepreneur

Someone has written on wikipedia.com that the standard entrepreneur has these nine characteristics. I’ve added appropriate links to key words, in the hope that it takes your entrepreneurial skills further along your journey.

1. Vision and Drive

The entrepreneur has an enthusiastic vision, the driving force of an enterprise.

2. Eclectic Thinker

The entrepreneur’s vision is usually supported by an interlocked collection of specific ideas not available to the marketplace.

3. Willing to Evolve

The overall blueprint to realize the vision is clear, however details may be incomplete, flexible, and evolving.

4. Enthusiastic

The entrepreneur promotes the vision with enthusiastic passion.

5. Converts Dreams into Reality

With persistence and determination, the entrepreneur develops strategies to change the vision into reality.

6. Responsible for Action

The entrepreneur takes the initial responsibility to cause a vision to become a success.

7. Researches before Risking

Entrepreneurs take prudent risks. They assess costs, market/customer needs and persuade others to join and help.

8. Positive Attitude

An entrepreneur is usually a positive thinker and a decision maker.

9. Can See the Future, Learns from the Past and Takes Stock in the Now

An entrepreneur has inspiration, motivation and sensibility.

… Are you capable of all this?

Warrawong Wildlife Photography

Today my wife and I procured our nieces from their parents, so they could enjoy a night out without the “rug rats” in tow. Without much argument, the kids agreed with our decision to take them to the Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary.

Because I had not been there in almost 20 years, I turned it into a great opportunity to take some photographs. I also helped the older girl (10yo) learn how to shoot with a Canon EOS 400D, rather than the snap camera we gave her for Christmas last year!

We also had our evening dinner at the Restaurant. I will write my full review of the delicious food, great service, spectacular dining and friendly atmosphere tomorrow night.

Here are just a few of my photographs. More later from SWMBO’s camera, both shot by SWMBO and the 10yo.

Tips to Better Photographs

I enjoy photography, so I enjoy finding new ways to apply old tricks to make a shot look great. Here are a few of them for your reading pleasure. I hope you find a way to apply, use, and improve upon them.

Tip #1 : Space, Space, Space

I try to make my subject take up the entire frame, or as close to the edges as possible. Decreasing the background means that the subject gets more visual-focus.

Tip #2 : Clarity, Contrasts, Crazy Colours

Blending colours within one subject is what makes a great photograph. Sharp colours work well with architecture, but with organic art the trick is to blend the edges into each other.

Tip #3 : Distance, Detail, Digital

Thanks to the digital age, we can shoot small things to make them bigger and bigger, showing all their detail. I highly recommend getting a macro lens for your camera. Because there is art in everything around you. Get closer to your subject to discover a new universe of detail.

Tip #4 : Aperture, Time or Combination

Have you found the AV, TV, or M modes on that dial at the top of your camera? Not yet? Today is the day. Shooting from the hip with P or any of the dummy-modes is child’s play. Take a chance, have a go, see what interesting images you can get.

The greatest singular event in photography is the digital age. Now we can delete those shots that over-exposed or out-of-focus, over-lit or in-shadow, not enough detail or lost in the background.

Tip #5 : If ALL Else Fails, Read the Manual!

Whilst learning how to use your digital camera is a simple as reviewing the image and twiddling dials, it helps to read the manual. You’ll be surprised: Unlike computer manuals, they are generally easy-to-understand. More often they also have extra instructions on night, action, and indoors photography.

In closing: A good photographer uses all the tools available, not some of them.

Ramblings #1

Herein lies a list of ramblings that started last Monday. Don’t begin to think there is a story here. It’s just a whole lot of statements that I considered putting on either my Twitter or Plurk account … and a few did, so will be linked accordingly! Watch out for the personal-quotes, created from incidents that don’t bear repeating, but are worth learning from. These quotes are my final statement on the issue.

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Calenders are all the rage. It’s time to market them. It’ll be Xmas soon! So you’ll find a wide array of calendars on my Redbubble account that will suit every house, office, toilet-door or shed. Check ‘em out!

#1 My QOTD: “A man may have goals and aspiration, but he should take time to dream and play.“

Richard Pascoe is at it again. Which reminds me: I paid Richard a MASSIVE compliment: He visited my work and the receptionist said “One of your friends is here”. Which one? After quick chat at front counter, I went back to reception and said… “Thanks for calling him my friend. But it’s the other way round: I am his friend.”

Gotta love ‘em. Best customer service, value for money and camera-educated staff in Adelaide. How much would you expect to pay for 40 frames @ 55cm x 45cm? I got me a grand price. You have to go check out how PW’s can help you get a good price on your photography gear! No, I do not any special kickback for giving them free publicity. At least not immediately.

#2 My QOTD: “A smart man has a plan. A smarter man has many plans and sees experience where others see failure.“

Now I have heard everything: “I don’t like being held back by old archaic rules.” Can’t recall where I heard this statement, but I am fairly sure it was at work. Which is shocking in itself, but probably a good thing I don’t dwell on that issue.

#3 My QOTD: “You don’t have to laugh at the boss’s jokes. Particularly if they are not funny.“

One of the many life-coaches at last nights StartUpClub meeting said “You cannot afford me“. Not exactly a statement you want to hear, but worth considering. Why would someone price a product so high that only an elite few can afford it … particular when it is a life-consultant or motivational-help service? Beats me.

#4 My QOTD: (is a mash of others). “Success is 10% perspiration, 60% marketing and 30% is just turning up.“

It’s bemusing when people say “I wish it was Friday already!” Don’t wish your life away. It’s too short already. Instead of living from week-to-week, try living day-to-day. You’ll suddenly find life changes completely.

#5 My QOTD: “Smart men have selective hearing. Smarter men have selective vision.” example: “There was food in the fridge? Never Saw it. Had to order a pizza.“

How much do you donate to charity each year? Australian Tax laws say we can say we donate $300 per-annum, without providing a receipt. This is quite handy as my workplace has casual-day every Friday in return for donating a gold-coin to the charity of choice on the day. So I drop between $2 and $10 each Friday. Certainly worth it. And a sure way to ensure the economy is circular.

It’s a sad day when words need to be explained to the current generation: Consensus. Cacophony. Crescendo. Maybe they don’t teach the C-section of the dictionary any more?

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I’ll do an article somewhat similar once a week.

Postscript:

Where is the ‘infinity‘ button? I ask that tongue-in-cheek inasmuch as I am aware there is no ‘infinity-button. Yet this issue appears around me all the time. Whilst I could google the issue, I welcome your response.