Own your entrepreneur identity by creating real value
When I first stumbled into entrepreneurship, I was obsessed with the idea of grabbing my piece of the pie. I thought selling random knickknacks online would be enough. I hustled on eBay, flipping garage-sale trinkets for nickels on the dollar, convinced I was living the dream.
Then one afternoon, I heard a quote from Dan Sullivan that snapped me awake: “Entrepreneurship is a creative pursuit, not an extractive one.” I realized I’d been taking slices from other people’s pies rather than baking my own. I had no brand, no culture, and no real fans—just leftover scraps I’d resold for a slight markup.
So I stopped. I looked at problems around me—back-to-school supplies scratched us all in middle school, and my friends complained about flimsy lunchboxes. In a weekend, I whipped up a better carry-all, tested it on classmates, and mailed out a handful of R&D samples for free. The rush of genuine feedback from real users who thanked me for solving their daily headaches blew my mind.
That was the birth of my first true product. By shifting from extraction to creation, I not only found my entrepreneurial identity but developed a brand people actually craved. I wasn’t just monetizing random items; I was adding real value to my customers’ lives, and that’s where lasting success begins.
You’ve seen why baking your own pies beats slicing others, so start today by listing one genuine problem you can solve. Map out a quick prototype plan, share it for free with five friends, and watch how real value creates real momentum. Give it a shot this week—you might just fall in love with building.
What You'll Achieve
You’ll move from short-term hustling to long-term brand building, gaining clarity on your unique impact and forging deeper emotional connections with customers.
Shift from taking slices to baking new pies
List recent value extractions
In the past month, jot down every time you sold or marketed something merely to make a quick buck. Own how often you chased money over meaning.
List five potential creations
Brainstorm five unique products or services you could build that solve a customer’s real need. These are pies you can bake, not slices from another’s work.
Pick one creation to prototype
Choose the most promising idea and map out a one-week plan to build a simple prototype. Commit to giving it away for feedback.
Solicit honest feedback
Offer your prototype to actual users and ask, “What value did it give you? How would you improve it?” Listen more than you talk.
Reflection Questions
- When have I sold something without truly improving someone’s life?
- What small problem in my world could I solve with a simple prototype?
- How would my customers feel if I gave them something for free today?
- What feedback will I need to turn my idea into a real solution?
- How can I track the value I create instead of just the dollars I earn?
Personalization Tips
- In design: Sketch a free poster template for community events instead of selling stock templates.
- In tutoring: Create a free video lesson series for classmates before offering paid one-on-one sessions.
- In coding: Launch a free Chrome plugin that solves a minor workflow pain and refine it based on user reviews.
12 Months to $1 Million: How to Pick a Winning Product, Build a Real Business, and Become a Seven-Figure Entrepreneur
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