Business Meeting Teaches Personal, Business Development

Friday's Entrepreneur and Startup Event at Western Nebraska Community College in Sidney brought out a lot of innovative ideas and concepts for new businesses.

The challenge, according to Paul Jarrett, is to commit the sweat and determination to make it a reality.

Jarrett, of Lincoln, is the co-founder of Bulu Box, a health supplement company. He was the opening speaker at the Friday meeting of the Sidney Entrepreneur and Startup Event.

He talked of how when he speaks at events, he has a plan, a goal, that usually involves defining a problem and the solution. He describes starting a business as terrifying.

"Hopefully, you're delightfully ignorant to not realize how terrifying it is," Jarrett said to the crowd.

He asked the potential business entrepreneurs why they chose to attend the meetings. What motivated them to step outside of their normal. Much of the crowd referred to changes occurring between Cabela's and Bass Pro. Many who are facing job loss because of the changes are also wanting to stay in the Sidney area, which means they need to find a new way to conduct business.

"Let's just get under the hood. Let's talk about it," Jarrett said.

Before discussing business concepts and how to make them reality, he asked people to talk about themselves.

"What is holding you back?" he asked.

The answers were generally under two points: need to build accountability within one's self, and the need for guidance and tips because it is something never done before.

Jarrett stressed success comes from within, not from what people think of each other.

"Nothing is going to happen to you externally, that will get you into business," he said. "That moment when it come from within, multiply it by 1,000. That's what you need to get into business."

He encouraged everyone to avoid the self-help and how-to books on business management. He said to be cautious on what you read.

He said one of the biggest obstacles is fear of embarrassment. It is the fear of "what if;" what if the business doesn't succeed, what if there isn't enough money for employees at the beginning, what if, what if... He said he is still bothered by his own fears of embarrassment.

"I want you to think about getting over that fear of embarrassment," Jarrett said.

He said the fear of the unknown and of embarrassment is one of the greatest obstacles.

"That is what I truly believe is holding many of us back, not only in business, but in what you want in life," he said.

He referred to a roller coaster ride as an example. The ups and the downs are parallel to life. He encourages people to focus on the top of the ride.

"The inner voice in your head, is it saying good things or bad things?" he asked.

He asked people to consider if the way they talk to themselves is the way they talk to a parent or loved one. He said even if a person has a positive inner voice, they can still change their direction in life by changing their voice.

He said success, or failure, in business comes down to three points: fear of embarrassment, the tone of the inner voice and if you wanted it enough.

"You just have to want it enough," he said. "It is painful to want it enough to go get it."

He suggested some people are just as paralyzed by the fear of success.

Later in the morning, workshop participants were encouraged to pitch their ideas, including who would be the client base and what are some of the obstacles. The morning continued with participants meeting in teams with those who pitched an idea to discuss how to make it work.

The day continued with breakout groups, ending with business pitches at the end of the day.