NYSPA Panel Discussions – Revolving Around the Theme of Entrepreneurship.

When Mary Tabacchi asked me to join the panel of “Successful Entrepreneurs,” I knew immediately that I would not be talking about myself as an entrepreneur, but rather my husband, Peter.

Although I may have some entrepreneurial traits which surface now and then with various projects (like the Global Spa Summit which has required some entrepreneurial talent) the true entrepreneurs who I have known and worked for are people like Deborah Szekely, Donald Trump, and Peter.

My personal definition of an entrepreneur is someone who sees things way ahead of the pack, rolls the dice, and can’t work for anyone else.

But I thought I better check for a more formal definition. Here is what the dictionary says, “a person who organizes and manages a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.” Okay, I can go with that.

Peter has been my entrepreneur role model. In fact, some people have called him a “serial entrepreneur.” And two of the key things I have learned are 1) Get out of the way and let them dream, create, move…and 2) Don’t get too far out of the way because they need to have people around them who are honest, tell them the truth (not just what they want to hear) and fight as hard for reality as they do for their dream.

Hook your wagon to theirs but don’t just be a passenger. They need good people around them to get to where they are going.

It can be a fun ride.