In this podcast, entrepreneurship is defined by Tony Hsieh, the computer scientist who built Zappos. Zappos was built on a customer service business model that just happens to sell shoes. Hsieh said he did not really care about shoes but demonstrated a passion for customer service. He wanted to provide his consumers the best customer service available. He sells good customer service not shoes. Shoes are a side product of the experience..
Tony Hsieh sees himself as the architect of the business. The designer of businesses are especially important in entrepreneurship. Hsieh says suggests thinking like a designer because designers build their way forward rather than just thinking their way forward. This is an important concept because entrepreneurs are the architects of their ideas.
As a designer, Hsieh says it is important to know your individual strengths and weaknesses. Life experiences and knowledge help the designer learn these strengths and weaknesses. As Hsieh was designing his business, he made sure to surrounded himself with specific skilled people who would offset his weaknesses. Personally, my experience as an entrepreneur has taught me that running and organizing a business takes a team of many specialized individuals to come together.
Because today’s business uses globalization and technology, an entrepreneur cannot know everything and can gain by involving others. Some of the best ideas come from others. ”A good designer is humble and able to accept advice from other,” says Hsieh. At a minimum, this will include a bookkeeper, banker, attorney, marketing specialist, and insurance agent for any endeavor. These specialized individuals form my international nonprofit organization business team.
Hsieh was relentless in developing business awareness of Zappos to others around him. He learned that time is his most valuable asset and is not replaceable. Time is important and valuable to people. Have joy in the way you spend your time and link it to work. Be careful of time and peripheral ideas and issues that do not directly lead to the desired outcome. Mark Alvarez, a doctoral student says, “Time is a valuable asset that must be guarded.” Time is a limiting factor on what and how much I can accomplish and I must be careful with it.
As an entrepreneur, architect, and designer I am responsible to make sure I have the right people on the team and use time efficiently to become successful. Now it’s time to implement the passion of the business!
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Hsieh, T. (2017, Jan. 23). How I built this from NPR; Zappos: Tony Hsieh. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this