What are my must-have as an entrepreneur?
After answering this question many times, both to myself and to friends who’ve asked, I sat down and put together a list. My core items/resources keep me focused and on track to achieving my targets.
The entrepreneurial route isn’t easy, and it is not for everyone. Those who decide to take the step and push forward need to dig deep into their core and into their heart, because it will take everything you’ve got and then some.
With so much uncertainty in the entrepreneurial life, it made sense to seek tools which are reliable, offer high functionality, makes you feel good to possess them, and are affordable; we could categorize them as affordable luxuries.
And thus below is a list of my five entrepreneurial must-haves.
The common denominator: reliability, form & function, feel-good aspect, affordability.
Books
New books, second hand books, lots of books. What entrepreneurs attempt to do is new, difficult, requiring a different way to see the problems and solutions.
We need to learn.
Google Office Tools
The Google office suite is indispensable: Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides are easy to use and share with team members.
Best of all, they’re free.
MacBook Air + Second Screen
The portability of a laptop is not much of an issue these days, my main concern here are functionality and effectiveness.
If I could add a third screen I would, and in due time, I will. As an entrepreneur, you are wearing many hats, in many cases more than you can keep track of. Keeping multiple browsers + tabs opened, and being able to ‘physically’ keep them segregated in different screens, it’s been crucial to my sanity.
Mentors
Personally, I have a cocktail of several online mentors:
Naval Ravikant: If you appreciate nuggets of knowledge, this is it on twitter.
Grant Cardone: 10X = Everything is ten times harder, so put ten times the effort, and shoot for a goal ten times higher.
Gary Vaynerchuk: The original social media guru: he offers old stuff, new stuff, emotional stuff, and practical stuff.
Eric Thomas : When you need to get into beast mode; when you are procrastinating, and you need to get off your butt and get your life together; he is the guy.
David Goggins: David is an ultramarathon runner, ultra-distance cyclist, triathlete, motivational speaker, and author. He is a retired United States Navy SEAL. If you can filter the profanity, his message of mental toughness, is second to none.
Ah, and don’t forget coffee.
In my case: Espresso.
Alberto Marinas
PadBlock.com Founder
