1. Entrepreneurship: Am I Ready?
Lucille C. Gambardella, PhD, APN-BC, CNE, ANEF
CEO, Positive Transitions, Lewes, DE

2. Objective strengths development
Complete a self-assessment and personal readiness review to provide insight to personal strengths and areas that need development prior to launching an independent practice
strengths
development

3. Few words about entrepreneurship
It is not a spectator sport!
It is more than starting a business/independent practice
It is about exploring who you are and what is your passion
It is about you making a difference
It is about leadership

4. Let’s compare: Entrepreneurship Leadership Preparation Self-Assessment
Incubation
Overcoming “nay sayers”
Motivation>>>>>Performance
Self-Assessment
Building an image
Building confidence
Insight>>>>>Verification

5. So what are the key skills I need?
Creativity
Business savvy
Financial knowhow
Awareness of my market

6. How about the work environment?
Entrepreneur
Fast pace
multifaceted
managerial
researcher
Independent
Goal oriented

7. Categories of how I know I am ready
General characteristics:
Can you find value in what you do?
Do you love a challenge combined with a tenacity for success?
Are you a stellar communicator?
Are you a “pay it forward” kind of person?

8. Categories, cont. Personal traits Do I have a positive attitude?
Am I goal oriented in planning with action oriented behavior?
Do I possess tenacity with innovation and critical thinking ability?
Am I a life-long learner with impeccable integrity?

9. Categories cont. Motivation Desire for independence
Desire for greater flexibility in HOW you practice
Opportunity for more creative utilization of your talents
Visioning hope, possibilities, and success

10. ??? To nurse entrepreneurship
Is there a market for my nursing specialty?
Do I really love my specialty? Can I turn that into a business?
What am I good at as an APN? Can I combine with business skills?
Do I have technical skills? Keep up with technology innovations?

11. Can I answer these with a “yes”?
Do I see this as a long-term commitment (like raising a child)?
Do I see myself as capable of doing more than I realize?
Do I have a passion for networking, marketing and motivating others?
Will I place “customer” service first?
Adapted from Donna Cardillo, Nursing & Entrepreneurship: Perfect Together. The Reporter 29:4, 2005

12. This is a “boot camp” experience
Be brutally honest with gathering your readiness quotient
Now is the time for exploring your inner self
This path is not for “sissies”, but it has unimaginable rewards
Remember, there are 7 days in a week…one of them is NOT someday