Discover the tools that will

enrich all entrepreneurs

on their journey

Peri Garcia
Entrepreneurship Studies
University of Southern California
 Choose Your Team Wisely
Yes, we’ve all heard this before, yet there is
a reason I bring it up again. The people you
surround your self with are just as important
as your own presentation. A team can make
or break you—I recommend working with
people with complementary attributes.

I am very big picture oriented, thus I prefer

bringing in people who can work out the
details and bring them to my attention.
Opposing views can create bickering, but it
can also give you the most fulfilling
experience and leave you with an amazing
final product. Whether in the classroom,
boardroom or sport’s field, your team is
your family, so choose accordingly.
 Be An Active Participant
I’m not ready to go out on my own. I
need to be in a more stable place
financially before I take the leap. These
are all just excuses for not going out there
and “getting dirty.” Do not just sit on the
sidelines and watch life pass you by. Do
not just wade through everything with
your chin barely above water, blaze a trail
and conquer.

There is no better time than the present to

start your entrepreneurial journey. Be the
master of your own destiny—cliché, I
realize, but a true sentiment nonetheless.
It is your life, so live it. You have no one
to blame but yourself—get moving!
 When In Doubt, Get A Lawyer
Terrible with numbers? Does legal jargon
and contracts put you to sleep? Don’t just
sign things and hope for the best—
especially when as an entrepreneur, you
are often asked for a Personal Guarantee.

Run everything by a lawyer from the get

go. It’s a lot harder to go back and fix
things later on than just getting it right
from the beginning. It never hurts to
protect yourself. Whether forming a
corporation or merely setting terms with a
supplier, a lawyer can break it down for
you and ensure that you understand
exactly what you are getting yourself into.
 Delegate Tasks
Pass the work off to someone else!
Sure, why not? Sounds simple enough,
but delegation is a lot more than that. It
can be hard for perfectionists—but
crucial in order to get everything done
efficiently.

Sometimes referred to as cherry-

picking, delegating responsibilities or
jobs to people that are the best suited for
them will save you time and headaches.
Similar to choosing a solid team,
delegating requires you to trust in the
work of others—thus I should hope
your colleagues and partners are on
board with the team.
 Always Compete
What fuels you? Is it the guy sitting next to
you or the potential pay check at the end of
the day? Doesn’t matter what it is, as long
as you recognize it and work it to your
advantage. Knowing what is your catalyst,
what you need to pump you up, can be the
difference between sinking or swimming.

This tool can be traced back to taking

action and being an active participant in
your own life. To be the best, you have to
compete, whether it’s with yourself or
someone else. Pushing yourself to the next
level is the only way you can see what you
are capable of—what you can accomplish.
 Heart + Hard Work
I picked up this motto from a guest
speaker in one of my entrepreneur
classes, “Heart + Hard Work + God =
All You Need” Simplistic in form, but
the basis of my core personal and
professional philosophy. We all pick up
tips, tools, values etc. along our journey,
but it all comes back to your core: your
heart and the work you put in.

They say, as entrepreneurs, we have to

be passionate about what we do—our
hearts play a huge role in everything,
and it often beats out our heads—so
exercise and use it well. Don’t forget it
along the way because it is your guiding
force.
 Follow Your Instinct
This is something to take to heart in all aspects
of life. In most cases, your gut, that annoying
little voice in your head, knows what path you
should follow or decision to make. Your
intuition is not a fluke—it is there to guide
you, so when in a bind, listen to it!

Your instincts guide you in matters of the heart

and the mind—when something feels wrong
or too good to be true, it usually is. Do not
ignore your gut reaction because it can often
spot what you choose to ignore. I have
learned, over the years, whether taking tests or
committing to a project, that following my
first inclination, my instinct, has never led me
astray.
 Your Network Is Your Net Worth
This phrase was drilled into my head my
junior year at USC by Professor Napoli, and
it clearly stuck with me. If you break it
down, it makes complete sense. In the
business world, it is no secret that it’s not
about what you know, it’s about who you
know.

The connections and relationships you make

personally and professionally will take you
further than anything else. Your wealth
comes from the people you know and using
their knowledge, power and positions to
your advantage. So get out there and start
meeting people! You never know what you
will find, until you put yourself out there and
build up your network base.
 Ask For Help
This isn’t just a tough concept for males—this
piece of advice is hard for most to implement.
Asking for help places you in a vulnerable
position, but you can’t improve conditions or
figure out what’s wrong, unless you put
yourself out there and ask. I have been in
enough binds and worked with a plethora of
people to know that I can’t do everything on
my own, and more importantly, I don’t have
all the answers.

I don’t know the best way to execute

everything, and I’m sure a lot of things I’ve
accomplished could have been done better if
I’d asked for assistance, help or feedback. As
future entrepreneurs, it’s important to check
the ego at the door, and when in need, ask for
help.
 Remember The Dream
Everyone's’ respective journey is
bound to have it’s highs and lows. In
the midst of it all, it is important to
not forget about the goal that has
pushed you this far. The dream is
what propels most of us forward, and
when we veer of course, it is
monumental to remember what we
are working so hard for.

Whether your dream is to be the

master of your own destiny or to run
a billion dollar corporation, always
keep it in the back of your mind, and
when times get tough, just remember
to keep on swimming. Never give up
on the dream.