Friday, September 7, 2012

The Education of an Entrepreneur, Part 1 ? My Business Life ? A ...

If you?re an entrepreneur, it?s likely your education doesn?t fit into a neat formula of attending a four-year college, complete with dorm life, study breaks, and intramurals. Let me tell you? that?s not a bad thing.

Maybe you attended a trade school, or went straight into working from high school. Maybe you took classes on the side while working full-time with a family. ?Education? may not be a topic that you?re passionate about in the traditional sense. If you?re like many other entrepreneurs, you beg, borrow, and steal words of wisdom from wherever you can find them.

Earlier this month, Profiles in Diversity Journal highlighted The Dwyer Group?s CEO and Chairwoman in their annual Women Worth Watching issue. The essay topic they asked her to write about? Education. We want to share this essay with you to show the success doesn?t always follow the traditional path. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we?ll explore ways for entrepreneurs to continue their education on the field.

Dina Dwyer-Owens featured in Women Worth Watching 2012

CEO Dina Dwyer-Owens featured in Profiles in Diversity Journal

During the Savings and Loan crisis of the 1980?s, I was a property manager for several of my father?s properties when he told me he would not be able to make the mortgage payments on one apartment building. In my twenties at the time, I was mortified when he requested I ask the bank for a 50 percent forgiveness of the loan. To my surprise, the bank agreed to forgive 40 percent of the debt because of how I handled the situation. It?s gritty, uncomfortable moments like those that I point to as my pivotal education, rather than classroom time.?

My father was determined to teach me leadership and entrepreneurship from a young age?whether through motivational books or having me fill in for him on international business trips. He taught me to dream big, set goals, and then achieve them.

As chairwoman and CEO of The Dwyer Group?, parent company of seven home-service companies, one of my great pleasures has been to mentor women into roles as franchise owners and service professionals in male-dominated trade industries?appliance repair, electrical, etc. Earlier this year, I launched a Women in the Trades program to help educate women on their opportunities in this field and assist them with needed training. So many women have excellent customer service and technical skills for this field, but lack resources and role models.

As a young CEO, I had to overcome similar obstacles. After I was named acting CEO, a group of plumbing franchise owners took a straw poll and voted against me. I met with them personally to address their concerns and asked them to give me six months to prove my competence, otherwise I would be the first to step down.

Don?t play the victim; if you know your field, if you?ve worked hard and have studied hard, then prove to everyone that you can succeed. Your best education is through hands-on experience and by always considering yourself a student. Seek out an internship, a mentor, or even a job in the area where you want to work, even if no one else is doing it.

My education as an executive came primarily from the strong team I built around me. Never?never?be afraid to surround yourself with people smarter than you. If I had been too shy to ask those more experienced than me for advice, then I would never be where I am today.

? Dina Dwyer-Owens

Here is the full digital version of the Women Worth Watching issue, with gems of advice from over 200 executives:

Tags: Dina Dwyer-Owens, education, entrepreneur, plumbing, profiles in diversity journal, The Dwyer Group, women worth watching

Source: http://www.leadingtheserviceindustry.com/blog/2012/09/07/the-education-of-an-entrepreneur-part-1/

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