You, as the entrepreneur, have to give direction to your teams’ talents. And you, as a team member have to work towards that entrepreneurial vision. In many ways, a team dynamic in the office parallels that on the performers stage.

While I’m not a huge fan of choreography, this video is quite fascinating and illustrates the team dynamic:

Wayne Rooney typifies the key characteristics of successful entrepreneurs:

Be a decisive person – You need to be able to make decisions based on your entrepreneurial vision.
Make quick decisions – Just as Wayne Rooney makes split-second moves to avoid the oncoming tires, entrepreneurs need to think on their feet.
Navigate through obstacles — Whether it’s financing, customer acquisitions or finding time to take a break, entrepreneurs have to navigate through seemingly countless obstacles. It’s essential to have that vision to guide you.

Venice has been the home of some of the greatest painters and thinkers of all time. It is through their collective efforts that Venice is the wonder that it is today. Unfortunately, this monument to the human imagination and spirit will slip into the sea.

As business leaders, we strive to create brands that embody the tireless efforts and talents of all those involved in its creation. Unfortunately, Venice’s ultimate demise illustrates the instability and unsustainable structure from which it was built upon. As entrepreneurs constructing new companies, it’s incredible important to build a solid foundation that can support future success. Looking to the long-term sustainability of your company, are you prepared to face the weight of success and challenges of time?

It was rather funny because I’ve never maxed-out the power before–as I’ve always lived in updated apartments. I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Did I pay my electric bills? Was there a widespread outage earlier that morning? It took maintenance two seconds to solve my problem: restart the breakers.

Entrepreneurs face similar challenges. Press releases, social media, interviews, distribution, financials, business plans, marketing plans are some of the many tasks an emerging entrepreneur confront. Managing the chaos is challenging and exhausting.

Just as my toaster, air conditioner, coffee pot and computer burned-out my electrical supply, don’t let all of your responsibilities snuff-out your flame. It’s about being realistic. You cannot do everything at once, so prioritize and figure out what needs to be done and in what order. If you try to tackle everything at once, you’re going to have a power outage.

Consultants are a fantastic tool to help you gain perspective and prioritize. As they often have years of industry experience and know-how, they can take an objective look at where your goals should be and how you can get there.

This might be a terrible excerpt to bold in the editorial, or it might not be. Reading this blurb I had to laugh because it could potentially be an interesting, provocative statement. But it falls flat. The addition of “might be” makes this statement weak and very noncommittal. One side or the other–which is it?

The same is true in business. The most successful entrepreneurs often have two essential attributes: smarts and commitment. If you think your business might be profitable, then it might not be a worthy pursuit. Going into the game with the firm belief that yes, you will win is the only way to win. Do you think Barack Obama or John McCain thought, “I might be then next president of the United States.” No, both of them believed they were going to be the one.

It is really the difference between logical and belief systems. Logically speaking, yes your entrepreneurial endeavor could fail. However, the chances of failure are heavily influenced by the level of commitment and belief of success. Often times entrepreneurs work double the typical work week hours and go without relative compensation. “Might be” is not in their lexicon.

The “might be” attitude lends itself to a defeatism philosophy. Instead of thinking about how your business might fail, spend that brain power on making it work. Preparing for pitfalls is one thing, but a diluted future outlook can be fatal.

This paper disco animation video is fantastic. From a conceptual and craftsmanship perspective, this short gets an A+. Not only is it fun to watch, it’s awe-inspiring because the amount of time that went into its production is incredible.

Stop motion animation is a great example of how burgeoning entrepreneurs should look at their business in the long term. There are hundreds of images in the paper disco animation—thin slices that when put together, create amazing entertainment. The same goes for entrepreneurs. There are hundreds of decisions you have to make—all culminating in the success of your enterprise. The incredible labor that goes into a business plan, the investor presentation, hundreds upon hundreds of conversations and hours poured into your business actually means something.

In the middle of the chaos in the entrepreneur’s world, it’s important to monitor your progress and take notice of your incremental success. To see your tireless efforts are paying off can keep you grounded. The occasional pat on the back is worthwhile in a world where you’re constantly fighting to grow your business.

There are of course many ups and downs in the process, but if you take a moment to reflect, it can give you a piece of mind and illustrate your impact. It can help you survive the Dip. Adding one element at a time, eventually your company will grow into a full-on disco.