Entrepreneurship:
Am I Ready?
Lucille C. Gambardella, PhD, APN-BC, CNE, ANEF
CEO, Positive Transitions, Lewes, DE
Objective
 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
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
Let’s compare:
Entrepreneurship
Leadership
 Preparation
 Self-Assessment
 Incubation
 Building an image
 Overcoming “nay sayers”
 Building confidence
 Motivation>>>>>Performance
 Insight>>>>>Verification
So what are the key skills I need?
 Creativity
 Business savvy
 Financial knowhow
 Awareness of my market
How about the work environment?
Fast pace
Goal
oriented
multifaceted
Entrepreneur
managerial
Independent
researcher
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?
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?
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
??? 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?
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
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