Takara Sights is a bestselling author, world-class editor & Chief Editor of #1 Amazon Bestseller Passionistas
Takara Sights is a writer, entrepreneur and animal enthusiast. For her newest project, she is thrilled to be acting Editor of Passionistas: Tales, Tips and Tweetables for Women Pursuing Their Dreams. She hopes to be a part of future Lessons From books to help entrepreneurs share their inspiring stories. She moonlights as Lady in Charge of Earth & Sky Works-- an online provider of eco-friendly home decor.
What are some pros and cons of having (OR not having) entrepreneurial parents?
My entrepreneurial streak comes straight from my parents. It’s a blessing to have two people who are so skilled at what they do, who are so committed to a life of learning, and who think differently. I think the biggest con to having entrepreneurial parents is that I decided to be an entrepreneur in elementary school. Sometimes I think it would be easier to take a 9 to 5 job. But, knowing what I know, I can’t be satisfied with the traditional.
What does it mean to have competition/competitors? Do you compete/collaborate or just observe? What is the best practice to approach your competition?
I love competition. Most of the time I don’t see competition as someone I’m working against, I see them as my teammates. As a writer, I consciously try to absorb as much of my competition as possible. The more I read, the better writer I can be. My competition inspires me and pushes me to be innovative. You should do your best to understand everything your competition does because it is the fastest way to improve your business.
What is failure?
I think failure is giving up for good. There are infinite times when entrepreneurship and life in general won’t go as planned. There are infinite times when you will make mistakes. I believe you have only failed when you decide to stop learning and growing.
Is there one “rookie mistake” that new entrepreneurs keep on making? What is it? Did it happen to you?
I still feel like a rookie, so I can answer this question by speaking about my own mistakes. I think it’s so easy to put the cart before the horse when it comes to building a business. By that I mean, it’s so easy to get wrapped up a brilliant idea for a startup and to get to work developing the full-expression of that idea you’re imagining. You source a product, create a snazzy website, start advertising on social media, only to realize that your profit margin just isn’t there. I am quickly becoming obsessed with the idea of minimum viable product. Figure out how to make your business work on the smallest possible scale. Create it. Then, only do the one thing that will scale your business NOW. It takes a lot of thought to build a business this way, but it can save you a lot of money, time and headache.
What does it mean to be a Passionista to you?
A Passionista is someone who courageously chases what they truly want. She is committed to growing in all areas of life. She is obsessed with seeking happiness by serving others through doing what she loves the most.