my_christelle_lebrun

** Hi Visitor! Have you ever heard about the entrepreneurship?​ **

Let me introduce Mr Entrepreneur (Mr E.) and myself ( Christelle). You are entering in our world, get ready.

=First thing to know: who are you? Let's do the Palgrave test! =

Here are my scores concerning the Palgrave test. My tendency is CREATIVE.

I have discussed about these results with my friends, people who know me (the way I work and the way I live in general) and what we think about them is:

This result matches with who I am. Choices are quite difficult for me because I have many ideas in mind.New challenges are the way for me to explore new things and that clearly motivates me. The problem is that I am not really organized in my work (and in my mind!) and that's why I like having instructions or at least a clear plan that I will follow in order not to dispatch me.

This test is useful for any Mr E. It is necessary to well perceive how we behave in our working environnement but also in our everyday life. Mr E is responsible for the way he sees, creates and manages his own business: it is obvious that this business reflects some caractheristics of his personnality. Moreover, knowing what I am and above all what I am not will impact on my choices regarding the additionnal talents or on the contrary the less supportive talents that I need to make my business successful. Besides, this will be the second stage in this wikispaces.

But... well, how stupid I am! I haven't introduced my business! I think it is the suitable time to do it. So, let me explain in brief. My business is called MyBook-E. My goal is to reniew the world of the edition thanks to a website where people like you and me put their own texts (whatever it is). These texts remain on the website during a certain time (6 months for instance). Then, other people like me and you can vote for their favourite text. Texts which will have a high score (it has to be determined) after the six months will be publish. That is simple, isn't it? Of course it isn't enough so we propose several interactiv things (as proposing an end to story, creating a cover etc) We have the main idea, but it would be good to see in more details what my business is about, so click here! Blog MyBook-E

I think that we can now move forward.I have a main idea of the person that I am.

=Second thing to know: Which talents are necessary to Mr E? =

According to me, what talents does he have? And, on the opposite, which talents are less supportive?

First of all, Mister Entrepreneur (Mr E) has a business idea which is relevant and likely. I think indeed that he has to be sometimes **pedestrian**. My goal is not to break your dream (and I think that an entrepreneur is a big dreamer) but to make sure that you keep in mind that dreams are not real: that it is extremely important to make this dream more workable, simple and tangible before hoping setting it up. In fact, Mr E is effiecient because he is on one hand **creative**, with original ideas and on the other side able to make this creativity real and tangible. His **motivation and his recklessness** have a big role too. What is an entrepreneur if he has doubts about his own business? That is sure that sometimes he will know some "downs" but he has to remain motivated. This is this motivation that will motive his team. Mr E, meeting these difficulties, has to remember that people trust in his project... and besides, he is the first who believed in it. Mr E is **someone who dares taking risks**. Creating something that doesn't exist means taking risks. Of course he doesn't run without his bottle of water. Of course he doesn't cross the street with a eye patch. Mr E is audacious but he is not crazy so that **he takes his cares**. Besides, that makes me think to this tightrope that Colum McCann describes at the beginning of his wonderful book "Let the great world spin": this man will for the first time cross the sky... but with the help of a thread. //"It is August, 1974, and a tightrope walker is running, dancing, leaping between the towers, suspended a quarter-mile in the sky. In the streets below, ordinary lives become extraordinary." (//last cover of __Let the great world spin__, C. McCann//)// Finally, Mr E is **an independent person**. He believes in his //own project//, searches for creating his //own project// to live thanks his //own business//. He needs to make something which belongs to him, something that he manages and controls. In sum, he needs to fly with his own winds. But naturally, if Mr E is independant and autonom, that doesn't mean that he is solitary. He needs people who helps him to make his business successful because, even Mr E is a winner, he has not all the gold medals: he is not an expert in all the domains and he needs additional competencies.

But, __which talents are less supportive for a good entrepreneur__? To my mind, being too much self confident is prejudicial. Some people think that it brings some value: this bad Mr E trusts his project, thinks it is the best idea ever, doesn't understand why banks don't want to support its project even if it is the best in the world etc. But a big smile hidding lot of failures doesn't help. On the contrary, confessing that I need help and that I can't build my prject alone because there are lot of things which are still too disorganized is more diserving, just because it is the truth. What is important is to remain sincere with myself and with the others. It is more realistic, more laudable and above all, it permits to avoid bad surprises.

=The third stage concerns this questions: Christelle, do you need help to make your business sustainable? Which kind of competencies do you need? = ​

I have a target: register the published books in CD for blind people. To do so, I need a team of story tellers, with great skills in this domain (a wonderful voice for example). Moreover, I need people who have ever worked in the publication domain. Why? Because to outperform competition, having experiences in the sector of the business is always an asset. They know the rules (above all the informal part, who are my friends in my working environment and who is threatening?). In fact, I need someone I can consult when I have questions about the market and its functionning. It is a sector with its own rules and laws. As I am not an expert in this part of the publication, it is necessary to hire someone who is qualified to make all things legal regarding my business and the authors. My business is e-business, but you know what? I am still a little scared with terms like "creation of an effective and powerful website - the maintenance of the website - ". I am well understood, I need someone with skills regarding the technical part of my businnes, notably regarding the website. Finally, if I am found of literature, if I love dicovering new texts, if I would be really happy to read all texts in my website, I know that I will have not time enough to read, correct etc all of them. That is why I have to have my "reader team" to support me.

Regarding these needs, __what type of competences__ do they include?

My business is in fact a website: oh my god, but my knowledge are so limited! I absolutely need someone who is //qualified in multimedia// and in //preventive maintenance//. That permits me to be sure that everything concerning the web is under control. Phew, we are saved ! I think it would be judicious to create some events on my website to make it livelier. That explains my choice for someone who is //qualified in event organization.//
 * I need technical skills: **

For example someone with a //critical thinking// would be useful to comprehend the general functioning of the website and to propose new things to make it more efficient or attractive. People working for MyBook-E have to //like the network//. We will in contact with so much people that someone who loves contacting known and unknown people is always appreciated. //The diversity and the open-mindedness// are necessary in my team because we are in contact with different people (readers and writers) which like different things, at different ages, with different points of view on the world, with different education etc. I will take care about the //ethical compliance// because it is really important for me to compete legally with my competitors. But I am novice in this domain; that explains why such competencies are required.
 * I need behavioral competencies too:**

__Which competencies did I miss?__ Thanks to the, I have noticed that some competencies missed: for example, I didn’t think about the //business understanding//. It could appear obvious but as an upcoming entrepreneur, some advices could be useful. Moreover, someone who is //“people oriented”// would bring a human aspect concerning the understanding of texts. This person would try to build a profile to this author and would be able to better emphasize his writings.

=Fourth: Have a clearer idea of what Mr E could be thanks to some pictures: =



When you have watched Braveheart (and I am sure you have), I can guess what your thoughts were: how malicious, brilliant, audacious, daredevil, brave, committed and charismatic he was! Here you are: what a good entrepreneur Mel Gibson is!

What a puzzle if a piece misses? What is the business environment if Mr E misses? He is a necessary piece in the business puzzle, because he is a source of creativity and builds a business which is based on something (product or service) new (or at least which proposes new features). This renew markets and makes the business environment livelier.

Cheeeeese Mr E, I am taking a picture of you!



That is a tree. Ok, where do I see an entrepreneur in a tree? No, it isn't as strange as it seems to be! In fact, I see in this picture the strength of the famous Mr E. An entrepreneur is not someone who doesn't let problems get him down, as it is difficult to bring down a robust tree. He has planted his roots in the ground thanks to his determination and it is impossible today to remove him. I see that he has grown too. This growth was not really fast, but step by step, year by year he hopes to reach the clouds... or at least a sufficient threshold of maturity. Finally, I see in this tree a beautiful and peaceful image... but I think that I move away from Mr E!



My second picture shows to you... but in fact what is it? We don't know. And this is deliberately. Why? Because an entrepreneur can't be defined concretely. Mr E is perhaps a woman after all. Women are today active and very involved in the business environment. Say bye bye to some cliché![|Working Women] Moreover, Mr E could be young or old, whatever, the senility doesn't stop creativity and youth doesn't only dream of parties, like a famous young entrepreneur suggests it: [|Mark Zuckerberg]

Mr E hasn't a given and detailed profile. He is somebody who has his own qualities and who knows uses them wittingly, enjoying opportunities, giving his-her best and knowing building an efficient team.

=Fifth stage for Mr E: As an upcoming entrepreneur, he needs to have some advices: have a look at these website! =

I know you want to sure to become a successful entrepreneur: look at these websites! [] http://www.youngentrepren​eur.com/ These two websites are useful for an upcoming entrepreneur like Mr E. There are a lot of advices, concerning the formal and informal rules which have to be respected, concerning the way to develop a idea of business, concerning the ways it is useful to follow step by step in order to become a successful entrepreneur and the traps that Mr E has to avoid absolutely. The second website proposes to share experiences with other upcoming or ever successful entrepreneur thanks to forums for example. This is a laudable initiative because people like having opinions and advices from people who have lived what they are about to live their turn.

=Be conscious of the current trends. The sixth key for Mr E. =

To be successful and sustainable, it is obvious that the product or the service has to please to potential consumers. But how to be sure that what I propose will attract them? I have raised a question: why did you buy this sweat shirt? Because you need a new one. So you found this one in the shop and it pleased you. How did producers of this sweat shirt know that it will please? The answer is: because it is trendy. I have understood: my business has to be "trendy" in order to answer to current expectations. These trends are both short and long term.

Today we face with some major trends, like **the embedded generosity** (think to the others when buying for yourself) and **the environmental concerns** (Stop to pollution, we have to preserve our planet). Mr E and I have to take them in account.

That is why my business has 2 main commitments and I propose to discover them thanks to my blog: [|MyBook-E commitments!].

[|This website]helps us to be up to date regarding the current trends.

Looking at [|this page] and reading it, we could say that my business matches with the current willingness to enter in communities too (cf the text dealing with "More communities"), meeting people, discovering different points of view and sharing what they want to share.

=Seventh thinking... Mr E wonders now: what is best practice? =

To understand what it is, let's look for "best practice definition" on the web: here what I have found:

//"A way or method of accomplishing a business function or process that is considered to be superior to all other known methods". "A well defined procedure that is known to produce near-optimum results." "An activity or procedure that has produced outstanding results in another situation and could be adapted to improve effectiveness, efficiency ..."//

In fact, best practice is a way to //optimise// my business results. It means setting up //efficient tools to improve// the way I function. **I have to find such a tool which would permit MyBook-E to be successful and sustainable.** The fact that __I promote the E-Booking__ shows to my mind that I am oriented towards the following day of my readers and not towards what still exists since years. I am not interested by what happened yesterday, what I propose to them is their "next" book. I want my reader to be conscious that my business takes account what happens now and what will happen tomorrow. It is a new way to see the edition. An other best practice is to __build a business based on the participation on a website__. Without participants, my business is nothing. This is by sharing, discussing and creating that my books will be published. Besides, let's take a look at[| My Facebook Page] ! I don't select like a traditional editor which book deserves to be published. My website is just a tool. You are the author and the judge, the writer and the reader, the visitor and the creator.

For example, we could talk about the "naked Pizza" too. This firm promotes its pizza like healthier than the others we buy traditionnaly. It is a compromise between the fast food and a balanced diet. This is new, trendy and... really smart! I have a friend, an entrepreneur too, who has chosen to propose such food in his business: if you are interested by this concept, take a look at [|this blog] (between entrepreneurs, we stick together!).

Concerning MyBook-E, why not imagining a virtual book (regarding to the augmented reality), virtual pages that we will virtually turn?
 * What about the next practice?** To what extent is it different from the next practice? I have made researches on the web: the next practice is in fact //future oriented//, it doesn't exist and actually no one thinks about it. However, looking for what the next practice will be is a way to compete thanks to a constant innovation. Let's have a look at [|this web page], I have found it very clear.

 =The eighth question: What about the Blue Ocean?  =

//Guys, I know what you are thinking right now. No, Blue Ocean is not about drinking cocktails on a beautiful beach with sexy girls or boys around you…//

No, we are speaking here about a theory. Less attractive? Not sure! The blue ocean theory deals with **markets where nothing is already fixed**. Contrary to the red ocean, the blue one is less organized. Competitors are “freer” than in red ocean because rules are not set up. Of course, that means that these markets doesn’t concern any existing market. Competition isn’t a threat because… because it doesn’t exist in fact! Opportunities are huge and this new market knows a constant growth. I think that MyBook-E is not innovative enough to create a “new market”. If at least I don’t focus only on the E-Booking. Focusing on the E-Booking would reduce the competition and would permit me to reach market share because this market is really new. But two things prevent me from proposing only E-Books: //first, it is a huge gamble// and this is perhaps too risky to propose only E-Books: I think people don’t yet consider and actually will never consider books as an electronic thing. //The second point is linked to the brake: I want to keep a traditional// (quite sentimental actually) //aspect of the reading//, that is to say the contact with a concrete and real book, with pages that you turn and smell.
 * Is my business MyBook-E in this blue ocean or is it in the red ocean** (defined in Wikipedia as the “known market space” with its rules, its competition and its crowded aspect) **?**

// Let’s take **the example of Starbuck** which has adopted a blue ocean strategy: Starbuck has become a myth. Why? Because Starbuck has succeeded to make of a simple coffee shop a “Home sweet Home” coffee shop: professional people are invited to stay in this both working and warm atmosphere. This is a new concept for a bar. And that works. The quality of the service and the quality of products encourage people to buy a coffee for a higher price than a “normal” coffee in a “traditional” bar. //

=To conclude: Have a look at my business canvas model! = My Canvas model: