Risky Business

The Life of an Entrepreneur

By Lisa Burwell

“The Joy of the Lord is My Strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

I am an entrepreneur. When saying this, it makes me feel akin to how someone would declare this in recovery programs because, sometimes, I wish I was not an entrepreneur. It can be so uncomfortable and quite scary at times, but the rewards outweigh the risks if you have passion and a burning desire to create something you believe only you can. It’s not for the faint of heart, nor for someone who needs a great deal of security; hence, my headline pays homage to one of Tom Cruise’s first movies. It sets the tone that the life of an entrepreneur can be solitary and requires immense bravery. So, this issue goes out to all the artists selling their wares and the social media content creators, influencers, podcasters, marketers, techies, and even preachers of motivation trying to get us all to believe we can do it while we shoot for the stars.

An entrepreneur is someone who starts or owns a business. Whether in farming, retail, manufacturing, or even the service sector and nonprofits, entrepreneurs are business people who find their success by taking risks. In their pursuits, they often become disruptors in established industries. In my experience, many are also God-fearing people, which is good because sometimes a save from above can make the difference between failure and victory.

Kelly Curry, Lisa Marie Burwell, David Ryan Harris, and Jordan Staggs at 30A Songwriters Festival, where DRH performed at Caliza Pool in Alys Beach on Friday, January 19. Thank you to Jennifer Steele and the Cultural Arts Alliance for putting on such an incredible event year after year!

Being at the helm of a company that relies on your decisions to succeed might be the biggest stressor of all because your team believes in you, and you don’t want to let them down. As other leaders say within the pages of our first-ever Entrepreneur Issue, building a team that respects you and expects that you have everything figured out is a daunting responsibility. It takes strength, character, and a good sense of humor, so I love that I have been gifted a lot of joy in my life, as it truly sustains me.

This issue is overflowing with stories about many people who have made their marks on the world by doing things their way, and we congratulate all of them. Thank you for letting us share your journeys with our readers. Keep creating, inventing, disrupting, working, and believing in what you are most passionate about. And to those with a vision to bring to life, this is your sign to go for it!

To Life!

Lisa Marie Burwell
CEO/Editor-in-Chief/Creative Director

<p style=”text-align: center;”><strong>— V —</strong></p>

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