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Inspiration…
This is our fourth year anniversary issue. Our mission from the very beginning has been to educate, support and inspire business owners and emerging entrepreneurs. It’s not difficult to understand the first two words of our mission, but what about the word inspire? It’s that very component of BABM that sets us apart from any other business to business online or print publication.
The Latin root of inspiration, inspirare, means “to breathe life into,” sometimes referred as the “breath of God.”
There are volumes of mediocre to excellent business how-to manuals, articles, seminars, workshops, courses and blogs. What about inspiration? Is it not inspiration that is the true catalyst for a business? Is it not inspiration combined with sheer persistence that grows a startup to a multimillion dollar enterprise? Someone’s inspiration started the endeavor and either their own or a partner’s, employee’s or colleague’s inspiration keeps the business moving forward.
For me, inspiration in business is more important than financial capital. Inspiration can create financial capital. Inspiration can create the best teams with the best skills. Inspiration is the essential ingredient needed in tough times. Inspiration is truly the breath of a business. Without inspiration, companies die.
Every issue of BABM includes wonderful stories of Tampa Bay entrepreneurs - their journeys, their road blocks, their visions and their own inspirational catalysts. Their stories are the inspiration part of our mission. Their stories give our business owners and emerging entrepreneurs courage to keep moving forward, to think outside the box, to be flexible, agile and most of all creative, for the very sake of their companies.
So in this, our anniversary issue, we have also included excerpts of two inspirational books. The first book excerpt is from The Bookbinder by Brian Beirl, a business fable about an entrepreneur spiraling into burnout until he meets a mentor who teaches him valuable lessons that save him.
The second book except is an exclusive sneak preview of The Last Summit that will be available in April. Andy Andrews, a long time friend of BABM and NYTimes best selling author, introduces us to some of the most successful people in history and reveals their particular lessons.
As BABM enters its fifth year, we pledge to continue our mission to educate, support and inspire business owners and emerging entrepreneurs. And we pledge to quickly and creatively deliver to you the business tools, as well as the business breath, that will help you start, grow or retool your companies.
Your success is our goal!
Bevv
