10 Reasons Why A Pirate Should Be Your Entrpreneurial Role Model

1. Get a parrot on your shoulder
   
   The parrot on your shoulder can represent two things:
   
   
   • Your conscience - Every entrepreneur has moments in time where the easier option does not always represent the right option. Remember the parrot on your shoulder is there to guide you.
     
     
   • Your mentor - The voice of guidance from someone who's been there and done it. Get the right parrot (or mentor) and you'll skyrocket to greater heights.
     
     
2. The eye patch
   
   An entrepreneur needs to have selective vision. They need to be able to block out distractions and zone-in on opportunities. Develop your own figurative eye patch by honing in on what you want to focus on - and making the rest walk the plank.
   
   
3. The funky pirate wear and the eye liner
   
   An entrepreneur stands out from the crowd.
   
   Most wildly successful entrepreneurs are there because they don't conform in their businesses. They're edgy and they try new things in their businesses, which quite often spills over into their outerwear and can make them easy to identify.
   
   
4. Any weather, any time
   
   A pirate's ship and crew carry them through the roughest storms making them mobile, flexible and able to deal with a multitude of circumstances - just like the ultimate entrepreneur.
   
   
5. Live and die by the team
   
   No pirate ever managed to crew an entire ship on their own and no successful entrepreneur ever got there without their own crew of motivated, engaged, talented individuals. In the boardroom as on the ocean - the undeserving leader will face a mutiny.
   
   
6. The bicorne hat
   
   The entrepreneur needs to be a master of wearing many hats - even if they look as ridiculous as the Napoleon-esque bicorne hat! As an entrepreneur you'll need to be motivator, innovator, initial implementer and so much more.
   
   
7. The peg leg
   
   The pirate manages to swashbuckle all over the world on slippery decks, in rising oceans and with a peg leg no less! As entrepreneurs we all have our own disabilities.
   
   Perhaps you don't have a formal education, perhaps you were poor growing up, perhaps your technology skills aren't up to scratch. Be like a pirate and get over it! Whatever your peg leg is, compensate for it and move on!
   
   
8. The hook
   
   If there's one thing we all associate with pirates it's a hook. As an entrepreneur you'll need to be able to develop an amazing hook. You'll need a hook to get people on board with your idea, you'll need a hook to get investors or the bank interested, you'll need a hook to get your customers frothing at the mouth for your product or service.
   
   
9. The treasure chest
   
   Pirates are single minded in their search for treasure. They know what their treasure is and they have a map on how to get there. What is treasure for you? Is it the chest of gold, is it seeing your product in the market, is it having a crew who love coming to work each day? Know your treasure chest - your goal - and then set about developing a map for how to get there.
   
   
10. They just arrrrr
    
    Pirates don't need to define themselves as pirates. You look at them, you know it. Their crew knows it. They know it. Same thing goes for an entrepreneur. Like the passion for the sea - the passion for entrepreneurialism is in your blood. Your heart rate rises at the thought of a new business idea, your brain races and you can't wait to hoist your colours up the flag pole and set sail on a new adventure.

Author Credits