Not much time left!

As we come to the final week of the entry period for the 3rd If we can, you can Challenge, we just thought we would take the opportunity to reflect on what’s been an amazing, exciting, challenging and fulfilling few months here at Entrepreneurs’ Forum HQ. It’s not that the rest of the year for us is dull, unimaginative and, well, unfulfilling, it’s just that we always look forward to this time of year due to all the new people and businesses we get to meet and be inspired by, and this year has been no exception.

Take for example the words of just a handful of entrants to the Challenge so far. Here’s a pick of what they had to say to the difficult question, “What are your aims and aspirations?” in their entry forms:

“I can see the business growing with local support and with people outside of the area that will help our local rural community and help promote enterprise and stimulate our economy. I would like to see my business create enough revenue to allow more employees, a premises to operate from instead of my home and new opportunities to form for myself and others. I have said in the past that I would like to become a commoner when I retire but try to live life to the full and to challenge myself in places that would be beneficial to obtaining new markets and seeking to help others.”

“A vision is something that I think is very hard to put into words. My 'vision' of where I see myself in five or ten years' time is something very personal to me - I know what I want to do with my life, and that is what drives me, and to write that down would be a very hard thing to do. I want to do big things; I want to influence lives and have a positive impact on the world.”

“My ambition is simply to grow a good strong solid company that may possibly employ people in the future, and create a working environment that promotes lateral thinking within the work force.”

“I want to do well and be happy with what I have achieved. What I have also learnt is that there are so many great and successful people out there who give their time and who work tirelessly for other disadvantaged people. I aspire to be like them and to do the same. If ever my business was to take off I would not hesitate to do likewise....if I fail to do this you can give me a stern telling off but it shouldn't happen :D”

“I feel that with enough hard work, determination and the right ideas I will establish and run a number of successful businesses whilst also in time investing in and nurturing new business talent.”

“I want to be a successful business woman. I want to be financially independent and be able to provide for my mother and daughter. I also want to be a great role model for my 12 year old daughter and demonstrate that a lot of hard work goes a long way and does pay off. I'm now taking my first steps towards fulfilling these goals and ambitions, but I know I have a huge amount of work to do before I get there and the vision will evolve and change - nothing is ever set in stone.”

Inspiring stuff we know you’ll agree. It seems that we’ll continue to have our socks knocked off by the amount of sheer passion, dedication and bloody mindedness of the North East’s entrepreneurs – no matter how experienced they are, if they’re in the process of making their business happen or they’re exploring new opportunities to grow, it seems there’s no barrier too high or learning curve too steep. That’s what sums up the region’s entrepreneurial spirit it seems, and it’s part of our job to continue to nurture and encourage that and keep the entrepreneurial beacon shining brightly in our region.

In spite of the current climate, there are plenty of opportunities and the ‘can do’ entrepreneurial spirit shown by previous winners of the ‘If we can, you can’ Challenge is a shining example of this.

For example, when 2009 Middlesbrough Evening Gazette winner Louise Bell won the Challenge she was just starting her home spray tanning business, Healthy Glow. She says, “Since winning the Challenge the business has moved forward more than I could have imagined. I was really pretty naïve and probably didn’t know much about running a business, but I knew I had something worth pushing and the determination to get Healthy Glow going, whatever it took. I’ve got two Healthy Glow franchisees in place – in Darlington and Stokesley. The Challenge has given me so much confidence to trust my instinct, get on with it and not let any hurdle stand in my way. I know there are lots more opportunities and lots of challenges to come but the ‘tada’ moments keep coming – and long may it continue.”

There’s still time left to enter the Challenge and be crowned our 2010 winner but not much! You have until the 3rd of May (midnight) to log on at www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk/challenge and put yourself forward.

To see what previous finalists have said about being involved with the Challenge, click here

More details of the format of the competition and the all important prizes can be found on this page too. Good luck to all.