Most of us have an inner entrepreneurial side but only a few thorough professionals actually succeed in converting their raw passion into something of their own. Many people believe that it is money, and power that drives all entrepreneurial minds. More often than not, it is also linked with greed and no regard for the world around us. But, it isn’t true. We do have examples especially in the banking and stock exchange sector that do exactly that and make money through speculations, but we can hardly consider them entrepreneurs.

A true entrepreneur is the person who aims to make his mark in the world around him and contribute towards the economy by creating new jobs and opportunities that were previously unheard of. So, in a sense, everybody can be one no matter how big or small the scale is. Making money is a side product of the process it shouldn’t be the center of it. So, how can you polish your professional skills in order to help with your entrepreneurial ventures? Here are five important lessons from some of the biggest names in the Aussie entrepreneurial community:

•  1. “Figure out what it is you stand for, go and stand up for it”- Karen Stocks – MD Twitter
  Basically,  never compromise on your principles as people will follow the initiative that you take. If you don’t have ethical or social principles, there is no end to what your employees will do!
• 2. “In order to become a genius, you must first risk being seen as a fool”- David Rohrsheim – GM of Uber Australia.
  Never be afraid to innovate and speak your mind as your goal is to change the world. People will mock and ridicule your idea but you have to stand firm and try to enjoy the jokes as much you will enjoy the success later on.
• 3. “Hire fast, fire slowly” Lisa Messenger – CEO of Messenger Group.
  It doesn’t mean you degrade your hiring philosophy and hire everybody. It means to be quick in engaging as many people as possible in your ideas. It is a connected world nowadays and since everybody is unique, you will need their ideas and input. We simply cannot do everything on our own!
• 4. “Listen more than talk.” Janine Allis Founder – Boost Juice.
  A sign of a good innovative leader is to listen more than talk. You still get to talk whenever it is needed, but also try to listen to people around you and consider their opinions, strategies and input. It is a trait that will help your company grow and evolve as well as let your employees and colleagues know that you appreciate their work and say.
• 5.“Leadership is learning, just in front of more people.” Daniel Flynn – Thank You Group.
  Entrepreneurship is all about leadership and how to extract the maximum from the infinite potential of your employees. You also get to learn a lot especially in a group. Remember! People are looking up to you for everything. If you aren’t willing to learn you will turn into a counterproductive manager. Being an adept learner goes a long way in solving problems and adapting to the situation.