This post is in partnership with Entrepreneur. The article below was originally published atEntrepreneur.com.

    I recently had the privilege of appearing on, and winning, ABC’s “Shark Tank,” an honor that was a decade in the making and stemming from a common parenting challenge.

    In 2002, I was potty training my son, then 2, and noticed that without the added bulk of a diaper, his pants were loose and required a belt. He wanted to be independent after mastering potty training, but belts with buckles just didn’t work with his small hands. I struggled to find a solution. He simply needed something that could be quickly undone at a moment’s notice as he raced to the bathroom and there really weren’t any belts on the market geared towards young children.

    I mentioned my frustrations to my sister, Danielle, and she said, “We should do something about this!” Out of this frustration (and my living room), Myself Belts was born – an easy to use line of belts with a patented one-handed belt closure, designed for children (ages 2 – 12) who are potty training, in preschool, wear school uniforms, or just like a cute accessory. The belts also have use for teens and adults with hand-dexterity difficulties stemming from physical or cognitive challenges.

    Launching in 2004, we grew steadily for the first five years but hit a plateau following the 2008 recession. Flash forward to 2014. I was running a profitable business, had employees and was growing brand awareness. But I also knew that Myself Belts could be more, and decided to apply for Shark Tank as a means to gain exposure for Myself Belts, and hopefully gain a strategic partner who could help take the brand to another level. Yes, the “Sharks” would be tough but I hoped that my innovative product and its potential in the marketplace would peak their interest.

    In hindsight, more than anything, the experience onShark Tank was an amazing learning experience. Here are the six lessons I learned from the process and overall experience:

    1. BHAG’s can happen.

    At an Entrepreneurs’ Organization Accelerator Meeting last year, our assignment was to consider a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG), an exercise aimed at helping you to “think bigger” about your business, although it never seemed practical to me. My BHAG was Shark Tank. I never thought that a seemingly lighthearted pipe dream would lead to something real. I now know that dreaming big can be purposeful, but you won’t know the outcome unless you throw your hat in the ring.

    2. Asking for help is a sign of strength.

    I am not shy in asking for help. I know what I don’t know and don’t pretend otherwise. This has served me well both as a student when I was younger and as an adult in my professional life. I have always believed that asking questions from experts and seeking out help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It is how I learned about best practices when manufacturing overseas. It is how I formed productive relationships with other business owners. And it is what led me to realize that I needed a partner to help take Myself Belts to another level. I believe the Shark Tank producers could understand my business goal and openness in my pitch video. That is what propelled me through the audition process.

    本文为与《创业者》杂志的合作内容，原载于Entrepreneur.com网站。

    我最近有幸参加ABC电视台的《创智赢家》栏目，并赢得了冠军，这项荣誉来自我十年来的育儿经验。

    2002年，我开始教两岁的儿子怎样自己去上厕所。我发现摘掉了尿布后，他的裤子变松了，需要一根腰带。学完如厕课程后，他想独立完成这项艰巨的任务，但是那种有卡扣的皮带并不适合他的小手。我很难找到一个解决方案。像他这么大的孩子，需要一种奔向洗手间时能够瞬间解开的腰带。但市面上还真没有这种专门针对幼儿的产品。

    我向丹妮尔提起了这件事，她说：“我们应该做点什么！”正是因为找不到合适腰带而感到沮丧，才催生了Myself Belts腰带。这种专门针对2到12岁儿童设计的腰带非常好用，其单手开闭功能已经申请了专利。它适合那些正在学习怎样上厕所的孩子，也适合幼儿园和需要穿校服的孩子，而且仅仅从配饰的角度来说，它也很可爱。另外，它也适用于那些因生理或认知问题而存在手部活动障碍的青少年和成人。

    这款产品于2004年发布，在前五年里，我们一直在稳步增长，但在2008年金融危机爆发后遭遇瓶颈。到了2014年，我已经在运营一家盈利的企业，雇佣了一批员工，并且拥有了一定的品牌知名度。但我也知道，Myself Belts可以走得更远，于是我决定报名参加《创智赢家》，试图通过这种方式增加Myself Belts的曝光度，也希望借此吸引战略伙伴，将品牌带到一个更高的水平。诚然，《创智赢家》是一个难度很高的栏目，但我希望这款创新产品和它的市场潜力，可以获得评委们的垂青。

    事后看来，参加《创智赢家》是一次非常好的学习机会。以下是我在这个过程中学到的六个经验。

    1. 宏伟目标是可以实现的

    在去年一次创业者组织加速器会议上，我们被要求提出一个有点好高骛远的“宏伟目标”，此举是为了帮助你给公司树立远大志向，不过在我看来，这个目标似乎并不实际。我从来没想过把白日梦变成现实。现在我知道，梦想也是有意义的，但除非你亲自上阵奋力一搏，你不可能知道结果如何。

    2. 请求别人帮助是拥有实力的表现

    我并不羞于请求别人帮助。我知道“知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也”的道理，不论是求学还是开创事业，这个古训都对我产生了积极影响。我一直相信，向专家提问和向别人寻求帮助，是实力的象征，而不是软弱的表现。正是把制造环节放到海外的经历，让我学到了这方面的最佳操作方法。另外它也让我意识到，我需要一个合作伙伴来帮我把Myself Belts带到更高的层次。我相信，通过我的视频介绍，《创智赢家》的制片方可以理解我的业务目标和开放心态。这种理念也帮助我成功通过海选流程。

    3. Entrepreneurial training comes in handy.

    Being an entrepreneur is a grind. You breathe your business every minute of the day, always trying to determine the correct next step to propel your business forward. When I was selected for Shark Tank, I truly couldn’t believe it that of 40,000 applicants they picked me. Crazy. Show preparation is intense. My belief in my product and my hopes for a positive outcome kept me moving forward. My decade as an entrepreneur prepared me, as I knew how to push through, stay optimistic, take one step at a time, trust my instincts and see the finish line. As a business owner, the finish line is always moving but it is the little victories that keep you going. Shark Tankreminded me to keep sight of the bigger goal.

    4. Shark Tank is a reality television show.

    Many go on Shark Tank for 15 minutes of fame, for brand exposure or for reality TV fun. I went on the show for sincere business reasons, to help Myself Belts reach its potential. As I prepared with producers and practiced with co-workers, I was focused and pragmatic. It wasn’t until I was standing on the set being attacked by viscous Sharks that I remembered I had agreed to go on a reality television show and that there would “entertainment” at my expense. It was a tough realization, as I defended myself and my business, stated the business case for Myself Belts and tried to gain a partner. I wasn’t fully prepared for how emotional this vulnerability would be, but luckily it was worth it. The happy ending was an amazing partnership with Daymond John.

    5. Patience is a virtue.

    Myself Belts launched 10 years ago after I created a business from a simple idea inspired by motherhood. I have learned a new industry and enjoyed finding my way in the world of retail. But after 10 years, in the back of my mind, I have occasionally questioned the end game. Could I take the business to another level? What was the best direction to move forward in a tough economy? I was steadfast and tried to be patient while trying different angles to increase brand awareness. Now, after our appearance on Shark Tank, there is a new energy to Myself Belts. We are “fresh” again and have been introduced to so many new customers. Sales are at a happy new “normal.” Our partnership with Daymond John is opening doors and creating new sales. Patience has paid off.

    6. I am a St. Louisan.

    When I introduced myself on Shark Tank, I said, “I am from St. Louis.” This was a strange sentence for me to say as I am from Providence, Rhode Island, and I consider myself an East Coast girl. Being on Shark Tank changed that for me. My entrepreneurial journey began in St. Louis. Myself Belts was born in the city. I found mentors and entrepreneurial organizations for support in St. Louis. The response from my home, the St. Louis community, before and after my Shark Tankairing, has been so overwhelming. St. Louis has been a great place to start and grow a business and I am grateful to the community. It is officially home.

    3. 作为创业者的成长经历迟早是有用的

    创业者是个辛苦的工作。你时时刻刻与企业同呼吸共命运，总是要决定如何才能走对下一步，才能推动企业向前发展。当我被选上《创智赢家》时，我简直不敢相信他们会在4万多名申请者里选中我。这太疯狂了。展示环节非常紧张，但对产品的信心和对积极成果的渴望，使我最终成功完成了这个任务。十年的创业者经历也使我充分做好了应对这次考验的准备，因为我知道如何去推动它成功，如何保持乐观，稳扎稳打，相信我的直觉，直到看到终点。作为一名创业者，终点线总是在移动，但正是一个个小胜利在不断驱使你前进。《创智赢家》提醒我，要始终将目光投向更宏大的目标。

    4.《创智赢家》是一场真人秀。

    许多人上《创智赢家》是为了借这15分钟出名，或是为了获得品牌曝光度，或者仅仅是觉得上电视很好玩。而我上这个节目只是出于纯粹的商业原因——让Myself Belts充分发挥它的潜能。与制片单位和同事准备并练习的过程中，我非常专心和务实。直到我站上舞台，被各位“鲨鱼”攻击的时候，我才记起这本质上是一场真人秀，付出的代价是大家要“娱乐”我。多么痛的领悟……同时我还要为我自己和我的企业辩护，从经营的角度阐述Myself Belts的发展潜力，想方设法吸引合伙人。我并没有充分做好应对这种情感冲击的准备，幸运的是，这番经历是值得的。最令人高兴的是，我们最终获得了戴蒙德•约翰这样一位优秀的合伙人。

    5. 耐心是一种美德。

    自从我根据自己的育儿经验创建了这家公司以来，Myself Belts已经走过了10年的历程。我已经了解了这个全新的行业，并且非常享受在零售界打拼的过程。不过有时在意识深处，我偶尔也会质疑企业的最终结局。我能把企业带到更高的水平吗？在这样艰难的经济环境下，企业最好的发展方向是什么？好在我一直很坚定，并且耐心地尝试从不同角度扩展品牌认知度。现在，《创智赢家》栏目又为Myself Belts注入了新的动力。我们又一次成为一家“新”公司，并被介绍给很多新客户。销量也达到了非常令人高兴的“新常态”。我们与戴蒙德•约翰的合作也为企业打开了新的一扇门，创造了新的销售机会。耐心终于收获回报。

    6. 我是一个圣路易斯人

    在《创智赢家》介绍自己时，我说：“我来自圣路易斯。”这句话从我嘴里说出来其实有点奇怪，因为我本人实际上来自罗德岛的普罗维登斯，我认为自己是一个在美国东海岸长大的女孩。但上《创智赢家》的经历改变了这一点。我的企业家之路始于圣路易斯。Myself Belts也是在这个城市诞生的。我也是在圣路易斯得到了导师和企业家组织的支持。无论是在上《创智赢家》之前还是之后，圣路易斯的那些朋友一直给予我全力支持。圣路易斯是一片创业热土，我对当地怀有感恩之情。那里就是我的家。（财富中文网）

    译者：朴成奎

    审校：任文科