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June 21, 2007
To Be An Entrepreneur…It Ain’t Always Easy:
A friend of mine recently sent me an email which started off with: “…As you know, I am working on my ambitious plan in the world of new media. As such, it is full of uncertainties. That's what makes it so interesting and challenging. However, it is out of the ordinary for most people to go to these directions, my family included.
I don't want to talk with my family about my plans. I don't want to explain them that I am not certain where my next project will come from, or my next check…my family comes from a different world, where steady job is the DREAM and Entrepreneurship is just something unheard of. How do YOU, Jeff, handle these things?”
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Receiving this email gave me a chance to reflect back on some of the things that I also deal with on an everyday basis as well as the things which I had to deal with for most of my professional business life.
What I wrote was:
“By believing in myself and when pushed, sharing the passion with others. By knowing that if I don't go out and take risks and try things out that these opportunities won't be looking for me. By waking up every morning and doing everything I can to MAKE a difference. By having fun knowing that the future is unwritten and by knowing that anything is possible. By looking deep inside and realizing that this is what I'm here for and this is what I believe in and it is up to me to figure this all out. And, and, because I know that if I'm right about this, I will be there to support my family because I will be able to do so. And if I'm wrong about any of this, that I learned something special from the experience that I will be able to apply the next time I try something out.
In life we are never always right, nor are we ALWAYS wrong. But as people we need to be able to create an environment which supports "good mistakes." - Good mistakes become someone else's special discoveries. Which in turn moves the needle forward.
So when you discover your own inner super hero power of believing in yourself and believing in the power of one, a lot of this just comes naturally.”
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While I hope my words gave him some comfort, I would appreciate feedback from others who have been in my friends’ position and how they dealt with a similar situation. Please feel free to comment below or drop me a line.
Tags: Entrepreneurship, Jeff Pulver
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Posted by jeff on June 21, 2007 06:00 AM | Permalink
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Comments
I just posted my thoughts on this, and wanted to share them here, also.
If you have a family focused on the paycheck and not on the entrepreneur's dream, it can be tough to bring them along. I come from an entrepreneurial family, so it's tougher for me to offer advice. But I do think basic salesmanship applies; if the person is motivated by stability, find ways to offer it. Budget a certain amount of steady income through stable projects. The risk averse will never "get" why you seek risk, so you may want to balance your risks with some baseline solid foundations.
Posted by: Becky McCray at June 25, 2007 12:36 PM
I hope it's not blind-faith leading to disaster. Being accountable to the family is very important, especially when you have a wife and children to take care. If it fails, will you still be able to support your family? Or will your family still stick by you. IMHO such questions should be asked before jumping on board.
Unless of course, you don't care about family values. :)
Posted by: KwangErn Liew at June 23, 2007 06:50 AM
Wow did this hit close to home and I like the advice!
Posted by: C.C. Chapman at June 21, 2007 09:01 AM
Very good advice, it's impossible to read without feeling something stirred within.
The only thing I would suggest adding is a commitment to people: customers, staff, investors, friends and family. Without people - regardless your skill and passion - you will only be playing solo.
Being in service to those around us is an important aspect of entrepreneurship, and a complement to the passion and belief necessary for success. Actually, it's not a bad habit for all parts of our lives. :-)
Posted by: David Blanar at June 21, 2007 08:12 AM