This is what I want to normalize:
> Most people don’t even get started
> Most entrepreneurs fail more than they succeed
> Running a business can feel like more work than a regular job
> The hard stuff somehow feels less hard the more and more it happens
> Most entrepreneurs aren’t mega millionaires
> Every business is different and one business’s path to success says absolutely nothing about yours.
I don’t want to discourage you from giving business a go!
Starting and building businesses have single-handedly given me the greatest growth of my lifetime. It’s impossible to measure how much I’ve learned and how much more empowered and gritty I am because of business (and I grew up on a farm and playing high performance ice hockey so I know what I’m talking about).
I feel unstoppable!
I feel limitless
I feel like fucking shark
My ability to exist in uncomfortableness is HUGE
If there was a fear factor challenge where all the competitors had to exist in the most uncomfortable energy in the world, I’d kick all their asses.
There is nothing I’m convinced I can’t do.
I’ve met the most incredible people who inspire me to go big and who see ME. I know my ideas hold value and that I’ll lay on my death bed and think, “holy shit, I squeeze ever last fucking drop outta that life!”
And the patience of an entrepreneur is like none other! We may look like we are hustling and pushing, and rushing, but we’re doing that for sooooo long (and possibly forever).
It’s passion like I’ve never felt it before!
I just want you to not be shocked when you realize how hard it is.
Regardless of whether I felt called to work a regular job or not, what I’ve chosen to do is MUCH harder (and I’m willing to go in the ring for this bold statement).
Regular folks have to climb the ladder. Entrepreneurs are literally building their mound to the top WHILE STANDING ON IT!
I used to care so much about the success of a business idea, but every trial and tribulation just makes you realize how unclear success even is!
Was it successful if a business was great for 3 years and then flopped?
Was it successful if a business took a chance and lost everything?
When you consider going into business what IS success?
Do you see an end, what is it? or do you believe this is a forever thing? A wheel that never stops?
Focus on finding the FUN in the chaos of it all!
Dedicate to the growing of the business regardless of its “success”
Enjoy the JOURNEY (cuz it’s long, sister) – celebrate the wins throughout. Don’t brush off a win becaue there’s still a long-road ahead
(I just had a business friend say that to me when I celebrated their fundraising campaign).
When shit really fucks up, cry, get mad, and then keep going
Try again!
You may have to start TEN businesses to eventually find one that sticks
Stop making business about you.
Stop thinking the success of your business is connected with the value of your humaness
It’s just a business and the one you’re working on now may not be the one that lasts
And to those of you who find business too hard… know when to quit.
Know when it’s just your ego holding on and it’s actually time to end this relationship and say goodbye.
And be smart.
If you don’t want to gamble everything you’ve got on your business, then don’t.
If you don’t resonate with all this talk about taking big risks, then don’t!
A business NOT aligned with you will not last. It’s not sustainable. If you are prone to burn out then the business will burn out.
DO what you’re comfortable doing and EXPAND into your areas of growth
And to my sisters who feel crazy for entrepreneurship, I’m with you.
You suddenly live in a world where EVERYTHING and ANYTHING could be a business.
The realization that opportunities are limitless can feel overwhelming.
You can barely fall asleep at night because you brain is racing with ideas.
You know if the world wasn’t slowing you down, you’d have changed humanity by now.
Luckily, entrepreneurship is becoming more popular. Soon we won’t be the “black sheep” of society. Soon there will be more extensive classes in school about starting a business.
Soon generations will have more parents who also didn’t work a regular job.
When starting a business becomes more normalized, I want to hear more truths.
I want to hear about the financial backing someone had from the start
I want to hear about the previous business ideas they tried that were stupid, but lead to incredible growth
I want to hear about the fear in the moment they decided to take a huge risk… or about the moment they didn’t and regret it.
I don’t want to see the yachts
I don’t want to see the money guns
I don’t want to see the champagne
I don’t want to see everything after the fact
I want to talk about the DIRT. The realities.
I want to pull back to the curtain and show you what SUCKED and then tell you what I learned and why it didn’t make me quit.