What is your confidence level?
We all have a vision of a life that we want:
1- Some believe it to be through entitlement, the works of our previous generations that have laid not only the foundation but built the entire structure of our lives.
2- Some believe that it is through our own hard work and dedication that we will rise from the ashes of hourly salary into the heavens of ridiculously huge contracts or beautiful residual income checks.
3- Some of us believe that the dream life we so deserve is reserved for the privileged first category and that there is just nothing we can do about it. We were born middle class and we will stay middle class.
If you are a regular reader of my posts, you'll know I'm not talking to the 1st or 3rd categories. You have to want to do better and know you can do better. That has to be inherent. It is not something that can be learned through a blog post. In saying that, let's focus on the 2nd group.
What is my favorite position?
Let me start by saying that the entire world economy rests in this group. We are the 60% between the upper 20% that already have it and the bottom 20% that spend all their time fighting and complaining against it. ("It" being wealth and personal financial freedom) We are what makes the world go 'round. It is through our ambitions that medical advancements are possible, agriculture limits are surpassed, international commerce is manifested, and the global economy is created and maintained; all because of the simple fact that WE WANT MORE.
No more playing alone.
However, sheer want is not enough. We must plan and organize to succeed. It is not often by chance that we make it big, and never by chance do we maintain it. We must collaborate with other individuals that share in some part of our dream. We must make the spiritual, earthly, personal, educational and financial connections that it will take to build our dream. We will need mentors, advisors, cheerleaders, haters, skeptics, judges, teachers, and spirit guides.
This process of planning and information accumulation can create a vacuum that is so big that you cannot even see the walls to begin to climb out. In our planning and preparation we lose focus of the objective and postpone implementation to NEVER. Before you know it, you're 70 years old with the world's greatest business plan and if you are lucky, you have accidentally had a life and a family in the background. Your kids are grown, married with kids of their own and your spouse has learned to live a life of minimal communication or attention. This was not the path to enlightenment that we sought, though we had the best of intentions the entire time.
How do you know if you are doing it wrong?
Ask yourself a few simple questions to find out if you are a Stud or a Dud, a Madame or a Misfit.
- Do you find yourself taking notes and drawing doodles of your idea all day?
- Do you love to read about and research your idea, but do absolutely nothing with the information?
- Do you have a secret stockpile of notes and articles that you will "one day" put together as some massive reference guide of your imaginary business?
- Do you tell people about it as if you have already done it or are planning on doing it when you know in your heart you have no intentions of implementation?
- Do you think you are better than others because you have a "plan" yet work beside them everyday not implementing it?
Time to wake the neighbors
Launch today. Take that first leap of faith and do something. Make a phone call to someone in the industry. Take it to a designer or a proofreader; someone to qualify the next step. Do your best to find a mentor or a partner that will push you and constantly harass you on your progress. (I say harass because at this point, a gentle reminder or suggestion just won't cut it)
Talk to people about your idea with a realistic,setdeadline for implementation and tell as many people that will listen. Subconsciously this forces you to work harder at actually getting your product to market. You do not want to be known as the person full of "you know what". Or seem pathetic by having all these great ideas and nothing to back them up.
Sometimes a little pain can help to motivate.
Paint yourself into that corner and fight your way out. Being comfortable is not something that does well for a budding entrepreneur. Our next meal needs to depend on the success of the next deal or completion of the next step in the process. It is through this that our blood pumps to firm up our concept.
Rest for a moment, drink an energy drink, and then start again.
To be a true business owner/entrepreneur you must live and breathe your business. There can be no separation because then you will be dividing your efforts instead of multiplying them.
Your friends should have a definite purpose. They are either there as moral support, bringing in qualified referrals, are your mentors and advisors. They should hold a personal interest in your success. Family is different. You are kind of stuck with them, but you can use your time to educate them if they are willing to listen.
Your significant other must be interested in what your ambitions are. There is nothing worse than having a great idea at 2am and not being able to share it, or being scolded for getting out of bed to write it down. Your heart is theirs, but your body is yours. And your body needs to get its but up and take notes on the best invention in the world without hesitation.
Thanks again, and as always, if you have any questions or comments, please leave them here or contact me directly at Errol@LiquidSalesman.com
Peace, love, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Errol Chung
