A small section of of the sprawling Tokyo city scape, with the snow-capped top of Mt. Fuji visible in the distance. Think of all the tiny specks in this city worried about what the other tiny specks are thinking about them. It's kind of silly, isn't it?
“Entrepreneur” has become something of a buzzword these days, with connotations of hipness and a youthful life of monied ease.
Crypto and tech startups are literally everywhere, and everybody is rushing in for a piece of the hype-filled pie.
Yet, everytime I quit a job to take a chance on something better (something I’ve done many times), however, I’m reminded of what being an entrepreneur often really is: a long, protracted stomachache, and a seemingly endless dinner of shit, in view of something better.
There really is nothing glamorous about that stomachache when it hits, and your previously held optimism seem's like a fool's dream you somehow duped yourself into believing. Bills piling up, relationships strained, and pressure accruing steadily, with no concern for your precious little feelings.
As one of my personal role models Gary Vaynerchuk (pictured left) says, it's definitely not for everyone. For me, though, up until now, it's always worked out. And for the better. For example, had I not left my last job when I realized it was ultimately a dead end for me professionally and "spiritually," I would not be where I am today on Steemit. That stomachache of being jobless with a family to feed drove me to dig in here full force and with an intensity I may not have otherwise had.
Now, to be fair, I've always been a writer, and was already intensely interested in the platform. I was able to write fairly solid pieces and network well. I was also able to leverage many of the connections and followings I had built up elsewhere online to help my growth here on Steemit. Talent and networking are definitely a big part of the formula, but relentlessly and persistently just busting your ass is the biggest.
They are all thinking about THEIR OWN LIVES. If you are not watching out for your best interest, why would you expect them to?
Now, a year later, I am at yet another crossroads, ready to leave that job, in view of something even better. The stomachache is back, and this time is still just as intense, but perhaps tempered by a bit of experience, and a smarter plan.
This time, I have a part time gig in place, a bit of scratch in the purse, and a little bit of hard-earned self-confidence. I write this post now for those of you who are about to endeavor on your own endless-stomachache-shit-dinner-dream-dive off the cliff, so that maybe I can encourage you a bit, and offer the extremely limited experience of a not-yet-mega-successful guy who can't stop not settling. You've got the hang-glider prepared, so think of me as the dude who has made it just two or three cliffs out, and is a little beat up but still pretty damn happy. My few pointers are in no particular order and are as follows:
TRUST YOURSELF
Now, the tricky part of this is not lying to yourself about who "yourself" is. But let's face it. You really already know. You can be afraid of what people think of you until you die, or you can say "fuck it," and go with what you know.
DON'T GLAMORIZE SHIT
Taking a leap off that cliff is taking a leap off that cliff. Shit's going to get rough when the ground is fast approaching and the gusts of wind hit. You'll ask yourself why you were such a fucking dumbass at moments. Those moments suck. That said, you've got one life and living it without going after what you want is really a tragedy.
DON'T WORRY
It's not as "all or nothing" as you may think it is. If you made a mistake, you can also make an adjustment. You left your gig at the lawn mowing service to try out for the MLB and didn't become a Major League Baseball player? Well, you're not going to starve. There are a million other jobs out there, and you can find something else while you head back to the drawing board.
I guess, in the end, entrepreneurship is just a fancy word for "doing you" to the maximum extent possible as much as possible. That's really what we are all after, isn't it? There is no set measure for success. I mentioned mega-successful entrepreneur and branding wizard Gary Vaynerchuk above. He speaks to this as well. According to him, you could be a couch potato gamer making 20 Gs a year and just playing games all the time. If you're truly happy--if you're not complaining--you've won. Success is in the eye of the beholder. Finding out what you want--really want--now that seems to be the tricky bit. But that's a process, too, so just move, and you'll likely hone in on that along the way. That's how it has been working out for me, at least.
Well, dear fellow hang-glider in view of a better valley or peak upon which to rest the soles of your feet, and a closer fit for your soul, I'm afraid that's about all I have to offer at this point. Oiling up the parts on my glider as well. Maybe put a motor on this time. Who knows.
Godspeed!
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as Facebook and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)