First-generation entrepreneurs have a particularly steep learning curve as we oftentimes painstakingly bootstrap our way to the seemingly elusive but greatly envied pinnacle of business ownership—financial freedom.
At any given moment, there are at least 50 to 100 decisions that all need to be made immediately or by the end of the week or some other impossible deadline. All the while in the middle of having to create a marketing campaign, a new sales pitch or product or figure out how to get into the next tradeshow on limited resources or simply how to pay the mortgage.
We constantly assure our fellow entrepreneurial and corporate comrades that we look and feel fabulous and successful too –that business is great–when sometimes that is farthest from the truth. The truth is sometimes that we are in the midst of terror and meltdown and haven’t seen the likes of fabulous or her obscure friend successful. Sometimes as we roll out to that networking event in the best of threads and cleanest car and the impeccable spit polish pitch and style, we never let on (and rightly so) that the threat of bankruptcy is hovering or that the risk of family fallout is now imminent .
But please take heart my entrepreneurial friends. Persistence does pay off. The price you’re now paying (if you can identify with any of that stuff in the above paragraph) is part of the story of many of those first-generation entrepreneurs (and sometimes second generation) who decided to stick with it. Nevertheless, clutching the entrepreneurial staple of “persistence” does not mean that there won’t be any loses or that everything will turn out fine (sorry), what it does mean is that when you finally arrive you will be well-grounded and have a healthy respect for success itself and will be closer to the truth of you. It means that you have emotionally agreed to pay the price of success which in and of itself –at least qualifies you for a winning ticket. Success comes at different paces depending on your resources, your aptitude for adaptation, your attitude and your level of creativity. There is a lot at play in the world of success and for those who have done it, they make it look easier than it is because often the horror and fall out stories (the details are not glamorous enough to make the news)are seldom told for we like to relish in the victories. But before the victory and triumphs are many disappointments, failures, and tries and even longer hours of reflection and study before we get the combination just right.
It is my belief that the pursuit of business success is –simply put –the pursuit of our true selves and that in entrepreneurship we are passionately addicted to that pursuit. So when you’re in the midst of the grind and things aren’t going as well as you want to report or someone in the family or close nit of friends asks that dreaded question: “Why don’t you just get a job?”, just remember what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it and stick to your purpose. I did not say stick to your plan, but stick to your purpose. Often the plan has to change in order to accommodate changing market conditions, but not purpose. So my article is not about the entrepreneur’s right to be stubborn, but to remember that there are many pieces on the game board for success, just don’t stop playing to win. Adjust where you need to, but remember your purpose!