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Fighting Society and Stigma Of Failure

RoyRogers

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Hello,
At the age of 20, I started, and failed in my first business venture. That Stigma of that failure, from Family, Friends and Society, stuck with me forever. Another 3 failures over the next 20 years only cemented this FAILURE LABEL in everyone's eyes.
Then I moved to USA. But here too, my failures continued. I Lost all my existing properties back in my home country due to family disputes and at the age of 50 I was in ZERO (or even MINUS) position with FAILURE written large all over my life.
I don't know how, but a few months back, I got introduced to MJ's Book "Millionaire FastLane ". and something changed.
MJ was writing EVERYTHING that I have always been saying and believing. Everything written in that book was what I have practiced and believed in but was never confident, due to my failures, that I was right. This book gave me the validation that I really needed. Suddenly I was at peace with myself and my confidence grew.
My failures were not because of my method of thinking, but due to other reasons (Mj's Book Also helped me identify my those shortcomings). I truly regret not listening to my self but allowing everyone else to to shape my opinion of myself.
Now, at the age of 60, I look forward to a confident and happy future as I work on one one more business venture which I have been working on since last one year.
Whether I succeed or not is no longer of primary importance, what is important is that I have started rebuilding myself. and that is the biggest success of it all.
I cannot thank MJ enough.
 
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ZF Lee

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Hello,
At the age of 20, I started, and failed in my first business venture. That Stigma of that failure, from Family, Friends and Society, stuck with me forever. Another 3 failures over the next 20 years only cemented this FAILURE LABEL in everyone's eyes.
Then I moved to USA. But here too, my failures continued. I Lost all my existing properties back in my home country due to family disputes and at the age of 50 I was in ZERO (or even MINUS) position with FAILURE written large all over my life.
I don't know how, but a few months back, I got introduced to MJ's Book "Millionaire FastLane ". and something changed.
MJ was writing EVERYTHING that I have always been saying and believing. Everything written in that book was what I have practiced and believed in but was never confident, due to my failures, that I was right. This book gave me the validation that I really needed. Suddenly I was at peace with myself and my confidence grew.
My failures were not because of my method of thinking, but due to other reasons (Mj's Book Also helped me identify my those shortcomings). I truly regret not listening to my self but allowing everyone else to to shape my opinion of myself.
Now, at the age of 60, I look forward to a confident and happy future as I work on one one more business venture which I have been working on since last one year.
Whether I succeed or not is no longer of primary importance, what is important is that I have started rebuilding myself. and that is the biggest success of it all.
I cannot thank MJ enough.
Welcome!
What were some of those failures?
Maybe not all of them were really 'failures' ?
 

RoyRogers

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Welcome!
What were some of those failures?
Maybe not all of them were really 'failures' ?

They were financial losses in all the ventures. In My country, the stigma of financial failure is very great. It handicaps you for life.
I took those as a learning experience, but it was a constant battle.
 

ZF Lee

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They were financial losses in all the ventures. In My country, the stigma of financial failure is very great. It handicaps you for life.
I took those as a learning experience, but it was a constant battle.
Let me guess...you had investors issues?
That's the only thing I can think of for now that could create such a problem.
 
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MJ DeMarco

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Thanks for the intro! It's NEVER too late to be an entrepreneur. Sorry to hear about the family struggles back in your home country, in the US (and LA County) its a much different beast!

Now, at the age of 60, I look forward to a confident and happy future as I work on one one more business venture which I have been working on since last one year.

What makes this different from the others? Genuinely curious!

Welcome aboard.
 

RoyRogers

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Let me guess...you had investors issues?
That's the only thing I can think of for now that could create such a problem.

Not investor problem. 40 years ago, investor scene was not prominent. Family invested in whatever you did. this was my case as well. Instead of opting for family business, live all good sons do :), I opted to start on my own and failed.
 

Captain Jack

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Hello,
At the age of 20, I started, and failed in my first business venture. That Stigma of that failure, from Family, Friends and Society, stuck with me forever. Another 3 failures over the next 20 years only cemented this FAILURE LABEL in everyone's eyes.
Then I moved to USA. But here too, my failures continued. I Lost all my existing properties back in my home country due to family disputes and at the age of 50 I was in ZERO (or even MINUS) position with FAILURE written large all over my life.
I don't know how, but a few months back, I got introduced to MJ's Book "Millionaire FastLane ". and something changed.
MJ was writing EVERYTHING that I have always been saying and believing. Everything written in that book was what I have practiced and believed in but was never confident, due to my failures, that I was right. This book gave me the validation that I really needed. Suddenly I was at peace with myself and my confidence grew.
My failures were not because of my method of thinking, but due to other reasons (Mj's Book Also helped me identify my those shortcomings). I truly regret not listening to my self but allowing everyone else to to shape my opinion of myself.
Now, at the age of 60, I look forward to a confident and happy future as I work on one one more business venture which I have been working on since last one year.
Whether I succeed or not is no longer of primary importance, what is important is that I have started rebuilding myself. and that is the biggest success of it all.
I cannot thank MJ enough.

Welcome!

Here is some inspiration: Colonel Sanders - Wikipedia

He created what is known today as Kentucky Fried Chicken at the age of 65 and became a multimillionaire.
 
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RoyRogers

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Thanks for the intro! It's NEVER too late to be an entrepreneur. Sorry to hear about the family struggles back in your home country, in the US (and LA County) its a much different beast!



What makes this different from the others? Genuinely curious!

Welcome aboard.

You are so right MJ. It is never too late. I never gave up inspite of all the odds and headwinds.
Yes, USA is a different beast. Here the Individual is important, there the FAMILY (and society) is important and that makes a lot of difference.
If you follow in the society's foot steps, inherit your family business and fail, the problems are still there, but family protects you. But if you want to start out on your own, rejecting the everyone's advise to join the family business, do your own thing AND fail. you become an outcast. So many talented people have had their dreams and talents crushed due to this behavior from the society/family.
Luckily, things are beginning to change there now and a lot of new talents are coming becoming successful.
 

Captain Jack

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You are so right MJ. It is never too late. I never gave up inspite of all the odds and headwinds.
Yes, USA is a different beast. Here the Individual is important, there the FAMILY (and society) is important and that makes a lot of difference.
If you follow in the society's foot steps, inherit your family business and fail, the problems are still there, but family protects you. But if you want to start out on your own, rejecting the everyone's advise to join the family business, do your own thing AND fail. you become an outcast. So many talented people have had their dreams and talents crushed due to this behavior from the society/family.
Luckily, things are beginning to change there now and a lot of new talents are coming becoming successful.

Just out of curiosity, where are you from originally?
 

ZF Lee

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Not investor problem. 40 years ago, investor scene was not prominent. Family invested in whatever you did. this was my case as well. Instead of opting for family business, live all good sons do :), I opted to start on my own and failed.
Good sons aside, I think continuing a working relationship and networking with the family business might give some good support.
My dad has a frabricating business in the semiconductor field. Very service-orientated business...not very Fastlane unless you take the time to get more machinery, and possibly pivot. I'm not interested in continuing the business (and he didn't tell me he wanted me to!), but well, some business practices are universal.

Recently, I decided to meet one of my dad's customers via his links. The customer is an engineering manager in one the bigger companies. Pretty good conversation.

We discussed on the changing dynamics of business (the pros of exporting as compared with importing into a saturated, entry-less field), the validity of certain degrees (first class honours vs a normal general one that may not earn slack), business strategy (incorporating in different countries with more favourable laws) and the perils of engineers (all problems coming at you at once).

I have a whole bunch of notes after that conversation! Never know what you gonna get from building and keeping some lines. We agreed that we could arrange more meetings in the weekends, in the future.

Probably a family business can be a good launching platform into an independent fastlane, besides freelancing, normal jobs or other hustles. It might even be better, as the biz is already active!
 

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