Being a full-time entrepreneur - at least starting out as I am - is at once one of the most glorious and most challenging things I've ever experienced.
Hopefully, this will get you reflecting/thinking/considering your own climb.
What's Glorious About It?
Not needing to wake up to make a commute to and arrive at someone else's business and being stuck doing someone else's work. The very concept of a regular 9-5 has become almost repulsive to me.
"How on earth did I allow myself to spend my time like that?"
I ADORE being able to sleep, wake, shit, eat, and work when I want to and how I want to.
@MJ DeMarco wasn't kidding when he said there is almost nothing better than getting recognition for work accomplished and getting paid for value you bring into the world - it's AWESOME.
I NEVER want to go back to the rat race and I'll do everything in my power to make damn sure I never have to.
Now, why wouldn't everyone do this? Freedom sounds fantastic. The rat race unbearable.
Why would you possibly not be cut for it and why might you fail?
The Dark Side of Freedom
It's been almost a month now since leaving my job and I can tell you that there is a massive challenge to this lifestyle that goes well beyond any business mechanic/challenge you'll face and owning up to it is far less glorious.
What's that challenge?
Not needing to wake up to make a commute arrive at someone else's business and being directed to do someone's work.
You see - freedom/entrepreneurship has a very real cost and that cost is responsibility & ownership in their purest forms.
There is NO ONE telling you to wake up, work out, finish your website, or to pick up the phone and execute a cold call.
And you are fully, painfully, naked and responsible for your success and failure, your effort and your laziness.
When your flatmate comes in after a hard day's work and asks "How's the business going?" and you didn't do jack sh*t for it today - you have to own that - and it is no easy pill to swallow.
I reckon that this challenge, the challenge of self-discipline, is the one that kills many a dream. It's just doo damned easy to pick up that xbox controller next your sales playbook. Too damned easy to sleep through your alarm.
"Freedom" is full of temptation and without discipline and focus, all of your motivation to join the Fastlane will fail under that pressure.
So if you are thinking of stepping out of the rat race and into the fastlane - I encourage you to really look at yourself and ask "Do I have the discipline required for this?" and proceed accordingly.
A wonderful reddit comic (source) illustrates this perfectly...
When there is no one looking, when are you naked and alone and standing on your own, when distractions and ease present themselves all around you - will you have the focus to resist temptation? The discipline to follow-through? The fortitude to do this every single day? The persistence to keep going?
If you don't - you will almost certainly fail.
If you do though (or if you're willing to get there) - you might not just make it out this time (and if you're insanely focused as is required, almost certainly on the third, forth, five, or sixth attempt).
For me, it's been almost a month and being completely honest, I've had both kinds of days. Days when I woke up at dawn and read and worked my a$$ off until late into the night. And other days like today where it is 11:00AM and I'm barely finishing my first cup of coffee (yes, the extra sleep was glorious).
But days like today need to be welcome anomalies in our lives and never habits. The pain of regret needs to outweigh the pain of discipline.
Now, if you'll excuse me, there is a bench press with my name on it and I need to buff out some edges on my website/pitch before another sales meeting tomorrow morning.
Get off your a$$ and get to work - You've got shit to do.
Discipline might just be the most crucial ingredient in your success.
----
What are your thoughts on discipline?
What are some techniques or habits you've taken on that have helped you? Hurt you?
Hopefully, this will get you reflecting/thinking/considering your own climb.
What's Glorious About It?
Not needing to wake up to make a commute to and arrive at someone else's business and being stuck doing someone else's work. The very concept of a regular 9-5 has become almost repulsive to me.
"How on earth did I allow myself to spend my time like that?"
I ADORE being able to sleep, wake, shit, eat, and work when I want to and how I want to.
@MJ DeMarco wasn't kidding when he said there is almost nothing better than getting recognition for work accomplished and getting paid for value you bring into the world - it's AWESOME.
I NEVER want to go back to the rat race and I'll do everything in my power to make damn sure I never have to.
Now, why wouldn't everyone do this? Freedom sounds fantastic. The rat race unbearable.
Why would you possibly not be cut for it and why might you fail?
The Dark Side of Freedom
It's been almost a month now since leaving my job and I can tell you that there is a massive challenge to this lifestyle that goes well beyond any business mechanic/challenge you'll face and owning up to it is far less glorious.
What's that challenge?
Not needing to wake up to make a commute arrive at someone else's business and being directed to do someone's work.
You see - freedom/entrepreneurship has a very real cost and that cost is responsibility & ownership in their purest forms.
There is NO ONE telling you to wake up, work out, finish your website, or to pick up the phone and execute a cold call.
And you are fully, painfully, naked and responsible for your success and failure, your effort and your laziness.
When your flatmate comes in after a hard day's work and asks "How's the business going?" and you didn't do jack sh*t for it today - you have to own that - and it is no easy pill to swallow.
I reckon that this challenge, the challenge of self-discipline, is the one that kills many a dream. It's just doo damned easy to pick up that xbox controller next your sales playbook. Too damned easy to sleep through your alarm.
"Freedom" is full of temptation and without discipline and focus, all of your motivation to join the Fastlane will fail under that pressure.
So if you are thinking of stepping out of the rat race and into the fastlane - I encourage you to really look at yourself and ask "Do I have the discipline required for this?" and proceed accordingly.
A wonderful reddit comic (source) illustrates this perfectly...
When there is no one looking, when are you naked and alone and standing on your own, when distractions and ease present themselves all around you - will you have the focus to resist temptation? The discipline to follow-through? The fortitude to do this every single day? The persistence to keep going?
If you don't - you will almost certainly fail.
If you do though (or if you're willing to get there) - you might not just make it out this time (and if you're insanely focused as is required, almost certainly on the third, forth, five, or sixth attempt).
For me, it's been almost a month and being completely honest, I've had both kinds of days. Days when I woke up at dawn and read and worked my a$$ off until late into the night. And other days like today where it is 11:00AM and I'm barely finishing my first cup of coffee (yes, the extra sleep was glorious).
But days like today need to be welcome anomalies in our lives and never habits. The pain of regret needs to outweigh the pain of discipline.
Now, if you'll excuse me, there is a bench press with my name on it and I need to buff out some edges on my website/pitch before another sales meeting tomorrow morning.
Get off your a$$ and get to work - You've got shit to do.
Discipline might just be the most crucial ingredient in your success.
----
What are your thoughts on discipline?
What are some techniques or habits you've taken on that have helped you? Hurt you?
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