The road to success is paved with loneliness. This I know. Not even the people closest to me are in this, but it makes sense: how can they support what they don’t know?
I guess successful entrepreneurs don’t really know what they’re doing until they do it. Obviously. There’s risk to that. No risk, no reward.
Things entrepreneurs need to keep in mind if they want to succeed:
- Hard work, hustle: there needs to come a point where you eliminate all unnecessary distractions from the vision. This includes petty indulgences (like Facebook and Twitter) as well as new projects that seem to have potential but only derail your focus.
- Fear: there will be times when you think that you’re totally crazy (I mean CRAZY) for doing what you’re doing. Like, “What am I doing risking not just my future but my family’s for something that has a narrow chance of succeeding?
- Patience? Not too sure, because what are you waiting for if you don’t know if success is imminent? Perhaps a macro-focus on a lifespan timeline.
- Discernment. Knowing what works and what doesn’t. I also see this is putting yourself in your customers shoes, or empathy. It does no good to force your vision on people if they won’t be receptive to it.
- Legacy. I like this one. It’s from Gary V. Everything you do and say is being recorded. Everything aspire to is contingent on the integrity or cleanliness of your legacy. Legacy is everything that happens after right now.
And as far as living with a family that questions your vision, all I have to say to that is keep working hard and prove them wrong without wasting any more time.