Fear and Self Loathing: The Result of Not Betting on Yourself
I find myself in dark moods sometimes. Almost 50 and feeling like I have not really accomplished anything. I’ve done well. But can’t say I’ve done well enough to where I thought I would be if I am truly honest with myself. Especially compared to all the younger, smarter, folks around me.
I can make excuses that growing up where and in the circumstances that I did, that entrepreneurship and investing was just not an option. That I was just not exposed to the possibility although I was exposed to wealth around me.
But these are just excuses. I’ve spent 25+ years in Silicon Valley where I’ve missed so many opportunities in front of me because I was ignorant, uneducated, blind or in most cases lacked the courage to take it on. Because I did not believe in myself or have the guts to bet on myself.
I threw myself into a career making a lot of money for others and without building real equity. All the while intentionally and unintentionally sacrificing my family life that had led to it becoming an ongoing source of pain.
I did not wake up to this until much later in life. And now, overall my life in general is so much better than it ever was, all because I finally woke up and bet on myself. Doing my thing and working with other fellow entrepreneurs who share my values and drive.
It’s also a great time to do so as Dan Koe writes:
“The individual has more power than ever, they can
- Reach millions of people online
- Access any information they want
- Build a massively profitable business
- Use digital tools that have consolidated 10-100 employees' worth of work
It's foolish to let this period pass you by.”
https://twitter.com/thedankoe/status/1679883703286210561
So I implore those who are thinking of taking the entrepreneurial path, Do it now. People are bad at risk management. They overestimate the actual risks but underestimate their own ability to overcome the inevitable challenges that will come your way.
Yes, You will have really tough and bad days as an entrepreneur but give it at least 2 years. Stick with it and you will be inevitably rewarded emotionally & psychically from building something from scratch, and eventually monetarily from the value you provide to people. And if it does not work, you will have learned so much which you will eventually find some way to monetize. I’ve written before, entrepreneurship is the ultimate exercise in personal development.
In the world of globalized talent, automation and AI, being a creative entrepreneur may be the only path to surviving and thriving.