22. One successful entrepreneur I know well has a wonderful quality, namely that he never, ever compares himself to other people. He just does his own thing, which actually serves him rather well. Just because his competitor has bought himself a bigger motor boat, doesn’t mean he feels the need have a bigger motor boat. This quality helps him to build his business the way he sees fit, not the way the motor boat people see fit.
23. Running a startup is full of extreme ups and downs. Which is why so many successful and happy entrepreneurs I know lead such normal, stable, unglamorous, “boring”, family-centered lives. Somehow they need the latter in order to balance out the former. Extra-curricular drama looks great in the tabloids, but that’s all it’s ultimately good for. 24. MBAs are conditioned to use their brains in much the same way as sex workers are conditioned to use their genitals. Nice work if you can get it. 25. Bill Gates may have a million times more money than me, but he isn’t going to live a million times longer than me, watch a million times more sunsets than me, make love to a million times more women than me, drink a million times more fine wines than me, listen to a million times more Beethoven String Quartets than me, nor sire a million times more children than me. Human beings don’t scale.
Really great post by Hugh over at gapingvoid.com. These are just a few of the good ones.
I particularly like 22 and 23. Both can be extremely difficult to pull off. It seems to be a human tendency to compare ourselves to others from time to time, some of us more often than others. What’s inevitable though the more you do it, the more likely you will feel like crap. There is always someone out there better than you at something, if you’re looking and comparing you’re going to find them a lot. Being comfortable and proud of you and your skills is empowering.
On 23. Entrepreneurship is a roller coaster of emotions, no doubt. I met with an entrepreneur last week who has done it many times, and he told me “You’re going to have several moments where you have 2 or all 4 tires off the road.” There’s no way to avoid those situations, they are part of the journey, but even more importantly don’t be so quick to get your emotions wrapped up in things. Good things happen and bad things happen, but they don’t change who you are. Hugh nails it, a key to being a successful entrepreneur is being reminded daily of who you are by those around you who love you.
Life Putting 