Full Steam Backwards
Well since I’m going to start this blog with intentions of gaining the interest of others reading, I’ll not begin by talking about my history, bio, etc yet share a thought. I want to focus this opening post about the thing that bugs me the most. This would be the way people can go there whole life and never see that there is a bigger picture in store for them. So many times I’m with people who are complaining about their lives and they try to tell me that things will get better along the way if they are patient…Yeah maybe. Personally I’ve grown up knowing that when you want something then you figure out how you are going to get it and then you go get it.
So I’m 22-years-old and I’ve launched four successful businesses and created a name for myself. Here’s my point, I’ve always known that if there is a goal set then you are able to accomplish it (keep in mind that failure is never a mistake). My first year in business was so awful that I can hardly even talk about it. My business partner and I never set goals, spent lots of money on item in which we never had fund in the first place to pay for and thus getting into debt right at first. Well this was my first lesson – - I now had a company at 20-years-old, dropped out of college and on my own, and successfully pulled my company 5 figures in the hole….nice. I began brainstorming how we were going to get back into the black and this is where my story of my life begins.
Why are there people that focus so much on the future that they miss the opportunities that place themselves right in front of their face? I find it difficult to talk with these individuals that keep telling me that they’ll catch a break at some point. Rich Dad Poor Dad anyone? The rat race analogy. When we are faced in tight situations it is a great time to begin brainstorming and creating those ideas into realities. It’s about seeing those opportunities like I did and run with them –
Remember that failing is taking one step down a road that you’ll never go down again! It’s going to happen; get used to it.
This recession is earning a pretty reputable name. Let’s not let it get too cocky.
Now I understand that this time in our lives is something to look back on and say, “Remember that time when we thought it would never get better?” It’s so easy to get discouraged in a time when no one wants to throw around money. Trust me, I know. My company sells a high-end product to families and I can guarantee we’ve had to adjust our business model for the economic situation.
How do we see those opportunities that I was talking about in my last past? I strongly believe that this is the best time to launch a business if you’ve got a solid business model. At this time, there are so many great opportunities around every corner that are waiting to get launched by people like us. There is no age limit for success to happen for someone. We’ve all heard those stories of comfortable businessmen that hold great positions with firms deciding that there might be something better out in the world for them. They see that light of hope and opportunity and grab control of life and jump into the great world of entrepreneurialism…not quite a word but lets roll with it for a bit.
There is a long list of businesses that were started during a recession and among them include; IHOP, Jim Henson Company, FedEx, Microsoft, Sports Illustrated, MTV, CNN, GE, and Trader Joes.
A Belfast newspaper wrote, “One of the ironies of a recession is that it has proven over previous historical periods to be a good time to launch a new business – both Microsoft and Oracle were launched and excelled as the world was in the midst of significant economic downturns,” a statement from Belfast City Council said.
This is a worldwide occasion that is placed in front of us. I’m writing this blog to get some recent thoughts so let me get through these topics before thinking I challenging everyone to go out and do something about it because I’m not. I’ve recently written a paper for a class where I argue that the time is better than ever to launch into a new venture.
