YOUR DREAM IS WAITING

Tony Robbins

I frequently get asked questions from former colleagues, friends and family members about various aspects of online e-business and entrepreneurship… one question I was asked today by a 16 year old kid trying to start a music management business, was important enough for me to share with you.

Q: “When is the best time to start a company?”

A: I think the best time to start is right after you graduate college and/or graduate school. A lot of elders will tell you that you are too young or don’t have enough experience to start a company so, let me use a example about bumble bees.

A very successful entrepreneur with a science background once told me that “due to the shape and odd size it should be impossible for bumblebees to fly.”  He paused and finished by saying “However, the bumblebees don’t know this so they continue to fly on in blissful ignorance.” Now you may be wondering what bumblebees have to do with starting a company after you graduate college. Your answer is above. You see bumblebees should not be able to fly, but they don’t know that so they continue on defying the odds and flying around while people who study bumblebees look on in awe. When you graduate college you are well equipped with knowledge yes; but are you ready to fly (start a viable business)?  The answer is most likely no. However time and time again young entrepreneurs with huge dreams have defied the odds, just like bumble bees. Let’s take Seth Berger for example. He is the founder and former CEO of AND 1, which is a company specializing in basketball apparel and shoes. Berger started AND 1 in the early 1990’s after he completed graduate school. He didn’t know what he was going in the initial start up and even admits that. Berger also said in an interview with Knowledge@Wharton when speaking about starting his company at such a young age “I think it’s a huge opportunity. Whenever I speak with [students], I always try to tell them, you should start your business now, before you have a bunch of experience, because what your experience will tell you is what you can’t accomplish.” What Seth Berger just said is an incredible example of exactly what I am talking about to you in this blog post. When you graduate school, start a company and set your sights on success while eliminating the option of failure, you don’t know any better and your chances of succeeding increase dramatically. Have you ever looked back on something saying “How the hell did I do that? That was crazy!” Well just remember you don’t know you can’t fly. You don’t know that you probably should gain a hell of a lot more “real world” experience before starting your venture. All you know is what you want it, bad. You want to fly. You have your eye on the prize. What is the prize?  Success.

It’s that simple.

If you want it bad enough, the rest will fall into place.  So in the spirit of sounding totally cliche, spread your wings and fly. Even if you don’t know how to.

Live Inspired,

Robb

I wanted to jump on here today and make what I consider to be a very important blog entry (not to mention my first here).  But let me first quick say, that YDIW is not political correct, it’s not some mocked up extremely well written blog either.  Its from the heart and mind, and it’s real.  If you have a problem with occasional bad language, grammatical errors and other things that may be offensive, then have a nice day — because this wasn’t created to impress anyone.  And in the words of Pete Sarsgaard “I’m okay with being unimpressive…I sleep better”.

(please) read carefully.

I was telling my former business Professors (Salisbury University) about my current companies and future plans for this website you are on now, and how excited I was to hopefully make a difference in young peoples lives. The feedback was tremendously positive, considering I was a horrible student (haha). Anyway, one particular professor whom I respect and (somewhat) admire wrote back this… “In general, the concept is interesting given the current poor state of the world economy….you sure?” Well, after reading that part of his response over and over, it really got me thinking…“am I crazy for doing this?” Then it hit me…Absolutely NOT.

As far as I am concerned this is the BEST time to do what I am doing. The job market sucks, kids are graduating with honors and having hard times finding any job at all…even retail (which is scary). So my point is, even in a “downed world economy”, still anything is possible. Why wouldn’t I want to start this blog, (what I consider) a social awareness movement—TO RAISE AWARENESS AND MOTIVATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS TO GET OFF THEIR ASS AND THINK BIG. Why wouldn’t I want to wake up every day and follow my dreams and passion, while helping others do the same? This is the best time to act. Right here, right now.

This is the same professor who used to brag about some company he owned/operated that was very successful (Blah, Blah). If it was so successful and wonderful, why is he presumably making considerably less money now and teaching a management course? Because the guy is an ass clown and probably is inflating his actual worth. Now I am in NO WAY discounting professors as a whole, without them partly, I wouldn’t be half as equipped as I am—but I am sure you get where I am headed…

I want you to read what I am about to say over and over. I want you to read it forward backwards upside down (not really). However, you read it…I want this to marinate in your mind until you really understand it.

A true entrepreneur will NEVER stop being an entrepreneur. Why you ask? This is because we (entrepreneurs) do not have the words “well enough” in our vocabulary. What I mean by this is, an entrepreneur will never say anything along these lines… “Well, I have done well enough I am ready to retire” or “I have done well enough that I can go teach full time.” NO. For anyone aspiring to become an entrepreneur DO NOT EVER SAY “WELL ENOUGH”. Take it out of your vocabulary right now. It’s okay to say “I have done so great selling cars I want to try something different.” HOWEVER, you move on to your next goal. You start your next venture. You never stop. Yes, it is okay to kick back and relax. But you make sure while you are relaxing while still in control of some sort of business entity.  Make sure you have AUTOMATIC INCOME. You make sure you never quit. You make sure you never say “I’ve done well enough”. Think about it.


So am I crazy for doing what I am doing “at such drastic times?” No, I am motivated and passionate…and you should be too.  If you run into a clown like that who tries to possibly convince you that what you are doing “may not be possible” then tell the guy to piss off and press on.

Live Inspired,

-Robb