Dave's Story

I have spent most of my life denying myself access to my own dreams. I’m not a trendy, savvy, extraverted businessman. I didn’t think I could make it on my own. I finally got sufficiently burnt out by my corporate cog job that I had no choice but to take the leap. In the ensuing three months, I went against everyone’s advice and tried to figure it all out from scratch. (There’s nothing like reinventing the wheel.) I tried to be all things to all people, and tried to handle every last detail myself. I thought that I would come up with a perfect plan, and presto… I’d step out there, execute it flawlessly, and everyone would be impressed. Everyone would live happily ever after… especially me.

Then, I woke up.  A year of living in this fantasy world, coupled with the mounting credit card bills, led me to the stark realization that the world doesn’t operate on my agenda. And sadly, neither do I. Without a power team, I don’t have all the skills I need. Nobody does. Without a mentor who had done what I wanted to do, I was following the blind. Without a clear picture of who I can serve best, I can’t serve anybody. And let’s face it: I’m a human. With no one to hold me accountable, I won’t stick to anything. I took all of this for granted when I worked for a paycheck. I had all of these areas covered. I never had to think about anything, and if I wasted time, it didn’t matter. I was getting paid anyway.

After my first year in the Entrepreneurial School of Hard Knocks, I've come to realize some critical things.

1.  Your words determine your reality.  When you say something or write it down, it begins to take shape.  When someone else reads or hears it, the process accelerates.  When someone else repeats in their own words what you said or wrote down, it accelerates again.  Unfortunately, this also includes the things you complain about.

2.  Nobody is inspired by the idea of making money alone.  When all that's at stake is money, people will do the bare minimum.  People are inspired by the idea of making a difference and leaving a mark on the world.

3.  If you inspire people with a new vision, they will go to the ends of the Earth.  If you don't inspire them, they won't lift a finger.

4.  "Someday" is a synonym for "Never."

5.  Any plan (even a really bad one) will work if you execute it faithfully and consistently.  No plan (even a really good one) will work if you don't.