Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Don't be Comfortable

At Toastmasters this evening, I heard a speech about finding your dream job and that it is never too late. The speech was about a man who quit his job, bought a few washing machines and "cleaned up" in the laundry business. Later, after making a very good living he sold it to become a chef. The point of the story was focusing on the second half (the chef), I was riveted to the first part, the laundry. Here was the story of a true entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurs have an overabundance of self-confidence. This guy not afraid to start a business. He knew he wouldn't allow himself to fail. He did it. Of course he must have felt the doubts and the insecurities. I'll bet he got tired and woke up not wanting to be “on” once in a while too, but he did it. He like everyone who succeeds was not afraid to live in that uncomfortable feeling. I propose that to feel “comfortable” is an alert that success has been capped.

How many people speak publicly with ease and complete comfort? Not many, yet there is a full room each week that I go to Toastmasters. These folks are driven for success in speaking and are willing to sit through the discomfort to attain it. Maybe successful people are just able to tolerate a higher level of this sensation than most.

Entrepreneurship must be the black belt level.

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