It’s been a while since my last post. So, I wanted to make this to the point as we start a new chapter in our lives. I’m not going to tell you how to get rich. I’m not going to tell you how you are going to be a millionaire overnight. Nor, am I going to tell you what to do with your life.
What I do want to dedicate this post toward is something simpler. What does it take to be successful? The short answer is…stop dreaming and start doing.
Too many times, I keep hearing people fantasizing about what they are going to do with their life. They like to sometimes call this a vision board filled with all materialistic objects they wish to attain in life, to live in an extravagant place, or how many fancy cars they are going to own. Hollywood does a great job in portraying this life. Social media does as well.
Too many times, I keep hearing from people they need money to start their big idea. While it’s true, you need some capital. But, blood equity is far superior to any amount of money. You don’t need millions to start a business. If you do, you already failed. Go back to the drawing board and start over.
Too many times, I keep hearing how people think most entrepreneurs in the headlines just got lucky. That’s your envy talking. Not discipline. They didn’t win the Powerball. They worked their ass off, day in and day out.
What’s worse is when you become successful, no one warns you of what you find out about life. The hardest part of success is staying there. On the way to the top, you’re glorified with the good your doing. When you’ve reached the top, you start to see the evil around you. Strangers, friends, even family will all slowly want something from you because they think it’s their God-given right to take. That’s why most celebrities and businesspeople fail, it’s not because they did anything wrong. It’s just something wrong with our system and its moral values.
America is known to be the most litigious country in the world. It actually incentivizes you to sue high-profile people because attorneys will take a case on contingency (for a portion of the settlement), since over 90% of cases get settled. Unfortunately, in most cases, it’s sometimes cheaper to settle than fight a battle with expensive legal fees. That’s why you probably remember the headlines of celebrities like, 50 Cent, who end up filing for bankruptcy. In Europe, if you sue, and lose. You have to pay your attorney fees and the other parties’ attorney fees. That reduces the fraud in the system since you can’t make a quick buck. I’ve faced my own trials with this and came to the conclusion, I’d rather go bankrupt and keep paying an attorney to protect my ideals than to pay even a penny to this rogue system.
If you want to be successful, if you want to stay successful. It’s not going to be easy. You will have your days where you think you’re conquering the world and then you’ll spend the rest of the week in hell. Week after week. The key secret is to knowing not to give up. Hell is a temporary destination. Success is your promise land.
Do you remember that guy that gave up? Yeah nor do I. Because people don’t talk about failures. They talk about winners. If you want to be a winner, understand that pain is a virtue you will have to swallow almost every day. And, it will just get harder with each level you cross.
So, stop dreaming, fantasizing about the cars, vacations, jewelry, mansions, and anything materialistic that you might have seen in a music video that you crave for. And, if you really want to be successful, understand it will not happen overnight. You will endure monuments of pain, so don’t be afraid. All you have to do is…stop dreaming and keep just doing.
Remember, the more successful you get, the more pain you will sustain. The only easy way out is to quit. Pain and success are like math, it compounds. I’m a four-time entrepreneur, and I can say I’ve never worked harder in my life than ever before. Since I’ve learned to immune myself to the outside noise and that temporary pain that comes along the way. Stay optimistic. Realize the promise land is still out there.
Do good. Keep your heart in the right place. And, work your ass off, day in and day out. They never said it would be easy, God just said it would be worth it.
It’s lonely on top for a reason, but it does have a great view. It’s where you can enjoy that silence.