Success as an entrepreneur is tough. There’s no way around it.
Those of you who know me, know I tell it like it is, which goes over well with most – not so well with others. That’s a whole other teaching: Telling the truth.
However, for the purpose of this post, let’s stick with the topic of Success As An Entrepreneur.

First, you have to understand that most people have no clue what it takes to be an entrepreneur. And here’s the next point: It’s not their fault. They were sold a bill of goods from someone who had no business giving advice. You don’t have to look very far to find the latest and greatest guru preaching about how their system will set you free. Some call it Get Rich Quick – I call it Get Broke Fast.

To be a successful entrepreneur you need to be passionate about something. It doesn’t matter what it is, you just need the passion.
You can become wealthy doing anything.
If I told you that you could sell garbage online and people would pay you for it, would you believe me?
Check this out: NYC Garbage
How many people do you think told this dude he was out of his mind when he ran his idea past them?
It probably went something like this:
Garbage Man: Hey Joe, I have a great idea
Joe: What’s that?
Garbage Man: I’m gonna go around New York City, pick up garbage, put it in a cube and sell it online.
Joe: Huh?
GM: Yea man, it’s gonna be awesome. Hot dog wrappers, ticket stubs…a whole host of litter. Are you excited for me?
Joe: I’m calling your wife, you need help. Don’t move…

Actually the Garbage Man’s name is Justin Gignac and he has courage. Courage to do something that everyone he told probably laughed at, but he did it anyway. How much money does he earn selling garbage online?
Who cares.
Money is never a driving force for successful entrepreneurs.

You see, when you love what you do, you never have a job. I can’t tell you how many times I have failed doing something I loved and never regretted it – not one time.
Conversely, I can also tell you of other times when I had to swallow my pride in the name of corporate America, earnings, politics, etc and felt like I needed a shower afterward. My days were full of regret because I was a sellout – building a dynasty for someone else while my dreams fell by the wayside.

Until I took the leap.

I saw my first real estate infomercial and my life changed forever. Yes, I am one of the few who saw an infomercial, bought the product and took action.

I had the remote in one hand the phone in the other. I was calling a number that was flashed on the screen about one billion times.
Call Now! it kept flashing on the screen. It was 3am and I was fired up! This guy was going to transform my life. He was selling books and tapes on on how to buy real estate notes. He made it all sound so easy. Not to mention, all the testimonial videos of the people sitting by the pool in their Hawaiian shirt with the umbrella drinks next to them. They called the same infomercial number I did! Can you believe it?

Long story short – the books & CD’s came and they weren’t worth the price of the postage. BUT (and this is a big but) I was hooked. I knew I just made a donation to this guy’s automobile fund but I didn’t care. I started researching real estate success stories and found hundreds of legitimate people teaching the basics of investing in real estate. The note buying infomercial got my entrepreneurial juices flowing, I just had to channel the energy in the right direction.

While my friends were going to the mall or watching football, I was at Barnes & Noble reading any real estate book I could get my hands on. It was time-consuming and exhilarating at the same time. I had not approached a bank for money. I had no property in mind but I was laying the foundation knowing that when I was ready to pull the trigger, I would have the knowledge to move forward and not get burned.
When you combine knowledge with passion it’s an awesome combination.

Question: What are you passionate about? Do people laugh when you try to tell them what you would love to do one day? Do you describe your Every Day Is Saturday lifestyle to everyone you know? Are you embarrassed at what they may say if you really told them your dreams?

Think of the garbage seller
Think of me
Think of all the entrepreneurs who came before you and stepped out in faith.

Did we ask permission from our friends to play big?
No.
You shouldn’t either.
Being a Successful Entrepreneur is difficult but certainly not impossible. If you find yourself in the minority with people telling you that you’ve lost your mind, then you’re on the right track.
Dare to be different and leave mediocrity behind.

Making the rules is so much more fun than following them.

Rock On

Sam

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