As the Old Saying Goes, Nothing Worthwhile is Ever Easy.
There is no way around it. In order to make an entrepreneurial dream come true, you are going to have to work harder than you ever have in your life and have more determination. Regardless of what kind of dream it is, this is always the case. Living your life in pursuit of your true potential is not for the faint of heart. Brace yourself because you are in for the challenge of your life.
This is why it is important to have the ultimate outcome/goal set at something that is worth pursuing. If your goal is the collection of more stuff then you are almost certain to question if your endeavor is worthwhile when the going gets really difficult. Set a goal that is meaningful to not only you but the well-being of others and you will find it much easier to dig deep and push on when everything else is telling you to give up.
It is also very important to have an excellent support group. These are the people that will push you on when you need a lift, and let’s be honest; we all need some of these people in our lives. On several occasions I thought of throwing in the towel on this venture, and if not for a wonderful group of people supporting me, I probably would have. On one particular occasion, I was questioning whether or not to continue and one of the people closest to me simply said, “It is worth doing so you are just going to have to suck it up and make it happen. Plus, you have 4 or 5 people that are willing to pick up the slack if you need help.” This was just the boost I needed to press on. Find yourself a good core group of people that can provide you with encouragement when needed.
You also need to remember that any great pursuit is more a test of endurance than a sprint. It is not going to be a short period of hard work, but will probably be extended, so brace yourself. When you sense that you are starting to give in, then step away from it even if only for a few hours. These kinds of things can become like an obsession, and let’s face it; it needs to be if it is going to get done.
If you work a full-time job and have a family, then your days start to look like this...
Up at 5 a.m. - personal time
6 a.m. - exercise
7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. - full-time job
6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - family time
8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - nap
9:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. - work on venture
1 a.m. - 5 a.m. - sleep
Repeat.
String several of these days together and you are certain to get worn down. Sleep deprivation does funny things to you so make sure that you find a way to step away from it. Build in the time to take a breather.
Look at the pursuit of your dream as an adventure, not just as a series of steps to get to a particular destination. Yes, it is going to be difficult but look at it as an lesson in personal growth and development. Keep your mind and heart open, and you are bound to learn some great stuff along the way. Plus, you may notice something that is worth pursuing more than your original goal.
There is simply no way around it...it is going to take a lot of hard work and determination to accomplish your dream. Brace yourself for it and keep in mind that nothing worthwhile is easy.