“I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my ideas” — Albert Einstein
As I look back over my life, the most successful or content people I know were not the most brilliant but the most determined and disciplined. Excellence came not from revolutionary thought but from dogged execution and focus. Having a passion for the topic cause was also baked into this. Because of their focus, they iterate more quickly and come up the learning curve faster. Lack of focus (on the right thing!) versus an array (all parts of the value chain vs two, 5 channels vs getting a couple profitable) is the #1 cause of failure. So what?
Well, it means that anyone has the potential for success in endeavors small or large. I look at my kids’ classmates and the some do well because they are brilliant. However, most do well because they start their work early, engage their teachers, ask when they don’t know (comfortable with their vulnerability) and have an interest in learning. And they are focused.
The same is true in entrepreneurship. Some are brilliant but most are passionately focused. Many times in fundraising or in ramping sales, I’ve concluded it just wasn’t going to happen but someone forgot to tell the entrepreneur. They would iterate, test, get rejected, regroup, reach out to even more people (again no feeling embarrassed or vulnerable to approach), iterate until they figured it out. Sometimes the three month process would stretch to nine. But forward they go with focused determination.
This is why I have a passion for what I do. I love watching this entrepreneurial dance. I’m amazed by all of your determination and unflappable spirit. My purpose is simple…to help you realize this full potential, to provide shelter from the storm and to help prevent self-inflicted wounds.
The good and bad news is, as Einstein pointed out, that this is pretty straight forward. Execution, focus and discipline is the thorn…
Now go out and change the world for the better 🙂