Getting a B
Starting the semester off with a B on my first quiz was disheartening for a gal who has set her sights on getting all A's. And because I'm dramatic, it went from just a B on a quiz to "There's no way I'm going to be a successful entrepreneur." Because if I can't do it perfectly, then what's the point of even doing it at all? Doomed before I'd even really started.
I suck at failing. I hate the learning curve. This trait has prevented me from starting hobbies that I may be interested in, because the story I've told myself is that if I'm not immediately brilliant at it, then I will never be good at it. Why have I done this to myself?!
Yesterday morning I took my kids on a walk, and while I was huffing and puffing and thinking about that B, a phrase from Jeff Sandefer's "Living Life as an Entrepreneurial Hero" popped in my head: "real entrepreneurs learn to fail quickly, cheaply and often." It made me think that this B on the quiz was the perfect intro to life as an entrepreneur. In light of my goal, a B is failing quickly and cheaply. Because I will fail. Probably often, with varying degrees of severity. Getting a B on this one quiz doesn't prevent me from getting an A in the class. As for business? Those mistakes and missteps I'll inevitably make won't prevent me from attaining the goals I've set for myself. Just because I encounter a shipping problem with my product, or run into personnel issues, doesn't mean that I'm a terrible business owner and will never succeed.
I want to be like the person in Teddy Roosevelt's quote:
Other lessons this week I want to remember:
The Start-up of You - Plan to adapt. I have a Plan A, but what's my Plan B? Plan Z? What will happen if I don't get an A in this class, how will I adapt? What will happen if my current business plan doesn't work out, how will I adapt? Where am I going to retreat to if everything goes belly up?
"Life as an Entrepreneurial Hero" - Make sure every decision I make answers these three questions positively:
1. Did I accomplish something meaningful?
2. Was I a good person?
3. Who did I love and who loved me?
I suck at failing. I hate the learning curve. This trait has prevented me from starting hobbies that I may be interested in, because the story I've told myself is that if I'm not immediately brilliant at it, then I will never be good at it. Why have I done this to myself?!
Yesterday morning I took my kids on a walk, and while I was huffing and puffing and thinking about that B, a phrase from Jeff Sandefer's "Living Life as an Entrepreneurial Hero" popped in my head: "real entrepreneurs learn to fail quickly, cheaply and often." It made me think that this B on the quiz was the perfect intro to life as an entrepreneur. In light of my goal, a B is failing quickly and cheaply. Because I will fail. Probably often, with varying degrees of severity. Getting a B on this one quiz doesn't prevent me from getting an A in the class. As for business? Those mistakes and missteps I'll inevitably make won't prevent me from attaining the goals I've set for myself. Just because I encounter a shipping problem with my product, or run into personnel issues, doesn't mean that I'm a terrible business owner and will never succeed.
I want to be like the person in Teddy Roosevelt's quote:
The credit belongs to the man in the arena . . . who if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who have never tasted victory or defeat.I long to be in that arena, to develop the ability to fight and keep fighting even if I'm not perfect in the beginning.
Other lessons this week I want to remember:
The Start-up of You - Plan to adapt. I have a Plan A, but what's my Plan B? Plan Z? What will happen if I don't get an A in this class, how will I adapt? What will happen if my current business plan doesn't work out, how will I adapt? Where am I going to retreat to if everything goes belly up?
"Life as an Entrepreneurial Hero" - Make sure every decision I make answers these three questions positively:
1. Did I accomplish something meaningful?
2. Was I a good person?
3. Who did I love and who loved me?
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