Do Your Friends Get That You’re An Entrepreneur?
How many of you young entrepreneurs out there who have friends who “just don’t get it?” You know what I mean: the friends who think that you are rich because you own a company, the friends who think you have life so easy because you aren’t working a typical 9 to 5 corporate America gig, the friends who think that you are lazy because you are able to set your own schedule and wake up at 9AM if you’d like, and the friends who think that you are “better than them” because you are some big shot who owns a company.
Com’on Mind Petalers, let’s set the record straight here:
- We don’t have it easy because we don’t work a typical 9 to 5. In fact, in many cases we have it harder and work longer hours. You can find us working 3AM in the morning to the crack of sunlight.
- We aren’t rich and famous (well, not all of us). Most of us are just starting off with our ventures and are busting our asses to turn a profit.
- Sure, many of us may appear to be arrogant, but don’t confuse arrogance with confidence. An entrepreneur who isn’t confident is an entrepreneur who isn’t going to succeed. The only people who change this world are the ones who are truly crazy enough to believe that they can – and that takes confidence!
I’m reaching out to the Mind Petals community to add to this list and help dispel some of the myths that our friends may believe about the lives of young entrepreneurs.
Personally, when I was working a 9 to 5 like the rest of my friends over a year ago, my life was much easier. I had a stable income, I didn’t have to come up with anything creative, my insurance was covered, and I didn’t have to take my work home with me.
Since becoming a full time entrepreneur, my life has been filled with the most stress that I have ever encountered. The most problems, fear, and headaches as well. BUT…. It has also been filled with the most JOY and feelings of accomplishment.
I would never trade my life as an entrepreneur for a 9 to 5 — never. And, guess what, I’m not sorry about that. We shouldn’t have to apologize for taking risks and going down the path that our friends only dreamed about going down but never did.
Remain confident, focused, and keep pushing forward with your dreams. And if your friends still can’t understand that you’re an entrepreneur for life… then, are they really your friends?
6 Comments
Scott Taylor
February 13th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Good post David, I know exactly what you are talking about
David Askaripour
February 13th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Thanks Scott. Yeah many of us young entrepreneurs know all too well….
Adam
February 14th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Wow, couldn’t have said it better myself Dave. I’ve noticed a “shift” in my friends since I left my job. The ones that get it I’m closer to, and the ones that don’t I distanced myself from. It’s such a core part of who you are that it makes no sense to associate yourself with someone who doesn’t accept you.
David Askaripour
February 15th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Thanks, Adam. I’m sure that many of us young entrepreneur can relate to the friend situation — pre/post entrepreneurship. Yea dude, you have to distance yourself from those type of people. They only serve to hold you back. Good decision.
Joe D'Ambrose
February 16th, 2007 at 3:18 am
True to that! I couldn’t agree more.
Aaron Rinehart
May 16th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Its like someone pulled the words right out of my head. Couldn’t have said it better. Thanks Adam!
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