The Shark Tank Blog
August 31, 2009 | Texas Startup Blog
Or that is the new name a couple of you suggested for this blog. Sorry, not going to happen. However, I do have another Shark Tank post this mo…
Fantasyland
April 27, 2009
Entrepreneurs live in a fantasyland. They see and believe in things that do not yet exist. For some, there is no need for anyone else to agree that this magical land is real. For most, some minor encouragement is needed.
In the dark times, it is nice to have a few people who also see the shiny city on the hill. If they are lucky the entrepreneur has managed to surround themselves with supporters who, even if they don’t see the city, will lie and say they do. I believe success and failure is directly related to the existence of a support group.
When I first started on my entrepreneurial journey, I found a support group. But, unfortunately it was a group of people who would never meet me at Starbucks for coffee. In fact, they had no idea who I was (and still don’t). They existed only as a series of 1s and 0s on my IPod.
Every week, through the magic of the Internet, I attend class with the elite. I sat and listened to the great entrepreneurs of our time tell me exactly how they did it. They encouraged me. They told me that failure was not a bad thing – it was just part of the process. They told me it was just as hard to change the world, as it was to start a taco stand – so why not change the world. They took off my Midwest blinders and introduced me to a world of infinite possibilities.
With each new podcast, my fantasyland became possible. I could build it. It could be done… and it could be done from Little Rock Arkansas.
As I committed to my journey and began building MeritBuilder.com, I found other Midwest entrepreneurial refugees. Over the last 12 months I have formed a new support group and they WILL meet me for coffee. I have not forgotten my old friends. We still get together every week and I listen and learn, but now I can share what I have learned with real people who actually talk back.
If you are thinking of going on this journey, find a support group. Chances are they are not the people around you. If they are sitting in the cubical next to you… they have already committed to a series of decisions you are trying to reject. They could not image it for themselves and chances are they won’t genuinely be able to imagine it for you.
Instead introduce yourself to a new group of friends. I recommend the guys/gals over at Stanford ETL. Your friends there have created a series of podcasts that are nothing short of inspirational. If you get started now, you can meet with them every night for the next few months.
Armed with a support group… begin to dream. This country was founded by a group of people who believed in a fantasyland, so you are in good company. If you are committed to your journey people will start to gravitate to you. You will form a new support group… a group of people who can meet for coffee and over a cup of Joe – change the world (or start a really great taco stand).
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