The Truth About Entrepreneurship

 My heart began to pound and a lump formed in my throat. I repeatedly refreshed the computer tab

 Zero sales.

 It had been 3 days since I launched my test product, and $150 worth of advertising proving no results.

 I became worried and anxiety consumed my body. I had to read a business book to distract myself from my concern. The moment I finished reading a page,

 Cha ching "You got a sale."

 I jumped out. Cussing with my fist in the air and pacing all around my room. All my doubts became silent.

 Still, I'm in negative profit...

Tasting The Stakes

 Until now, I had never truly experienced the realities of being an entrepreneur. I had always heard about the stress and long hours, not knowing if the work would pay off. My previous ventures, such as selling items in school, had always been profitable.

 But recently, I started a real online business, opening a Shopify store called jikori.com to sell electronics centered around audio and visual entertainment (although that might change soon). It took me a whole day to set up the store, creating the domain, designing the store, and crafting product descriptions and advertisements.

 Additionally, I was taking an online course to learn about these things and was told to expect some failures and that it would be a lot of trial and error.

 "Stress is the elixir of life," as one of my professors would say.

 Entrepreneurship can be seen as a game of stress management, which is why many people prefer to be workers, where there is less responsibility and stress. Workers know that if they work a certain number of hours, they will receive a certain amount of money. For an entrepreneur, however, the paycheck is uncertain. They do not know if their venture will be a success or a failure.

An entrepreneur must be both the master and slave of their emotions and actions. Acting out of fear clouds judgement, and uncertainty creates anxiety and stress, especially when it comes to finances.

Flipping The Script

 If you are just starting your entrepreneurial journey, you are in the process of learning. Spending $150 on ads may seem like a waste of money, but it's not. It's buying data. Data that can inform your next move and help you improve.

 From my first ad campaign, I learned that my copy could be better. I now aim to create more mystery and intrigue to capture users' attention. As long as you learn from your actions and experiences, it's not a waste.

 To make money, you need to take risks and invest money in your ideas. Don't be afraid to fail because failure humbles the ego and helps you have an objective view of things. I, for example, was emotionally invested in my first product and wanted it to succeed, but when it didn't, I moved on to the next one instead of pumping more money into a non-winning product.

 Putting your own money on the line and taking risks shows respect for yourself. What else would you spend that money on? Mistakes are meant to be learned from.

Loneliness

 Reflecting on my day, I realized the potential loneliness of entrepreneurship, especially if one is not surrounded by similarly-minded individuals. Reading Ryan's book "12 Months To One Million" reinforced this idea.

 It is likely that there will be a disparity between the goals and ambitions of oneself and childhood friends. While it is important to maintain relationships with those friends, it is crucial to separate from those who hinder progress and pursuit of success. Surrounding oneself with individuals who have a winning mindset and set of skills, regardless of financial success, is important for personal growth.

 However, not everyone in one's social circle may be suitable for the journey of self-improvement and entrepreneurship. It is necessary to carefully curate a team of like-minded individuals who share a common goal and can support and provide value to each other. Going on the journey together will not only make it less lonely, but also provide opportunities for collective growth and knowledge-sharing.

What About My Website And YouTube Channel?

It's important to keep in mind that content creation is a long-term investment. Consistent and quality content will help you build an audience that trusts and values your work. The low stakes in content creation also allow you to experiment and try new things, which can lead to new opportunities. As you grow your audience, you can monetize your content through advertisements, merchandise, or other revenue streams. However, always make sure you are providing value to your audience and not just trying to make money. Building a strong relationship with your audience is key to success in content creation.

Start Climbing The Mountain

 I expect more obstacles to face my way when climbing this mountain of mine. I have, still, so much to learn when it comes to being a money making machine.

 Entrepreneurship calls to me. I get to test myself and be continuously improving: something that I strive for. Challenges encourage adaptability and evolution. Starting and running businesses will test ones ability to push themselves from what they already believe of themselves.

 As Iman Gadzhi said,

"You don't have a business problem; you have a personal problem."

 All aspects of life affect each other. If you are an undisciplined individual, your lack of discipline will transfer to your work and business. The person we are, and the person we want to be, and what we do about it reflects huge amounts of character.

 If you desire a goal of being a millionaire, will you take the necessary actions to achieve such a goal?

 Dreams are just goals without a plan. You must establish systems to your work and productivity. You do not need motivation. All you need is to find a system of habits that you will execute regardless of how you feel. There is always work to be done. And there is so much to be learnt.

P.S.

 I've only recently bought my first fiction book, and that was Frank Herbert's Dune. I tend to focus on non-fiction because of the practical ideas embedded in them. However, I'm learning to read between the lines and learn lessons from stories. A quote from the book resonated about taking action and discipline, knowing I'm doing entrepreneurship.

“What has mood to do with it? You fight when the necessity arises—no matter the mood!"―Frank Herbert, Dune.