Entrepreneurship is a ton of trial and error. Last week, I met a serial entrepreneur and he summed it up really neatly - "A successful entrepreneur is by definition a summation of failures". It got me thinking of a couple of questions.
1) Are entrepreneurs those who've failed a lot?
2) How do you recover quickly from a failure?
3) What allows the entrepreneur to take such huge risks?
4) Do some entrepreneurs strike it lucky and succeed early because of the right timing?
These were just a couple of questions that raced through my mind. Some of which I knew how to answer. What got me thinking more is (2). How do you recover quickly from a failure? Entrepreneurs can have extremely good news and feels like they are on top of the world but only later that evening realize that the company is in deep trouble and might go bankrupt in the next month. It's not a game for everyone. It surfaces the full spectrum of human emotions.
And it got me thinking more. Just this afternoon, I watched a video about Usain Bolt and it struck me when the Usain's coach said, "Usain's unique quality is that he can recover from failure really quickly". He displayed his ability to recover quickly in the 2011 World Championships when he false started the 100m race and was disqualified but went on to emerge triumphant in the 200m race 6 days later.
(Do watch his video if you have the time. It's inspiring.)
But I am dead sure it can't be nature. Your brain can be wired a certain way when you are born but with will, you can change it. The right attitude was the key.
Aha! Epiphany!
That was it!
Attitude was the answer. Having the right attitude to approach failure prepared you for it and allowed you to get over it quickly so that you can move on the success. Remember, success is sitting ahead and not behind the failure.
Take failures with a pinch of salt, understand and learn the mistakes you made, move on with stronger force (since now you are smarter after your failure).
And I decided to come up with my own definition of successful entrepreneurship. In fact, not just entrepreneurship, but success in life in general.
Navjyot Singh Sidhu tells a story about Sachin Tendulkar and illustrates Sachin's determination with an example:
1) Are entrepreneurs those who've failed a lot?
2) How do you recover quickly from a failure?
3) What allows the entrepreneur to take such huge risks?
4) Do some entrepreneurs strike it lucky and succeed early because of the right timing?
These were just a couple of questions that raced through my mind. Some of which I knew how to answer. What got me thinking more is (2). How do you recover quickly from a failure? Entrepreneurs can have extremely good news and feels like they are on top of the world but only later that evening realize that the company is in deep trouble and might go bankrupt in the next month. It's not a game for everyone. It surfaces the full spectrum of human emotions.
And it got me thinking more. Just this afternoon, I watched a video about Usain Bolt and it struck me when the Usain's coach said, "Usain's unique quality is that he can recover from failure really quickly". He displayed his ability to recover quickly in the 2011 World Championships when he false started the 100m race and was disqualified but went on to emerge triumphant in the 200m race 6 days later.
(Do watch his video if you have the time. It's inspiring.)
His incredible ability led me to think if risk-takers/entrepreneurs are wired differently. And the classic problem of nature vs nurture emerged in my head again.
But I am dead sure it can't be nature. Your brain can be wired a certain way when you are born but with will, you can change it. The right attitude was the key.
Aha! Epiphany!
That was it!
Attitude was the answer. Having the right attitude to approach failure prepared you for it and allowed you to get over it quickly so that you can move on the success. Remember, success is sitting ahead and not behind the failure.
Take failures with a pinch of salt, understand and learn the mistakes you made, move on with stronger force (since now you are smarter after your failure).
And I decided to come up with my own definition of successful entrepreneurship. In fact, not just entrepreneurship, but success in life in general.
Navjyot Singh Sidhu tells a story about Sachin Tendulkar and illustrates Sachin's determination with an example:
So the name of the game is: Persistance.
"Practice on days you want to. Practice on days you don't want to". This motto and and attitude is deadly because it is statement that you will never give up and will get what you want no matter what it takes.
What are you thoughts about it?
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