As an entrepreneur, we all dream of the day when we’re able to quit our jobs and be out on our own. For a lot of people the main thing that deters them from venturing out on their own is their fear. As Tim Ferriss says “uncertainty and the prospect of failure can be very scary noises in the shadows. Most people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty.” This is a hard lesson for people to deal with and the majority of them are scared to take the first major step.
Most people who avoid quitting their jobs do so by convincing themselves that their jobs aren’t that bad ; that things could be worse and that their situation is likely to improve if they get a raise. This clever rationalization will work if you’re in a mediocre or lackluster job. Only when you absolutely HATE your situation, will most people force themselves to make a real change in their life.
Stop making excuses
As Napoleon Hill stated, people who do not succeed all have one trait in common. They have alibis to explain their lack of achievement. Some of the most popular alibis people have are…
- If only I didnt have a wife and family…
- If only I had enough pull…
- If only I had money…
- If only I had a good education…
- If only I had good health…
- If only I could get a job….
- If only times were better…
- If only the conditions were better…
- If only I were younger….
There’s always a hundred reasons not to do something. It’s easy to get sucked in by excuses and the comfort of your current job. But look at the long term benefits of branching out on your own. Your success will depend on you. You have the opportunity to increase your happiness, your income and your free time all based on your own work ethic. That’s probably much better than your current situation
As Seth Godin so perfectly stated, “The best time to start was last year. The second best time to start is right now” If one of your goals is to run your own business, get a plan in place and take action now. For real…. now!
Bonus motivation – Sly Stallone’s story which inspired the movie Rocky as told by Tony Robbins….
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Well said, too many people delay their dreams. At some point you just have to say is enough is enough and start working towards them.
Hi Justin,
I like to keep up with your blog as I’m an aspiring affiliate to reach the level of success you’ve currently achieved. I’m quite confident you are going to be even more successful with it as you have the right mindset. I was just wondering if you could give me a few comments on my site, http://interacpoker.blogspot.com , Will it ever show up on google or do I need my own domain?
Hey Shane,
You’re fine with using a blogspot domain. Some of the best poker blogs out there are on a blogspot domain. Once it gets bigger and you are making money, you can always transfer it over to your own domain.
Build some links, great content and develop some relationships with other bloggers….
If anyone hasn’t read the “4 hour work week” by Timothy Ferriss I suggest you do so now. Justin recommended that book to me months ago and I have probably read it 5 times already.
Hey Justin,
You’re so spot on! I have 24 days to go until I start working as a part time affiliate myself. I have 6 months to build a buffer big enough to convince everybody around me that working as an affiliate is what I have told them all the time. My situation is a bit different than yours, since I have a family to support and a mortgage to pay, but things have been going really great lately – so with more time I am positive it can’t go wrong! If it was up to me I would have made the switch way back, but I am happy to do it anyway, referring to the Seth Godin quote in your article!
Peace,
Giorgio
PS: I think it’s about time to start reading the “4 hour work week”, as I have seen more people suggesting it.