Entrepreneurship is a Deep Evolution

Entrepreneurship is a fancy word in today’s world. While many entrepreneurs have created a buzz with their awe-inspiring products and services, there are countless wannapreneurs who came with me-too ideas and vanished into thin air like they never existed. So what does it take to be an entrepreneur? What goes into the life of an entrepreneur?

In this blog, I would like to share few of my experiences I have come across on this entrepreneurial journey. Please feel free to agree or to disagree or to even share your valuable opinions.

Since my college days, I wanted to create something different which would add value to human lives. At that point of time, that “something” was not defined. Ideas pop in and pop out; there was no definite decision. I was not clear of what I really want. I had been involved in some businesses during a career break like selling meat and blankets. Those were like part-time jobs, just for the sake of survival. There was no passion and no purpose involved. But, these businesses had sort of taught me about networking with vendors and laborers.

My corporate jobs weren’t that interesting either. They were satisfactory but not interesting because my wants and purposes were different from the corporate job. It was like I wanted a pizza but got a sandwich instead. It took me over 2 years to plan and convince myself to step out of my comfort zone to pursue my long-held project.

As I set my foot into the crowded world of entrepreneurs, I was fortunate to be guided and mentored by Yuikan Shirik (Brand Expert and Founder of Brand Neurons). He told me about the mindset and attitude that could either make or break a person. Under his guidance, I have learnt that humans are limited only by their mindsets. And, whenever there is a true desire to achieve something, our mind begins to be more receptive and widens the borders around us. Our thought processes get aligned to that one particular goal. The brain neurons inject the need for urgency and the mental activity multiplies.

The startup journey is challenging, risky, interesting and addictive. I am new to the world of business but I am already observing a hell lot of changes in me. I am going through deep evolution processes – psychological, physical, social, emotional and economical.

Psychological Evolution

Family:

So I broke out the news to my parents that I had just quit my corporate job to start my own venture. This time, it was especially tough because I had earlier invested a chunk of money in a wrong business. Wrong, because it was beyond my moral ethics. I agree that it was a shitty decision in the first place. Well the problem is the money was borrowed from my parents, which I have not returned yet. There was chill in the air and I was nervous to the core. I was not sure what their reaction would be, since my parents are surviving on my dad's retirement fund. I was also afraid whether they would be able to trust me since my last business was in drain.

To my surprise, my parents were pretty cool about it. All they had said was, “you know better what you’re doing but how are you going to survive without a job in such an expensive metropolitan city?” The survival part was a puzzle even for me. I was numb for a moment but was able to murmur a not-so-convincing ‘don’t worry I will manage.’ Even before I could start my project, the psychological pressure was already weighing down on me. The sense of responsibility towards my family and old parents were fiddling with my brain and challenging my decision.

Fear of Success:

What and if I don’t succeed? What would people think of me? How will I face my friends and families if I don’t make it? The fear of success is probably the worst kind of psychological games we play with ourselves. It’s like a parasite – it won’t leave you, it won’t let you think clearly and you would be revolving around that very word ‘SUCCESS’ instead of focusing on the journey ahead. It’s like a whirlpool – it will pull all the negativity around you and try to pollute your thought processes.

It’s kind of funny thou in some ways. At times, you find looking at the mirror and talking to yourself – “this isn’t going anywhere, bro.” The reflection in the mirror would be saying, “This was your choice. Don’t pull me into this shit, bro.” Yeah! This is a one-way ticket. You know that nobody else would understand what you’re going through. So, sometimes the only person with whom you can share your problems is ‘YOU’.

I believe this is a part of the psychological evolution every entrepreneur has to go through. It’s like a training to equip ourselves for the impending WAR that knows no mercy. I have learnt that now I am bold, I am a bit more confident than I used to be, and I am less shy and more approachable. I am beginning to focus more on myself and less on what others have to say. I would be lying if I say that I am immune to others’ opinions but I am learning to filter out the unnecessary noises and that’s a big plus for me.

Entrepreneurship is a journey where if needed, you have to undertake the entire journey alone. There are no shortcuts or excuses. It’s a long and tedious journey where challenges arise from every nook and corner. The only solutions are to be strong and to be ready for the ultimate test (this is just a starter).

Follow this blog if you like this post and can relate it to your story. Stay tuned as I will be sharing the rest of the evolution processes of an entrepreneur. Any feedback is a welcome. We would also like to hear your side of story if you are an entrepreneur.