Many thanks for sharing your encouragements. I agree with your points and relish in your common sense insights. For a while, I was following your blog and was motivated to pursue something on my own, but then the busyness of work and grad school got in the way. Honestly, they didn’t so much as get in my way as they more or less became convenient excuses; they were “practical reasons” to comfort the doubts I had about venturing beyond the gates of corporate dependence. However, I agree with you that doubt is normal, and IMHO necessary, but only insomuch as to provoke helpful/positive situational assessment: “What specific aspect of myself as it relates to this challenge am I doubting?” , “Why am I doubting?”, etc. In terms of external and internal doubts, I find myself repeatedly recalling the following quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt – “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”. Perhaps that is a good place to start.

We all hear that financial freedom is out there, but it is quite a climb over the high, steep walls of job security. However, this blog/site stands on top of that wall to remind us that freedom is possible. And Steve, thanks for shouting that truth so loudly, clearly, and honestly.

- BleuP.

Lisa’s story is a great example of this. She had a Fortune 500 job but was miserable. Her husband gave her a little nudge and now she has her own business and a career she LOVES.

Check it out here:
ahamoment.com/pg/moments/view/3434

I hope you enjoy it!

-Mike
mike@ahamoment.com

I will advise you to never get down because of what people say especially if they have and never will have a business . I would try and use their comments constructively to make changes.

There’s a saying “winners never quit and quitters never win” try to keep focused. Yes, at times it can be hard but that sometimes is the difference between winners and losers.

You’ve got some really practical and solid advice provided here. From my personal experience, I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to hang around with like-minded and supportive people. Negative people are as dangerous as the swine flu and they will suck all the life energy out of you like a vampire. They should be avoided at all costs, even if they’re your friends.

And I absolutely agree with your view in going back to school. Too many people are just too concerned about getting a paper qualification. They fail to realise that it is the knowledge that they should be pursuing, rather than a stupid piece of paper. I’ve learnt that many top CEOs in the UK don’t have a college education, but they’re still being put in charge of multimillion dollar businesses.

If anyone is familiar with The Apprentice, they should know that Donald Trump don’t hire based on paper qualifications. Even if you’re a college drop-out, but you’re able to show you have what it takes to be a great leader, you’re hired!

You mentioned, “Some of them may mean well, but you have to ask yourself whether they are the right people to be taking advice from.” This is also something I always tell people about. I always use the example, if you want to learn to swim, ask a swimmer, not a runner. If you want to start a business, ask an entrepreneur, not an employee.

Cheers~

Mark