"Running a Start-Up is Like Chewing Glass and Staring into the Abyss"
Many of you have probably heard this quote from the legend himself, Elon Musk. I couldn't agree more - running/building a company is one of the hardest things on earth (and beyond 😉 )!
“Running a start-up is like chewing glass and staring into the abyss. After a while, you stop staring, but the glass chewing never ends”. -Elon Musk
Many people don't know this about Elon, but his first big, successful venture was called Zip2 and it was one of the first online directories (imagine Yelp meets Google Maps).
While working/founding Zip2, Elon mainly focused on coding while he allowed outside investors/businessmen take over the business operations of the company. There were a lot of scuffles and in-house issues. Elon vyed for the CEO position, but was denied by the board.
Elon is said to have a very intense personality - a trait that is pretty much required when your job description is building rocket ships, electric cars, and solar roofs. Adopting an intense personality is necessary when you're operating any business. You have to be intense, you have to have an "all-in" mentality.
I'm a businessman first, writer second. Everything I do, I approach with the an all-or-nothing mindset. I don't do things halfway. I've had people who've wanted to work with me and co-found projects, but if I sense that they don't have this all-in mindset, I tell them that I'm not interested and get back to some real projects with people who I know will go the distance no matter what happens.
Whatever ventures you decide to tackle in life, whether it be starting a business or creating content on this amazing platform, I implore you to take the leap. Go all-in and take the approach that it's going to work no matter what happens. Life will inevitably throw a multitude of issues your way, but you just have to push past them and keep laser-focused on your goals.
If you're going to chew glass and stare into the abyss, enjoy what you do. Find people who are as excited and as committed as you are to the project. Don't let people tell you that it won't work. Musk was told countless times that his companies' were destined to fail. He ignored the haters and continued to work until his vision became his reality.
Thanks for reading! Here's the Question of The Day, don't forget to post your answers in the comments!
QOTD: What is the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome in business or in life? What did you do to overcome it?
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-Khaleel
I did leap and started my own catering business. I've struggled to make a living from it for many reasons - I have thought long and hard to figure out why. I have a great product and loyal customers but unfortunately have not had enough money or knowledge on how to market the business correctly. It has been difficult to scale the business appropriately. I'm recovering my investment but I am burnt out on how much physical labor is involved. It's a seasonal business so I have the winter to reflect on the past year and prepare myself for busy season. Thanks for your post, it is an inspiration.
Such a great, inspiring post @khaleelkazi! One of the hardest things I have had to overcome was a broken leg in China. Although it has almost nothing to do with business, the experience taught me a lot!
My biggest hurdle in life is my financial problem... i have a big loan from bank....am still struggling with my financial problems...i invested some money in cryptos.......and earning some dollars on steemit... i hope that it will solve my problems someday....Thanks for such an inspiration post.
The biggest hurdle I have encountered in life financial situation for my education, I couldn't get money to further school with my colleagues
I overcome them by taking up a part time job and a part time schooling, I never gave up.....i tried to work part-time job for some money to pay up and that is how I have been schooling till now
Paying for education is sadly a common hurdle for the majority of people who pursue it. Thanks for sharing your experience, and its great to hear that you really took charge of your own education and financing! That's the exact mindset I'm talking about in this post!
Thanks a lot....... I just hope I will be able to fight through it
Well as a Venezuelan, the general situation we're living today is the biggest hurdle for me. And no, I haven't overcame it yet but I'm working on it. I admire Elon too, this was a great motivational post.
Keep working at it and always keep in the back of your mind that the work you're putting in is what will define you for the rest of your life. The fact that you have to tackle this hurdle is what will make you stronger and more capable for greatness in the future! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank YOU for those words, I'm working hard everyday and lectures like this make me wake up early tomorrow to keep struggling.
Fantastic and inspirational post. For me the biggest hurdle has always been bringing what I consider my A game, A effort and A attitude to business to find that I am having to struggle with B players. I can be patient for a while but soon I either have to try to make changes in the structure/personnel or move on.
I am like Steve Jobs. A players only please!
Thank you! Well said. It's funny you mention the A Team because I was actually thinking of them while I was writing that part! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thanks very good post !!!!
Awesome Work!
Keep it up!!!
@cryptoinvestinfo
your CryptoInvestmentExpert
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If you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.. and if it's you staring back.. you smile back at that beautiful you smiling at you.
Lovely^^ You said it better than I could. I will leave the business quotes to you and stick with what seems "groovy" to me. "Chewing on glass" does have a ring to it though. We've all been there before when every bite cuts the upper lip, tongue and the roof of our mouth. When we try to swallow it hurts even more. The future is the abyss and nothing is bright and there is no morning star in a start up company.
I commend the founders of Steemit and the first bloggers for their blood sweat and tears. Just one blogger starting out can find it a full time job here. Investing just a little time to make some comments and putting up a couple posts a day cost a lot for me but this nothing compared to other ventures I have made. Becoming a father is like chewing glass and sending the kids to school is like looking into the abyss. I invested a lot in a liberal education preparing for a career in law or politics then after two years changed to natural sciences learning research techniques in molecular Biology. Finally I became an English teacher investing my time and creativity with kids in Korea for 20 years. Even if I was making 500 dollars a day on Steemit I would never leave my teaching job. The investment I put into teaching credentials and the investment into the kids cannot be compared. We are all really an individual start up company. If not then what are we doing?
Check out my next post on "I'm on vacation from my problems"