What It Means To Be An Entrepreneur

I was sitting outside this morning doing my daily meditation when it hit me.

I realized why so few people were willing to do the work it takes to be an entrepreneur.

I mean, everyone knows they should be one.

Everyone knows that we can no longer expect a job to take care of us for the rest of our lives.

Everyone knows that their greatest life achievements aren't going to be between the hours they clock in and out.

But what holds us back from taking that leap?

I'll tell you what.

It's standing out.

It's being willing to self promote.

It's standing up and saying "look at me!"

It's also the reason why more people are afraid of public speaking than death itself.

It's because our whole lives, we're told to not stand out from the crowd.

As a kid, when you went out anywhere in public and acted out, you were shamed by your mom with a "stop that, everyone's looking at you. Don't draw attention to yourself."

At school, it was the ones who conformed the most who got straight As and never got in trouble.  The ones who questioned the system ("what will I ever use algebra for anyway?") were the trouble makers. (By the way, I still haven't used algebra since high school).

As adults, differing opinions alienates us from friends.  Deciding to go on a new exercise and diet routine only gains cynicism.  Trying new things breeds criticism.

You see, from childhood, we're conditioned that standing apart from the crowd is a bad thing.

We're told that if we're "different", that something is "wrong" with us and we need to be "fixed".

Yet its usually the ones who are radically different who make the biggest impact in the world and live the most fulfilled lives.

They're the ones who choose to take the path less traveled and follow what's in their hearts.

That's what it means to be an entrepreneur.

It means abandoning the fear of other people's opinions and be willing to stand up, stand apart, and say "this is what I'm doing and I don't care what you have to say about it".

It means abandoning our childhood conditioning that being different is wrong.

It means claiming your stake in the world and being the most authentic self you that you can be.

And it means shedding the layers of doubt and excuses and committing to becoming the grandest version of the greatest vision you hold for yourself.

Because the people around you who seem fearless are only fearless because they face their fears every single day.

They seem bold because they make bold choices every day.

They have high aspirations because their choices reflect their hopes and not their fears.

They only do work that excites them because they know that it's only when they're excited that their best work comes out.

If you're already an entrepreneur, then you live this every day.
If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, then its time to start living this every day.
If you're not an entrepreneur, why not?

(I hope that your answer isn't an excuse based off fear.  If the grandest version of the greatest vision you hold for yourself means working for someone else, then more power to you.  Just don't let fear be the reason you make your life choices.)

TODAY I CHALLENGE YOU:
To STOP listening to the opinions of those who aren't paying your bills.
TO STOP being afraid to stand out from the crowd.
To STOP making excuses for why you're not exactly where you want to be in life.

NO ONE IS STOPPING YOU BUT YOU.

START doing what's unpopular.

START being your true, authentic self.

START picturing what your ideal day, week, month, year, LIFE would look life if you faced your fears.

START creating a plan to get there.

AND DON'T FORGET TO LIKE/COMMENT/SHARE!

Mark Lopez blogs about leadership and personal development in order to strengthen his own leadership skills.  As a Christian, father, husband, and CEO of his own life, Mark looks to empower others so they can lead life by their own design.  To learn more about Mark, follow him on Facebook.