No one ever said being an entrepreneur was easy. Matter of fact, it’s one of the hardest paths to travel down in life. We don’t do it for how easy it is or isn’t, though. We become entrepreneurs via higher calling. Something inside us forces us to choose this way of life.
The entrepreneur life is not for everyone. You must face difficult situations that cause most entrepreneurs to quit, and overcome them, if you want to make it. Being it’s not for everyone, many people don’t and won’t understand why it is that you are doing what you do.
I’ve personally been on this journey as an entrepreneur/small business owner since 2010. There’s been dozens of times I wanted to quit, get a job, and be “normal” but something inside of me wouldn’t let the dream go. Much like you, I knew I had something special and I was willing to do whatever it takes to to make my dreams come true. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been totally worth it. All of it.
The most trying times, develop the best entrepreneurs. The world is littered with people who set out to accomplish their dreams and then quit at the first sign of adversity. There’s plenty of people who will tell you “I tried it and It doesn’t work.” Yet, at the same time, we see people on TV, magazines and the internet every day that DID make it.
3 Trying Situations That Cause Most Entrepreneurs To Quit
They’ve all said “It Won’t Work”
You’ve hit up every prospect you can think of and NONE of them got your vision. Some may have even told you that what you’re doing is a horrible idea. Most entrepreneurs are not salespeople. They struggle to make sales and communicate effectively. Not everyone has the ability to communicate and close sales.
In sales we are taught that every no gets you that much closer to a yes. As an entrepreneur sometimes being a salesman is overlooked. After all, everyone wishes they were an entrepreneur, but very few set out to be in sales. It’s a major part of the game though and cannot be avoided.
When I first started out doing social media management, before it was cool, people would say “you can’t make money from Facebook” and “get out of my office” on a regular basis. I did a speaking gig for a real estate company one time. The manager of the brokerage came up to me after and commenced to telling me everything I did wrong, and why I’d never see success. It almost broke me.
Here I was, starting out, doing all I could do, and this seemingly successful manager was telling me my dream was not ever gonna come through. I wanted to quit, but instead I used his negativity to fuel my energy and hunger for success. Never listen to people who say you can’t. Just because they have limiting beliefs doesn’t mean you have to. Here I am, 5 years later and I’d say there’s a lot of money to be made from social media and examples are everywhere.
The money is all gone
Most of us start out with little to no money. When I started Hardcore Closer LLC, I had to move in with my [then] in-laws. It was embarrassing. What’s worse is that I had to take a job too. That job required me to give up on being an entrepreneur from 8am to 9pm every Monday through Saturday. I didn’t let it stop me though. I worked after hours, I worked on my lunch break and I kept the dream alive while working for someone else.
I used the money from my 8-9 to fuel my dreams. I made the ultimate, embarrassing situations come true. Grown man living with in-laws, chasing an improbable dream working a real job. Even the people at the workplace teased me. It didn’t matter though. As soon as I made enough money to get back at it, I went right back to being a full time entrepreneur.
Don’t be afraid to do what needs to be done in order to keep money flowing in. You won’t realize how important a good credit score is until you no longer have one. No great reward ever came without great sacrifice. Don’t let that side income deter you from sticking with your dream either. It’s easy to get tired or comfortable and quit the entrepreneur life, but just don’t. It’s impossible to win if you quit.
When the money is all gone, do what you need to do to replenish it. Investors, more clients, find a partner or whatever it takes to keep the dream alive. As soon as you give up, the chances of the dream coming true are gone. Money is all over and if your dream is that good to you, someone out there will invest in you to make it come true.
Your spouse is telling you to throw the towel in
Like I said before, not everyone is cut out for this life. Often times that includes who we have chosen to do life with. My ex had a hard time dealing with the roller coaster life style. It was all good when I had to go without, but when it was her turn, she wasn’t having it. Sometimes the people closest to you can work the hardest to keep you down.
Not being able to give the people around you what they need sucks. Especially for us men, who are seen in society as the providers for our families. When the person who knows you the most is telling you it’s time to give up, it hurts. What’s worse, is many people give up on their dreams and then their spouse afterwards. It’s two colossal losses in one lifetime.
People change over time. Life can lead people down different paths. As crazy as it sounds, your dream is the most important thing in your life. Plenty of jobs will be there for you. Plenty of women/men will be there for you down the road. We only get one shot to make a dream come true. Don’t let anyone or any event keep you from making it happen.
Losing a spouse over a dream is tough. No one talks about it, but it happens a lot. Logically though, if the person you love the most is telling you to give up on your dream, is that really the person you should have aligned with? Here’s the key, keep doing what you know needs to do. Eventually you’ll see success, if your spouse makes it though – great. If they give up, you’ll always be able to find love elsewhere. Time heals all wounds.
The bottom line is this, if you’re facing adversity, you’re most likely doing something right. The universe tests us to see if we are worthy of what we are trying to earn. If you give up and quit, you get rewarded the award of a quitter. Oh but if you win it’s nice. I now have three cars, a motorcycle and live in the penthouse of one of, if not THE nicest building in downtown Dallas, Texas. And to think that just a few years ago I was homeless and going through divorce. The dream paid off and I found someone who was willing to chase it with me. Stick with it and you will too.
