But I’ve noticed people also wonder how I can start a viable business when I’m only 22. Sometimes I feel like countering: “What the hell were you doing when you were 22??” This kind of attitude does piss me off even though most people mean well. First of all, if you go to the coasts, a shitload of startups are led by people around my age. That’s what this whole thing is supposed to be about. Why not start a business now? The earlier the better. Why wait for financial freedom? Why wait on anything you want to do, for that matter?

I read something in Business Week that said most entrepreneurs rated previous experience as one of the most important factors in their success. Of course experience is important, but without intelligence and passion, you aren’t going anywhere. Plus, I don’t have to unlearn all of these bad habits people seem to pick up in the corporate world, like expecting a paycheck or security. I’m only kind of kidding on that one. I think the willingness to learn and the drive to see it through is what you need in any endeavor. And that will ensure you pick up the right experiences.

Happy New Year Everyone. I’m here in Germany and wishing you all a wonderful time as you age into the next year. :)

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So when I asked myself exactly what it is I wanted to do, I decided to rid myself of all distractions, hunker down, and focus on the one thing that would allow all my other goals to follow. For me, it was starting a business. And eventually not being dependent on a paycheck, which is a catalyst for most of the other things I’d love to do.

Starting a business is the one thing that I’ve chosen to focus on right now. There are tons of other things I would love to be learning and doing right now, but I’ve found that most of them are simply distractions and slow me down. Because multitasking is the art of screwing up several things at once. Multitasking isn’t just about putting the email away, it’s about learning how not to be overwhelmed and knowing where to start.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my social life and its current non-existence lately. Right now going out feels like a kind of multitasking to me, and that absolutely destroys productivity. It takes your focus away. When I get going on something, it’s better when I don’t stop till it’s done. I’ve never been good at “balance”. But focus is what’s more effective than balance when it comes to getting things going. Focus is what moves you forward. Balance keeps you in the same place.

Don’t get me wrong, (going out and) meeting people is very important to me. Talking to people who are important to you keeps you grounded, and meeting new people often inspires you and takes you in new directions. But if you’re not in a position to take advantage of these new opportunities, if you’re just going out boozing because you had a bad week at work as usual, then you’re not in a position to capitalize on any of this. You’re not in the right place. There’s a time for everything.

And hey, I’m not saying you shouldn’t talk to people. Teamwork is essential. It allows you to blame someone else when something goes wrong…

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Something completely useless I read recently was from a “handbook” on starting your own business. Apparently this book was a bestseller. I kept having to check the date it was published (2007), because it sounded like it was written 15 years ago. The author talks about websites as an afterthought, seeming to think that the only function they have is to list information about your company. No mention of social networking or all of the great marketing techniques cash-strapped startups can use. The problem this book had (and many others like it) was that it was trying to cater to everyone and no one, and it ends up just recommending the “safe” or standard path of starting a business.

On image, the author writes:

“Fortunately, just because you are a startup company does not mean you have to look like one. Your logo, business card, signage, and style are all part of a cohesive image program known as corporate identity. And with the right corporate identity, your company can appear highly professional and give the impression of having been in business for years.”

Something is really wrong with this statement.  I’m not talking about the phrase “cohesive image program”, which sounds like something out of a Cold War Spy novel. I’m talking about the idea that you’re required to look like you’ve “been in business for years”. It seems to be saying that if you give the impression that you know what you’re doing, you can sucker people into sales, or that you can get your foot in the door without paying your dues. I don’t dispute the fact that image is vital, perhaps one of the most important things. Life is a selling job. I also firmly believe in good manners and the like. What I don’t believe in is pretending to be something you’re not. Your business will be successful because you’ve sought out new solutions, not because you pretend like you’ve been in the business for 15 years.

Of course image is important, but it comes as a byproduct of doing what you’re supposed to be doing, developing a viable business. Focusing on “corporate image” and pretty brochures is a filler, distracts you and makes you feel like you’re accomplishing something when you really should be focusing on coming up with a kick-ass new idea that will change the world. Pretty brochures and firm handshakes have their place, but if that’s the sole basis of your business strategy, you’re in trouble. By focusing on “corporate image”, you’re also becoming a lemming, which is exactly what starting a business is NOT about. You’re so focused on following formulas that you can miss opportunities right in front of you. These days, starting a business is about so much more than just “corporations”, doing an mba, or the sole goal of making money.

The author continues:

“Any events or causes you participate in should be in keeping with your business image. If your company is in a fun, creative industry…you can get zany and silly with events like balloon popping or pot-bellied pig races. On the other hand, if you’re in a serious industry like medical transcription or accounting, it makes more sense to take part in more serious events like a 10k walk.”

I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried. Again, there’s something seriously wrong with this statement. It’s funny (what, accountants aren’t allowed to attend balloon popping parties?), but more to the point, the businesses of doctors and accountants certainly wouldn’t be harmed by trying to be more fun. I’m guessing that the doctor who manages to make root canals fun will be a very rich man. Point is, business is about being creative and original. By asking “does my industry allow for creative flair?”, you’re missing the point. Business is supposed to be about creative flair. You’re creating something new and setting yourself apart. THAT’S how you get sales, not because of your polished image. Of course a polished image helps and is necessary, but that’s like saying you should bathe if you want to have friends. If you didn’t know that, you really need more help than a book on “business” can give you.

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The world’s a different place than when Richard Branson first started selling records out of the back of his car, and the internet is a large part of that. But when it comes down to it, you still need people to help you get where you want to go. I tried for a year to get my photography website up, sitting there trying to learn html like some OCD-addled idiot, and not getting anywhere. Then I met mike and he cranked out my website in 3 days. We sat next to each other passing ideas back and forth and somehow it always ended up being 5 am when we were at our creative best.

We had fun, most of all. And those are the kind of connections you need. That’s the networking that’s important to me: finding someone to work with who brings out the humor, the fun, and the daring in you. I’m talking about those people you can talk to and get excited with, about ideas and more. They just make you feel right. Mike is passionate and raw (loud and blunt, most people would say). He’s emotional and can infect you with his energy. Combining our strengths, we get stuff done. And it feels good to be working on stuff that you’re excited about.

Sometimes it’s hard to connect with people. Maybe it’s the culture, that coffee shop, your mood. But sometimes there are those that just draw you to them, they have that energy that leaves some left over for you. The Economist article goes on to mention that the mba today is teaching people how to harness the innovative resources that should be present in every thriving business. That means “creating an environment which encourages new ideas and approaches“. Right now, for me, that means meeting and connecting and creating with as many interesting people as I can find.

Problem is, most encounters leave me frustrated. Most people disappoint when you take a closer look. They’re only healthy in small doses. They’re all fire and color when they pass you at 50 mph but then when you chase them down, question them, try to dig deeper, there seems to be nothing there. They laugh and take swipes at those who put their heart out there and really push themselves by not being afraid to question and make fools of themselves.

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I was in one of those moods where I wanted to sail away into the unknown and and dance in a dark forest and forget everything. I needed to get away. Find out what questions I should be asking. Distract myself with fantastic scenery and wild dreams. See, I wanted to be like Max, who stares into their eyes without blinking and becomes king of the wild things.

There are people like that. They live in a rich world of their own creation. They’re not escapists, the exact opposite, they’re powerful, because in end, we’re all responsible for creating our own lives.

It’s rare to find that person who’s truly happy with the way his life is going and who commands his own ship. We all need those kind of people, and they’re the ones who hold up under questioning, who are happy to help us find our way because they have more than enough left over to give. They may not know exactly where their own ship is heading, but they’ve got that glint in their eye and can stare any monster straight in the face. They can reveal a little about themselves because they know there’s always plenty more where that came from.

What is that magic ingredient that these people have? It’s not just confidence, it’s security. Very often it’s the self made people that command their own source of income that can take that next step in life because they know they want to, not for any other temporary reason like fame or prestige or money. Sure, those things can be fun, but its more fun when they’re the byproduct of doing the things you really love.

The people you know and the things you do shape you. There are those that make you feel small, and there are those that bring the humor, the fun, and the daring out in you. How do you meet these people? I’m not talking about networking. I’m talking about those people you can talk to and get excited with, not just about ideas. They just make you feel right. They don’t just meet you on an intellectual level, you can grab their heart and feel it too. They’re intensely emotional, but they understand their emotions and can get you excited too. There’s not many of those people around, and it gets pretty damn lonely sometimes. Because we all want to feel inspired. Passion and inspiration are closely related.

Did I just need a vacation? Should I grow a forest in my bedroom and sail away until I’m calm again? Maybe.  But I think it’s a hell of a lot nicer to make that journey with people you love.

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People snap.  They dump it all, they go to Hollywood to discover themselves, they get a job, they become a bum or go to grad school.

It’s why no one does it, its why morons can become rich just cause they tried longer.

It’s why people are drawn to positions or titles of empowerment.  CEO, Doctor, PHD.  We feel they found the secret.  We want to be close to it.  Absorb it.  Learn by it.  More often than not its nothing but a well constructed veil of attitude, arrogance and false self entitlement.

I went to a Entrepreneur meeting, the purpose to bring investors and inventors together.  40 inventors.  1 investor.

The inventors all danced in front of the camera, the investor sat in the rear with arms crossed, look of old time wisdom across his face.  The look of blue bloods judging a prize horse.  All was needed was a pipe and a “pip pip bravo” coming out his mouth.

Turns out the investor was a retired businessman with a need for power but no means to attain it.  He’d been around for years, so the organizers snapped him up to be their one investor.  Even 40 inventors, dorky as they were, might not buy “This show will be seen by thousands of investors on the Internet!”.

And the drudgery of going to all this stuff.  Meetings and consultants cramming business cards in your hand going “I got what you need!  I can fix all your problems!”.  Why not ask me if I need anything at all!.

The out of work consultants are the worse.  I went to a chamber of commerce lunch meeting…my last.  Sat at whats called “The round table”…just round tables that people sit at.  Some speech by the president of the chamber on why were so much better than New York..blah blah blah.

When we did the “round table” speech and introduced ourselves, I said what I did and 9 cards flew at me.

I thought I was in some trick magic show where the goal was “who can slide the card the fastest and make it appear on top of the others before the others do”.

I’m like…uh…no…I can’t afford 2 lawyers, 3 business consultants, 1 accountant, and a weekend clown for children’s birthdays…pony included.

The reasons this happens is I supply a product.  They support the product. Like vultures on carrion…Kaww…Kaww…moneeeyyyyyyy!!

My suggestion, lie.  Say your a window washer…a bad one.  Broke your arm once falling 2 feet up off a basement window.  They will stare at you…blink…then look at the next guy and lick their lips.

This is one reason why people give up.  It’s why they quit.  No ones clean.  Can’t tell who from what.

It’s easier to sit in a cube, sip a latte, tap on a key or two, look at the clock.  Once or twice a day have your boss come over and shove a list at you saying.  Do this, do that.  You got what I need yet.  You lie, perhaps have it ready, perhaps shit yourself.  But then the bell rings and you go home.  No meetings to attend.  No pocket full of white hard little cards screaming “Do you remember me!!  I was that guy with the suit, I was that girl in the hat with the pin”.

The world is filled with morons my friends.  Two bit Presidents.  Two bit PHD’s.  Two bit Doctors.  All passing themselves off as the truth, the real deal. They wear it well.  They push it hard, yet might not appear pushy.

Seeing past them is no easy trick.  So be wary.  If your gonna work with these people, you have to gain a thick skin till you meet one of them who’s worth their weight.

Dark I know.  But sometimes this game just feels dark.

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