I was recently asked about entrepreneurialism and how to start a business. I get asked this all the time…or people ask for help and advice, and I enjoy the conversations with the budding or experienced entrepreneur. The conversations also benefit me, as I can interpret the feedback I am receiving from my advice. One interesting experience was I had a gentleman reach out to me about a business he was starting. He came to my office and we chatted, and I offered him a piece of advice that was said in a joking manner, but I was serious about. A few months later we caught up and, in the conversation, he said, “I totally was thinking about you recently as the thing you said would happen totally happened…” I bring this example not to make believe that I have some predictability, rather, to elucidate a point. The point is about advice. Take it or leave it. Entrepreneurs usually take it, but don’t listen…that’s what makes them entrepreneurs. We don’t like to believe the advice people are giving us. Often times it is advice delivered from a high horse. Or the advice is true, and the entrepreneur doesn’t believe what is being said as they have hope, energy, and invigoration about the business they are embarking on.
The story above allowed for the person to learn from their mistakes, and that’s what the entrepreneur wants to do above all. Make mistakes, learn, grow, make mistakes, learn, grow ad infinitum, or until some point where the entrepreneur becomes “comfortable” or has to stop. The mistakes they want to make are their own, even when people are constantly telling them why a decision may be bad for them. The entrepreneur listens to their advice but doesn’t necessarily heed the advice. The entrepreneur is an “askhole” (asks advice but doesn’t listen) in some ways. But the information provided is usually very valuable, as the advice that is given often sits in the mind of the entrepreneur and is evaluated and poured over and heeded or disregarded- but nonetheless adapted in some way. Through thinking about an idea- even rejecting an idea is in a weird way listening to it- because in your mind you will be using a variable that you don’t necessarily agree with as part of your decision making.
Getting to the concert is just my phrase on getting to where you need to go – with the ultimate goal of enjoying the outcome- the concert. If you will get there, you will have taken into account advice, or not, but the outcome nonetheless is hopefully the same, enjoying the concert.