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ben johnson & co.

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are you selfish enough to be an entrepreneur?

6/30/2015

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Over the years I've had a fair amount of conversations with people who, in my opinion, swoon over the allure of entrepreneurship. You get to build a business from scratch, make something from nothing. Work anywhere, anytime. Be your own boss. It all sounds so great. But, when we discuss the downside, or perhaps the dark side, I see that those people haven’t even grasped the real meaning of entrepreneurship.

“I don’t know if I can take that sort of financial risk,” most people say. I often agree that maybe they’re entrepreneurial, not necessarily an entrepreneur. Sure, that’s a part of it, but at the end of the day, entrepreneurship is about convincing others to give you money. More or less, you need to be incredibly selfish if you want to succeed.

Did you know: When Steve Jobs and Woz made Breakout for Atari, they agreed they were going to split the pay 50-50. Atari gave Jobs $5000 to do the job. He told Wozniak he got $700 so Wozniak took home $350.

Are you willing to do that?

What if working any time of day actually means all day, everyday?

Are you willing to trade family time to be your own boss?

Are you willing to go to your friends, family, and network, and take what you need, or want?

If not, good. Save entrepreneurship for the selfish.
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Laziness, labour, and capital

6/29/2015

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One summer when I was 15, or possibly 13, when I was at my aunt's home in Montana I read her book on numerology. It told me my greatest weakness in life was laziness. I've been carrying that message with me ever since, like a record playing on loop in the back of my head. Add to that the industrious hard working nature of my family and I can feel downright terrible at times. 

But, when it comes to entrepreneurship, laziness is a virtue. Working hard isn't really rewarded very much anymore. My mom diligently served guests at her B&B for years earning pennies compared to the billionaire creators of Airbnb. She's retired now, but she'd have to keep working for another 16,000 years if she wanted to make that kind of coin. 

Selling our energy is a fools game now. Today's world trades in ideas, processes and dollars. It's okay to slow down and think like a capitalist while the others grind it out.

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the aesthlete

6/28/2015

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Today’s culture values beauty or more precisely -  looking good in others eyes - so much that we’ve damaged a sport I love, cycling. What on earth has possessed so many people to ride fixed gear bicycles with no breaks? These fools even ride without helmets! These individuals have put form over function, and it could have serious consequences.

How many times do we put form over function in our lives? Where we live, shop, go to school, go to work. What about our choice of friends or loved ones?
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oh, the places you'll go!

6/27/2015

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Excellence and rest go hand in hand. Every week needs a sabbath and every brain needs a sport, an adventure, a hobby.

After years of neglect I’ve been finding balance in dodgeball, cycling, audio and kindle books. I'm off to a dodgeball tournament today, and wanted to share this Dr. Seuss quote:

     Oh, the places you’ll go!
     There is fun to be done!
     There are points to be scored!
     There are games to be won.
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On starting a business fast and small

6/26/2015

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Intentions, ideas, and opportunities are great. But, without action, there is no new venture, no entrepreneurship. How many times have you looked at a product or service and thought, “hey I had that idea ages ago!” or, “I could’ve totally done that!”. You didn’t. They did. They took the initiative.

Starting a business is like growing a fire. Build a small fire first. Start spending money and taking risks. See where the wind’s blowing.

Don’t wait until you’ve frozen.
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