Some may call it being extra stubborn...
Others may call it 'good luck'...
Whatever you want to label it there is something to be said about staying the course. I'm calling this blog post the 'secret art of sticktoitiveness' and want to share with you a few stories from my journey so far in life and specifically on Steemit...
I got started trying to make money online almost 20 years ago. Simply put, I'm a horrible employee. I had to work for myself but had no idea exactly what I would do for a living.
I stumbled.
I failed big time.
I went in huge debt.
But when I finally found my calling, it was game on.
Here's a few of the things I went through while trying to build my business online so many years ago.
I was homeless for a bit and ended up sleeping in subway cars to stay warm. My 'at home life' wasn't too great and there were nights I had to spend away from home to not only protect myself but my family as well.
During those times in my life, when I didn't have a place to call home I was scrounging the money I could find to buy 'time' at the local internet cafes. Building my businesses, no matter what.
I was told my the people closest to me, that I should give up and my dreams of working from home and online was nothing more than a dream and I would never amount to anything. Extra special to hear that from family.
My first son was born and while building my business I had to take a full time job making pizzas to provide. I had to do it even though I SUCKED at working for others, I remained focused. All while still building my business during my off time.
And those are just a few things I went though in the first 2-3 years of building my business online.
"Cry me a river Jon! Everyone goes through things...It's called life!"
I hear that and completely agree. I'm nothing special and loads of people had it and still have it much harder than me.
Here's my point in describing my early entrepreneurial life....I could have given up.....
I could have listened to the nay sayers. I could have given up and worked for someone else. And I don't think anyone would have blamed me...But I was stubborn about it. I could NOT work for anyone else...I had to build something of my own.
Fast forward....To Steemit.
I joined in December 2017 when the world was on FIRE for crypto. All time highs, massive money being made and the opportunity was right in front of us all. And then, the first quarter of 2018 happened...
The markets crashed
STEEM and SBD went from all time highs down to around $1.50 each.
FUD was common place everywhere you turned
I noticed a few people that I first started to follow when I got started in Steemit, literally disappear overnight. Steemians that used to post each and every day, gave up to never be heard from since...
But there was something inside of me telling me not to quit. And now was the time to keep on, keeping on!
And here we are....Will Steem go back down? Maybe. Will it hit $10 or higher this year? Maybe.
But when I have a plan I will stick to it and keep fighting. So forcasting and analysis be damned....I'm here for the long run.
The big take away?
If you've read this far you might be waiting for a big 'ah ha' moment and I'm going to try to lay it out for you here...
Entrepreneurial Fact #789: Your competition will give up!
The majority of people that are trying to build a name for themselves on Steemit and in other online businesses will give up if there is a bump in the road. If things aren't smooth, they fold they hands and walk away.
Embrace that! Anticipate it! And welcome it! It makes it easier for you to stick out from the crowd and get noticed as someone who MAY be considered stubborn...But I like to think of it as...Dedicated lol
There is a reason so many people fail at starting an online business or develop a personal brand and that is because it takes actual work. And things won't always be rosy so it's your job to remember the bigger picture and stay the course.
Seriously, write that down and post it in front of your computer to remind yourself every single day!
I literally have that printed out and stuck around my house to remind myself to never give up...Staying the course is still one of the best business plans around!
It's not easy now, but the more you stick with it, the path becomes a lot more rewarding....
Walking the path less travelled is lonely. So tempting to pack it in and "follow/(rejoin) the crowd" but you do right to stay the course. Tis just the beginning ;)
I agree....It does become very lonely. But so worth it looking back :)
Love the title :)
And of course, while I've heard your story before, it always seems like the perfect example for this "simple, but not easy" strategy, as Brian Tracy would put it. The "not easy" part is why so many people give up... eventually.
Thanks man. Yeah it's supposed to be hard. And if it wasn't everyone would be in business for themselves. There is a reason entrepreneurs are cut from a different cloth...I maintain it's stubbornness LOL
That's a solid story, Jon. Congratulations on your success here and I wish you much more. And thanks for the reminder to stick to it. I've got a few projects I've invested lots of time and money in that need to be completed.
For sure, appreciate the comments. Yeah that's the trick right, finding a time and place for all our passions and projects.
Great example Jon. I think Steemit can be a micro view of that very thing. Lots of people give up on this platform because they don't make anything right away, or put in the "work" required to do well on it.
It takes some time and a little but of effort. It doesn't have to be all consuming.
Oh for sure man. I followed a bunch of people when I first joined Steemit and while there are a bunch that are still active, the majority aren't...And even a few of the people I referred to Steemit, came, made two posts and disappeared...
I agree, nobody ever got anywhere by quiting "Staying the Course" is following your dreams and passion, hardship is something I think most of us face or have faced and overcome, I've failed many times (but never gave up) I think it's the determination and passion which excites us and keeps us pushing on, even when things don't seem to be going that well. Great post.
Appreciate it man. Yeah dude, some may call it being stubborn and I'm ok with that. LOL If I fail, I just need to remind myself that being an entrepreneur means failing multiple times and picking yourself back up. Changing your plan and keep moving forward!
You're right, everybody faces challenges. The difference is some overcome them, others succumb TO them.
Some paths on the journey are much more difficult than others, but you have to walk each one to move forward. Only taking the 'easy' ones means you never see the true potential of what you can accomplish.
Great post, Jon! Keep rocking it! :)
Thank you sir. Appreciate it.
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