Life as an entrepreneur is that of a never ending cycle. Whether it is a new idea, venture, or cashout. An entrepreneur is the kind of person that doesn't stop. It is in our blood, and I think there are a lot of parallels to polymaths as well.

Although that isn't the topic today!

Ever since I was a young lad, roughly around 8 or 9, I had an entrepreneurial spirit. I wanted to have my own business so that I could make money, and then buy trading cards or games. What have you. In that line of thinking I could have easily found some sort of gig that was more akin to a job, such as lawn mowing or chores. However I chose differently. I wanted to be in control of it, and when I was ten years old I had my own business selling temporary tattoos.

The Everlasting Spirit of Entrepreneurship

Now that venture didn't last a long while, but it taught me some valuable lessons along the way. It also ignited that do it yourself spirit, that I still employ to this day. I didn't start out with the idea for this post, to talk about myself. However I felt that it would be prudent to the reader (you), to know where I am coming from.

Over the course of my life I have always held onto that spirit, and I have had it for as long as I can remember. I can even think about in school where I chose to do my own thing, instead of what I was told to, as I felt it would end up with a better result.

Being an opportunist by nature didn't help. Now while I do not think EVERY entrepreneur is an opportunist (hot take I know); I DO think that every Opportunist IS an entrepreneur.

Why Entrepreneurs Don’t Retire

This is to say that whether you are an opportunist, an entrepreneur, or both, that you shouldn't ever stop. I don't even think you could if you tried!

There are a few studies that go into the people around the world that live to be a 100 years old. While the studies are a bit mixed on whether or not they're biased, there is one point that I think stands true above all the grey. That each of the people lived a life full of pursuing their passions.

Particularly the Okinawans with their pursuit of their Ikigai.

Entrepreneurs, more than most people, tend to live within their Tao or their Ikigai. Whatever anchor belief you want to employ here. Regardless, it is about living within your realm of desire, and growth.

The Evolution of an Entrepreneur’s Role

Some entrepreneurs will default towards being more board related towards the later years of life. Being more of a guide, rather than the builder, but others still pursue the building process.

Akin to an artist painting a new masterpiece in old age.

I think either path is commendable, and either is still needed. The experience you get from failure after failure. Let alone success after success. Are not to be trifled with in the long run.

How Entrepreneurs Continue to Contribute

The entrepreneurs I think are the manifestation of frustrated generalists in the market. They were not able to fit into any boxes that corporations forced upon them, and even in this digital renaissance that is still the case for most companies.

Generalists are the ones who can wear all the hats you need in order to get a business off the ground. Fill in the gaps when you don't have the skilled employees.

Figuring out the solutions when there is no precedent.

Etc.

Balancing Work and Life as an Entrepreneur

This is a major weakness of a lot of self-driven people, that they forget there is a world around them to explore. People you need to stay in touch with (btw creating a CRM for people in your life is a great life hack!). Not to mention you DO have to stop and smell the roses every once in a while.

Finding the key to balance is a tough lock-safe to crack, but if you do then you will be a lot happier in life.

Embracing the Endless Journey of Entrepreneurship

Brace yourself because you have a LOT more life ahead of you. I don't care if you're 30 like me, or if you just turned 80. Keep in mind that you can be successful at any age in life.

What matters is that you don't quit, and that you don't stop pushing towards your goals. I might leave you with this detail about me. I personally have always sort of known where I wanted to go in life. I have this vision I can see almost vividly, from where I worked my way back step by step. I figured out a pathway to that vision.

Whether or not I make it in time for me to be old, or perhaps I get it done by middle age (hopefully)... but regardless I will get it done. I know that I'll be working non-stop into my old age because of it too!

Here is a quote that greatly inspired me to write this post:

I will answer one thing, which is an entrepreneur never really retires.

Occasionally you'll see people, you know, who have previously owned a business and then they've gotten into something else.

But if you ever meet somebody who truly has the entrepreneurial bug, you know, the version of an entrepreneur's retirement is I get to choose when I go to work and I get to choose what I'm going to do when I get there. So, so you know, that, that set aside the, the wisdom, I think I really want to key in on today is we're coming out of a global pandemic.

And, you know, I know there's a lot of business owners that are, you know, short of the subsidy and the PPP and the IDLs and some of the other gap closures.

We still lost more small businesses in the last 16 months than every ever in the history of our country. And you know, for me, I lament that greatly, but I also know that with, with every great challenge is a great opportunity. So if you're listening to this show today and you've got an idea, or you've got a passion or you believe in entrepreneurship and you're, you're going to start a business now, I think there's a right time to do such.

-Rob Braiman