I've got a post in the queue about thankfulness, so I'll get to that momentarily (sometime today or tomorrow.)
In the meantime, let me unleash a little rage that's been building up inside of me.
No one has my back in this life.
I'm starting a business. When I hear things like "You don't have to quit your dayjob," or "That's great and everything, but it's always good to be secure," it's a backhanded compliment at best, and a strike at who I am at worst.
The only person who believed in me is gone now. My brother ryan once wrote me a letter that said something to the effect of "No one said I could do radio. I did it. No one said I could do sports TV. I did it. Everyone said there wasn't any money in MMA. I found it. You can do it if you want to. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." He also gave me a keepsake watch that says that to me every time I look at the time.
I'm doing it, and if it takes me closing my ears/eyes from all of my family and friends, I'll do it. I'm going to live my dreams. You can't stop me, so please try to be supportive and see the same vision I do. If I fail, what happens? I get another regular job. Stop pulling me down with your negativity. This isn't a little pet hobby project, it's my life. If you disrespect what I'm doing, it's disrespecting me directly. I'll still love you and everything, but you know, when you get torn down on things that are so close to your heart, you only stay open and take the punishment so much.
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No longer physically in NYC, only mentally.
2 comments:
Just speaking generally from one who has had a business and realizes that it is tied deep into the psyche: be wary of phrases like "No one has my back in this life."
Yes, it's your blog and you have every right to say what you damn well please. However, general blanket statements like the one above
a) are never true. Someone always has your back.
b) become self-fulfilling prophesies. By smacking at the people who do have your back (in a public forum no less), you're much more likely to end up alone. You isolate and irritate those rooting for your success.
Dude, having a vision is awesome. Go for it. Just realize that the people the hedge aren't hedging because they think you are a loser. They hedge because it's your dream and they can't feel it or see it or know the potential. If --a huge if --the dream lands you in failure and bankruptcy and misery, they don't want to have the responsibility of pushing you to that. And you shouldn't expect them too unless they have as much on the line as you do.
Take a breath, know that we care (at least I do), and work like hell (plus all the preachy stuff like pray, tithing, etc.) and you'll come out on top.
Oh contraire monfrair!
Randall, I have never doubted you for one second. I am in the unique position to know almost exactly how you feel. Accept of course I also have a wife 3 kids and a dog riding on my decision to follow my dreams and start my own business. Doubters, I have them but they don't really doubt me, most of them love me very much and don't want to see me and my family get hurt. They all mean well and I know it so I let it go.
It takes a certain kind of mentality to unemploy yourself and make a go of it on your own. I didn't come by it easily, but now that I've found it, I hope to never go back. I hope you never have to go back either.
I absolutely believe in you and your future plans. When you called me a few months ago and told me about Tech Check Daily, all I could think was, good for Randall, he's really going to make this thing work. Now I'm starting to see the fruits of your labor and I say good for you, keep it up. Your already paying for your hosting for goodness sake. I've been at it for two years and can't boast much more than that. These things take time and determination and most of all they take confidence. My dad used to say "Fear is of the Devil" and he was right. Fear does nothing but paralyze us and keep us from moving forward. Weather I'm moving up or down come hell or high water I will always be moving forward, and isn't that what life is all about. Keep it moving forward, I'll win some and loose some but I will not stop, and neither will you.
Be kind to those who worry about you. The people that really have your back are the ones that are going to catch you if you fall. That means they are always going to be a little skeptical when you show them the new taller ladder you just bought. Prove there worries unnecessary, but be grateful they are still worrying about you because that means that in the end, they really do have your back.
Joshua Aikens
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