If you don’t want to read it, you can watch this video.
When you hear about creating a company, invariably you hear about creating an exit strategy. A lot of people plan to create something really quickly, then they want to move the hell on. That’s never really been my strategy. It’s not something I’ve thought about. I’ve thought about the next ten years and the next twenty years and how can I build something long-term.
I think many people are caught up in “ramp up itis” where you want to build something as quickly as possible then sell it or scale it and cash out on the IPO. There’s nothing wrong with that strategy. That’s just not the way I wanted to roll. I think it creates this mania of people who are comparing themselves to unicorns.
I’ve said this before. Most of us are not going to become billionaires. When I say that, people complain that I am not being encouraging and tell me, “You’re not taking care of the tribe. No. I’m taking care of the tribe. I’m telling you the fucking truth.
People are living longer. You see a lot of 80 and 90-year-old people around due to medical advances and the fact people are eating better. So, you’re going to be around for a long time. Why not put together a plan predicated on some sanity.
Are you trying to get rich fast to impress someone or are you trying to get rich fast because you don’t think you’re going to be around? Maybe, you don’t even know what you’re trying to do. What are you trying to do? What are you trying to accomplish? What are you trying to build? What are you trying to create?
I sat down and looked at my goals and my plans and I realized that my behavior contradicted what I was trying to achieve. I was pushing hard and trying to ramp up fast. I’ve never really been like that. I believe in working hard.
As I look back at my behavior and things I’ve said, I just want to ask you, what is your motivation for building a business. What is your motivation? I don’t want to work with anybody with this “Get Rich Quick” mentality.
It’s like working with a kid who wants a cookie. They see the cookies on the counter in the jar. They know the cookies are there. They’re like, “Why can’t I have a cookie?” I answer, “It’s not time to have a cookie.” The kid asks, “Why?” I answer, “Because it’s going to mess up your dinner.” Then when you turn your back, they go in there and get a cookie. Then later on when they’re crying with a belly ache, they asked, “Why didn’t you try to stop me?” Then I reply, “I did, but you didn’t listen.”
Here’s the truth. I’ve said this for years. You are going to be the sum of your daily activities. You’re not going to be the sum of what you did this weekend. You’re not going to be the sum of that one good week. You’re going to be the sum of your daily activities. There’s this book I’m reading that you should get. It’s called The Power of Habit. That book is in line with what I am doing and how I have lived. I wrote a post about it called, Fuck Willpower. Habits are better because habits define you.
If you apply yourself the right way, you are going to build your business. It’s not going to happen in a matter of weeks or months. It’s going to take a few years. That’s the sticking point for many people.
One of the things that I see is going to happen is that many people that have good jobs right now, they’re in trouble and they don’t know it. It’s not because they aren’t working hard or have bad skills sets. It’s happening because technology is pushing on the job market like never before. Many of the things I predicted have happened. I thought some of these things would happen eight or night years from now, but they’re already happening.
In other countries, they have robots that can serve food. That’s going to be a reality here because of the economic benefits to the people that own those companies. It’s just going to be insane. It’s coming. That’s the future.
Part of what contributes to your long-term success and durability is dedicating yourself to something that’s bigger than you. If your main goals are to get a new house and car, that’s really not a lot of motivation. It just really isn’t for me. I’ll speak for myself.
You need to write goals and projects and stuff that are so ambitious that when you write them down it scares you. If your goals don’t make you tremble, they’re too small. If it’s too small, you’re not going to get really far.
Typically, you do what you have to do and if you’re exceptional you do more. I just revised my goals because they were too small. I have five year, ten year, fifteen and twenty-year plans. I wrote down some shit that made me question whether I was insane. It scared me and it also motivated me.
The thing is, I don’t have to do this next month. I don’t have a board of directors to answer to so I can take the time I need.
Everybody is talking about how swamped YouTube is now. It is crowded if you count the mediocre and irrelevant content. There is plenty of room for high-quality evergreen content. So, YouTube is really not tapped out. It’s not even close.
Recently YouTube put out this article that they see great growth in the next decade. I’ll tell you why. You’re going to be able to do stuff on YouTube like you do on Netflix. There is going to be sponsored content and people who create shows. There is all of this wonderful stuff that is coming and if you are in that, “I’ve got to get it now” mindset, you won’t be positioned to take advantage of those future opportunities.
If you like this, be sure to get on my email list for updates to live streams and special offers. Subscribe today!