Wed, 23 Dec 2009 5:04p.m.
In the process of writing up those resolutions for the coming year, perhaps you should consider taking a step towards realising that idea you’ve been harbouring.
This summer, make the time to pour yourself a glass of something nice, sit back, and consider the possibility of making this idea a reality.
It may be the next big thing, or perhaps you’re simply looking for a change in lifestyle and some financial freedom. And sometimes, all that’s needed is a simple nudge to motivate you to start.
Once you overcome that uncertainty, the excitement kicks in and your reward is an adventure that lies ahead.
The sheer thought of being an entrepreneur was one that never crossed my mind in the early years. I had ideas, but the perceived challenges that lay ahead seemed too difficult.
My nudge, believe it or not, came from a fortune-teller vending machine on a quiet Tuesday evening in Monterey, California. There it sat, off a boardwalk, looking decidedly lonely, bearing a suspicious similarity to the Zoltar machine in the 80’s Tom Hanks movie, ‘Big’.
Not being of the superstitious sort I nevertheless slipped a quarter in with some trepidation, and while thankfully I didn’t age by twenty years, out popped a card with a fortune on it. Let me share it with you.
It says, “Now is the time to start that new project you have been contemplating.
Your deliberation will pay off in the long run because doubt is the father of invention and the key to knowledge. This new-found industry pays debts, while if you despair, you will only increase them.”
“The time is right to get going. If you are to move the world, first you must move yourself. If you find yourself working too hard to achieve your goal, you may find basic truth.”
“The great person with vigour would demand the rightness of things, timeliness of action, and propriety of method. In this way, power does not become sheer force. You will be surprised at what you will accomplish.”
A few years on, and with the help of my co-founders, PocketSmith is becoming an increasing reality.
Over the coming year, we’ll be blogging on entrepreneurship and starting up, because we think New Zealand’s a great place to realise your ideas, and we’d love to share our tips, thoughts and experiences, and engage in a conversation with you.
We’re also big believers of community and collaboration - so once you’ve considered that possibility, share it with some friends and see what happens. The feedback might inspire you to take the next step.
Remember: the time is right to get going! Start by talking to someone these holidays, you will find confidantes, critics, advisors, and best of all - allies. And as the fortune goes - you will be surprised at what you will accomplish.
Be safe these holidays, we look forward to seeing you in the New Year!