I started. It only took 20 years. But I did it. Woohoo!
If only someone told me it was as simple as just getting started.
Oh yeah, they did. But let’s be honest, it’s really not that simple.
After all, I’ve wanted to become an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember.
Some glorify business because of money or fame, but I’ve always seen business as a game.
I’ve always played games and throughout my life, I’ve always had a competitive outlet.
Go Fish. Rummy. Euchre.
Chess. Checkers. Mancala.
Candyland. Battleship. Monopoly.
Volleyball. Softball. Basketball. Soccer.
Counterstrike. League of Legends. World of Warcraft.
But if you think about it… business is the most competitive game out there.
The rules are constantly changing.
There’s millions of legal and illegal cheat codes.
No matter what you’re doing, the game never stops.
Resources are limited and players of all ages are welcome.
People will tell you you’re valuable by paying you to solve their problems.
There’s no right way to do anything, yet an unlimited number of ways to do everything.
And although anyone can succeed, you have to be good enough for the market to validate you.
From my experience, there are three types of entrepreneurs.
The Arbitrager
As an Arbitrager, you sell stuff for more than you paid for them.
You don’t require a business since the products and services are already branded and sell themselves.
I’ve been an Arbitrager since childhood.
I started with selling candy to kids at recess.
It evolved to selling products on Craigslist, eBay, and Amazon.
Today, being an Arbitrager isn’t my primary business focus, but it’s still a hobby.
After all, I’ve always found it difficult to pass up a good deal 🙂
The Brander
As a Brander, you sell products and services using the voice of your brand.
You create a brand with a unique personality, typically behind a mascot or logo, that resonates with your target audience.
I’ve started and ran multiple businesses as a Brander.
As a teenager, I created websites and provided graphic design services as a freelancer.
As an adult, I’ve designed and manufactured custom journals that are primarily sold on Etsy.
The Creator
As a Creator, you sell products and services using your voice.
You create a business that has your unique personality and your audience resonates with you.
Not only do you own the business, you are the business.
There isn’t a separate brand, the brand is you.
Throughout this journey of learning, iterating, and adapting – I made one major observation.
I’ve wanted to become a Creator.
But something has been holding me back.
Yes, the Creator must have an understanding of business.
More importantly, they must have a deep understanding of themselves.
After all, their business is a direct reflection of who they are and what they believe in.
After I understood this, I realized the obstacles weren’t entrepreneurial, they were personal.
- Procrastination
- Perfectionism
- Confidence
Next, I’ll share how I struggled with each of these three obstacles and how I overcame each one.