Edit: 8/24/16 a version of this post now lives on Steemit
Demonstrate an entitlement attitude.
That is the quickest way to frustrate an entrepreneur.
Every successful entrepreneur I've ever met believes nothing is owed to them. They believe in personal responsibility and making things happen. They believe an idea, hard work and perseverance can accomplish anything and, more importantly, nothing can stop them. They believe everything it takes to succeed is already in their hands or they are actively executing a plan to obtain whatever is missing.
They don't believe in hand outs.
They will not let themselves be victimized.
They don't make excuses.
They don't feel entitled to anything by anyone.
But what about the entitlement mentality of the "kids these days?" I know, I know, that sounds like a question our parents would have asked... But it is worth talking about. Are we becoming more and more entitled as a country? What will that do to our culture in the generations to come?
I feel like we need frontiersman training. Buy an ax, a gun and find some wilderness. Now go build a home and provide for your family. That's part of the foundational thinking of this country and I'm afraid we're losing it. We are a nation of innovators, but we'll only stay that way if we train ourselves to drop the entitlement mentality and go build something.
What are you building?
Are you waiting for something and if so, why?
17 comments:
I'm building my blog and leadership brand. An entitlement attitude only holds a person back from success. It also causes division and frustration. Great post.
Thanks Dan!
I live in a condo and the lack of a workshop to work in is driving me crazy! My wife has a sewing machine that I just fixed and I'm going to start making bow ties. Hopefully that will satisfy that need to do something with my hands.
Great post. We have turned from a nation of producers to consumers.
Thanks Kasey! I love this: "the need to do something..." I wonder if that's the crux of the issue right there. Are we losing the need to "do something" that brings value to others?
I'm loving the bow tie idea, please let me know how it goes. :)
Ha. This explains a lot! Our culture is definitely in need!
Yes!! Thank you for this timely post! I resonated with your statement "I feel like we need frontiersman training". I'm stuck in that middle ground beteen employee and entrepreneur, with a few puzzle pieces mising before I can go solo full time. Theinbetween stage is so unsettling I'm about ready to go Thoreau style until I can figure out the rest.
Thanks Lindsey! Have you read Jon Acuff's Quitter? It's a must read for anyone in your position. You might be interested in my "Quitter story" also. It's the "Leaving the best job I'll ever have" post. I hope you get a chance to read or listen to Quitter, it's great stuff.
I'll be sure to check out both. I've really enjoyed your blog, BTW. Thanks Luke!
Thank you! I wouldn't spend time on it if others didn't enjoy it so thank you for the encouragement.
It certainly is. Want to help me change it? I think we can if we each live our life on purpose and encourage others to do the same.
Thanks Luke! I'm not completely finished but the first bow tie is almost there: http://tinyurl.com/6w4ql9u
Nice! If you ever start selling them beyond just PayPal buy now buttons, I know a guy who has an ecommerce platform you might be interested in. ;-)
Haha! I'll keep that in mind :D
This is so true. A few months ago, I realized my sense of entitlement was holding me back. I'm working on deprogramming it. I'm glad I did a lot of camping and hiking when I was younger. Physical tests are a great way to learn humility and persistence.
Thanks, Ryan. That's such a great point. I only recently got RunKeeper to try and get more consistent with running... dang is that humbling.
If you come up with more ways to deprogram yourself, please write about them and leave a comment with a link. I just finished reading your last blog post and really enjoyed it. Lots there to digest.
I think communicating what's going on inside your head is an important part of the process- writing, talking, drawing, etc. Get everything out and into an external form. Also, I think you have to address problems head on. I haven't read Julien Smith's new book, The Flinch, but I think the idea of the book is to do hard and painful actions to grow your character.
Thanks about my blog! That first blog post rambled on. I just published a new one which you may like as well.
Great points, Ryan. I haven't read The Flinch yet, but I did pick up (I seem to be collecting free kindle books). And you're right, I loved the blog post. Fight the resistance.
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