THERE’S A CERTAIN THING THAT THE MEDIA LOVES TO PORTRAY - THE MYTH OF YOUNG ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
IT’S AN IMAGE PORTRAYED BY BOTH THE MEDIA AND THE ENTREPRENEURS ALIKE.
WE LIVE IN AN ERA OF ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES, BUT LIMITED UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITIONS. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS: WITH THE INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THE PRESS, ANY INTERESTING NEW PRODUCT OR SERVICE IS HERALDED OR BLASPHEMED BY THE PEOPLE-AT-LARGE. IT IS AN ERA WHERE SEEMINGLY EVERYTHING THAT IS TO BE CREATED HAS BEEN CREATED (SUPPOSEDLY), BUT THE MEDIA CELEBRATES THOSE WHO HAVE THE GUMPTION TO GO AT IT REGARDLESS WITH SOME NEW FORM OF OFFERING TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO.
THE MEDIA MAKES IT SEEM LIKE BEING A QUOTE-UNQUOTE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR IS AN ACHIEVEMENT IN OF ITSELF AND THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE LEADING THE WAY, WITH NO HURDLES OR DIFFICULTIES IN HIS OR HER WAY. RAGS TO RICHES, AS THEY SAY.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS MUCH DIFFERENT. WHILE WE LIVE IN AN ERA OF CELEBRATING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURSHIP, THE SAME TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS EXIST FOR THEM. THERE IS NO EASY WAY OUT. THERE IS NO MAGIC BUTTON PRESS THAT MAKES YOUR VENTURE A SUCCESS. AND CERTAINLY, NO INTERVIEW OR PRESS FEATURE WILL MAKE YOU GO FROM ZERO-TO-HERO.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS THE SAME AS IT’S ALWAYS BEEN. HARD WORK. DETERMINATION, AND WILL. THERE ARE NO MAGICAL UNICORN START-UPS THAT SUDDENLY CHANGE THE WORLD. THOSE SO-CALLED INSTANT-SUCCESSES WERE BUILT OVER LONG, DIFFICULT AND BLOODY HOURS THAT TESTED THE MENTAL FORTITUDE OF THOSE WHO CHOSE TO PURSUE.
AS MUCH AS THE MEDIA LOVES TO PORTRAY ZERO-TO-HERO STORIES, THE REALITY IS THAT IT IS MORE OF ZERO-TO-ZERO-TO-QUASI HERO-TO ZERO-HERO… AND ON IT GOES. ENTREPRENEURSHIP TAKES TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE, AS IT ALWAYS DID AND WILL.