Christopher Columbus
Entrepreneur, My Journey: Episode 3
(Episode 1: Time to Cast Off; Episode 2: Taking the Plunge)
From being an employee all my life to becoming an entrepreneur is a huge personal step. It’s not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of courage. I was scared. I was really scared. Nothing prepared me in life for this experience. It was a once in a lifetime moment. I was standing, ready to face my destiny. But truly, I had no idea what would work.
Confidence Building
I had no certainty about the immediate future, for the first time in my professional life. I resigned, I had a three month notice with my firm. It was going to be me, myself and I in business… I quickly understood that the only thing that could save me at this early transition stage was to build certainty — and confidence. I was going to architect and execute the plan at the same time. I was making an incredible bet. I had to believe it was going to work.
I set up a Limited company in London, UK, where I am based. My goal was to provide consulting services in my field. I developed basic services I could sell and deliver easily, allowing me to make a decent margin. I got a name, launched a website, developed a few brochures with some designers, and got a deal sub-letting a posh office in central London.
The very first three months of setting up business was a thrilling experience. I felt creative, in charge, and confident. In fact, I had to manufacture my own confidence. It was my own construct. My armour. At some point, I stopped listening to people around me. Because a lot of friends and family members were scared about my choice. Thinking that I was a fool. That I should have never given up this great comfort career, etc.
The Journey, Not The Destination
I truly felt like Christopher Columbus. Based on his personal experience, knowledge, science, instinct, guess, vision, inspiration, he developed a belief that he could open a new westward sea passage to the Orient. He was so confident in his vision that he ended up going for it. At the time, no one wanted to follow him. People thought he was a fool, that he was wrong, that his idea was stupid. That his crew would die before he reaches any destination. That mythical sea monsters would eat them alive. Against all, he had to pitch. And pitch again. A lot. He finally found financial backers for his crazy venture. And he did it.
However, it turned out that Christopher Columbus was indeed completely wrong. He failed. He never reached the Indies. Instead he stumbled upon something much bigger, a new continent, the New World, the Americas. And the rest is History.
Christopher Columbus failed to reach the goal he had set for himself. But by taking these insane risks for his time of sailing a new westward route, he actually achieved something huge, that changed the course of world history.
As I started my journey as an entrepreneur, as I was starring at the huge task in front of me of building a consulting business from scratch, I could then relate to the greater explorer of all times: Christopher Columbus.
- I built confidence in my own business plans — whatever people say;
- I had to pick a direction for my business, gear up, and go;
- I still listened to opinions and incorporated some feedback, but it should never derail my plans.
I understood one thing clearly, at the very beginning:
It’s the entrepreneur journey the most important, not the destination.
Read the next story, Episode 4: The Dark Night
Entrepreneur, My Journey
Read Episode 1: Time to Cast Off
Episode 2: Taking the Plunge
Episode 3: Christopher Columbus
Episode 4: The Dark Night
Episode 5: Deep Breath. No End in Sight
Episode 6: Go alone, go fast. Go with others, go far.
Thank you for reading. I just want to share my journey as an entrepreneur as my story may help someone who is going through a professional life crisis or who simply has questions about what to do next. I have always fed on stories from others to help me in life. I hope I can help someone with my story.
Jason
