Unlimited

When I first signed up for a course in Entrepreneurship, I did so in hopes that I would be able to discover if I were Entrepreneur material. I've long held a desire to be financially successful, and it seemed to me that the best way to do that would have to be by going into business for myself. But, that route, for me, has historically been one I consider with much trepidation.

Growing up, I saw first hand what can happen with you get into business with the wrong people. My father was an entrepreneur and had started an industrial painting shop which was starting to do well. As it was getting on its feet though, a large competing corporation moved into the same area, offering far cheaper prices with a known brand to boot. It was a fatal situation for the business. Now that wouldn't have been so bad, sometimes businesses fail and you just have to go and find another niche. The truly terrible things happened when the angel investor turned out to be a criminal extortionist. He demanded his investment back, with interest, under the (very credible) threat of deadly violence. I won't get into the rest of the details here, but it produced nearly a decade of sorrow and loss.

Now, given that history, I am sure you can see why I might fear to venture into these waters. Still, I know that true freedom is not found in employment, but in employing. The drive to succeed, plus a belief in my own powers of discernment spurs me onward. Through this course, I've learned a couple important things about this path, and about myself.

First, I am not a solo entrepreneur. I'm money-smart enough that I could manage to avoid big financial errors, and I have the skills to accomplish the work; but I don't have the risk tolerance, the personal momentum, or the sales savvy to build a truly successful company on my own. I need a partner, preferably two. I need one who has the business chops to be the engine of development while I provide the product guidance and direction. I could really benefit from another, technical partner with a personality more driven to produce than manage. Someone who can work with me on the product, but will also help provide rails to my engineering abilities.

Second, failure is an acceptable risk. When I began, I unconsciously held the belief that if I failed at a business that I would lose everything and that I would be forever doomed to a state of financial misery. I've come to grips with this belief, evaluated it, and found it wholly without merit. Money is not so hard to get as it seems. There are many people who are willing to invest, and making enough to live is not so hard as it seems at first.

In the end, I leave with this knowledge: my life's greatest limits exist only in my own mind. By accepting what gifts I have, and those I do not, I gain power over my opportunities. I know that if I have pure purpose and remain humble, God will support me in my righteous desires as a provider and hero.