Confessions of an entrepreneur: What I learnt from failures

I have always believed in myself, as a kid and as an adult. I felt I was born to lead, do good things in life. I became a House Captain in school and my House won the top honours that year for the first time ever. I became a Club President in college and the revenues of that House grew by 1600% and membership grew by 700% when compared to all other years of the club’s existence combined. As college was getting over, I felt I could not fit into a job. I have always had a belief of making my own rules rather than follow others. So, being an entrepreneur was the finest thing I could do. So, in my final semester of my studies, I along with Abhash, started Gyan Lab, and we were joined by Sonali a month later. We wanted to do something meaningful and I had suffered a lot with my education because I wanted to do it my way rather than the conventional way. Also, this startup was more about impact than making money. It was about making quality education possible and uplifting the future human resources of India to make them more intuitive, innovative and creative.

When we started out, like a lot of other student startups, we had a vision and absolutely no clue of execution. Somehow, our go-to idea was to start learning centres inside schools since that is what seemed to be a faster way to grow. We were a pure hardware ed tech startup. We did a decent pilot with one of the top school chains in India and followed that up with a beta test in 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively. This gave us proof that our product had tremendous potential to make a serious impact as we had expected. At this stage, we were ready to take Gyan Lab to market. With a beta test of 500+ students, library of 450+ activities in eight subjects, 10 awards, including Dell Education Challenge 2012 and Power of Ideas 2012, we were ready to rock the stage. But some bad decisions and some bad luck got us into one of the worst stage our startup could be in. We decided to move to Bangalore in January 2013 to expand our horizon and be able to cater to our big customer – the schools chain  – in a better way. So, our wrong decisions started with taking an office in Yelahanka (outskirts of Bangalore) thinking that it was a cheaper place given our continuous financial constraints. We wasted five months of rent on an office where we never properly operated out of before we realized the folly and moved to HSR Layout which was more conducive for Gyan Lab. Meanwhile, we were negotiating a deal to sign up a good number of schools with our single largest client. All this got messed up when another company was preferred over us with our startup getting a side-kick role. Here, we took a wrong decision, went ahead with setting up the labs and suffered heavily financially. At the same time, an investor started taking interest in us, got us all excited and even after six months of talks, we failed to figure out what exactly he wanted from us. Meanwhile, visiting schools and making cold calls,  I added to our already high operating expenses which did us no good. Our final blunder was that I started believing we could raise some capital just like other tech loss-making startups in order to keep growing. But, we failed to understand that we were a loss-making hardware-based education tech startup. Rules for getting funds for us were different. So, come December 2013, Gyan Lab was almost out of the cash. We had reached a point where the only option for us was to pivot the business. So, our core team and advisors got together for this. We also took a lot of help from some other people who were ready to give their time and efforts to help us out at the drawing board and chalk out a better plan for Gyan Lab. This is what happened and what we have learnt:
 1)    The core operations of Gyan Lab was pivoted from being a B2B (selling to schools) to B2C (selling to parents/students). This does not mean we are not going to sell to schools. But we will focus on impact made to our actual consumers – kids more than anything else.
 2)    Change from a Service to a Product model. Non-payment or very late payment from customers using services can hit a company really hard! Even EduComp (a listed Billion Dollar company in 2010) knows this. We had faced the same at a smaller level and couldn’t afford the same. 
3)    Earlier, certain rules and regulations imposed on us by schools had reduced the impact of Gyan Lab programs for kids. We have now decided to partner with only those schools who give us 100% freedom in running our program because without true impact, Gyan Lab’s existence is worthless. 
4)    Our focus since December 2013 is 100% on customers rather than investors. If the focus is right, investment will come at the right time. A good number of social funds have kept contact with us and interact with us every three to five months to know about our work. This makes us feel really good. 5)    Do not do a loss making deal at any level. We have pulled back most of our existing centres in schools which were not breaking even at an operational level. Cash flow is everything for an early stage startup. It is like blood in a human body. It needs to keep flowing for survival. 
6)    We have restricted our operations to Bangalore and Kota only as this reduces our expenses drastically and makes us much focussed rather than spread too wide and thin too soon. 
7)    We are ensuring break-even at the most microscopic level – one month at a time. This will ensure that our survival is never in question. The growth maybe slow but we keep impacting more people with every passing day. 
8)    We have realized that there is a lack of credibility in this space. From outside, the sector and its promises look massive. This has led to too many startups and organizations, some with extremely poor programs and products charging very heavily. So, our focus is to build credibility (on top of some that we already have) and, we have taken the open source approach (you will see it soon) to do so. I cannot say anything to people in other business segments, but those who are operating in the education (hardware ed tech) space and are here for the right reasons, here are my two cents from our learnings: Your aim should not be to become a billion dollar company, your aim should be focussed on true impact.
 Do not build a company for investment, you will not survive long. Embark on a journey to build quality programs for the future human resources of India, everything else will fall into place. Cash flow and bottom-line should be your true mantra. In this sector, top-line does not matter if you are making losses. 
You will eventually burn all your cash. Make sure you atleast break even at every transaction. What is the point of doing anything if you lose money? Do not pin all your hopes on one big client. More often than not, it goes wrong. 
Build many sources of income that are like many rivulets flowing in to create a river. Make sure payment from customers is well regulated. I know so many education startups which face this problem of not getting paid by customers.
 If you can get this right, your cash flows will be solid. You are investing your life in a cause, never let anyone undermine you, let no one (customer, vendor) take advantage of you. Learn as much as you can from anyone you can. Make mistakes early but do not repeat them.
 This will dramatically increase the chances of your survival. Failure has taught us so much more than success could at the early stage. It was tough, but we have learnt things the hard way at Gyan Lab and it gives us the will to keep on going stronger.

5 lesser known reasons why entrepreneurship will make you happy

Almost always starting a business or owning or managing a business is perceived as a highly stressful occupation. We wouldn’t want to dispute it by any means but there’s proof that entrepreneurs are also among the happiest people in the world. Don’t take our word for it. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2013 Global Report, entrepreneurs are among the happiest individuals across the globe when it comes to individual well-being and satisfaction with their work conditions. The report said that entrepreneurs worldwide – at both the established and early-stage phases – exhibited higher ratings on subjective well-being compared to those not involved in entrepreneurship activities, suggesting that entrepreneurship could be a good career choice for most.


Here are five traits all entrepreneurs share – most of these also contribute to their success – which make them some of the happiest people in the world.
1. Entrepreneurs do what they love How often do we hear our friends whining about their job, lousy boss or terrible workplace? Well, don’t blame them. There are surveys which show that almost 80% of workforce worldwide hates their jobs. But entrepreneurs are not among them. In fact, many of them got an extra push to startup on their own because they were earlier in a job they disliked. Every entrepreneur who starts a business, owns or manages one, is in love with his or her job. They are passionate about the startup, and are committed to nurture it as if it’s their baby. As we spend a great deal of our life working, if we love what we do at work even if other things in life aren’t all that great, we are happy.
2. Entrepreneurs are constant learners It is the nature of an entrepreneur to learn, constantly, continuously. There are no two ways about it. Each CEO has to be personally responsible for seeking out and committing to professional development. They keep up to date with the latest in their industry, are determined to learn about everything around it. Every day entrepreneurs are confronted with new situations that require constantly innovative approaches. Apart from professional growth, entrepreneurs also grow and evolve as they learn to tackle on crisis after another and keep themselves on their toes. The ability to learn, self-study, and apply new concepts is part of the human experience.
3. Entrepreneurs are busy problem-solvers Entrepreneurs startup with an idea that tackles a key pain-point. So problem-solving is at the core of entrepreneurship. Everyday they have a new problem or two to grapple with, so they have no time to brood over setbacks or wallow in self-pity. As soon as they face a challenge, they have to think on their feet and get busy finding a solution. The obstacles they face are so many that they just learn to trust their gut instincts and march on. They have no time to waste worrying or in idle talk. They have very less trivial chit-chat or gossip as there is almost always a fire to douse. Entrepreneurs are indeed the blessed few who have time to delve only into what makes their hearts swell.
4. Entrepreneurs are resilient What’s the opposite of depression? Not happiness but it is resilience, according to psychologist Peter Kramer. Psychologists use the word resilience to describe this ability to bounce back from adversity. Someone has to take a chance. Someone has to care enough to take risks, spend time, effort and money on something new. Entrepreneurs are those bravehearts who do. We all know human beings can survive all kinds of situations, the ones who survive are those who are resilient. When someone chooses to be an entrepreneur, he is prepared, at least to an extent, to face many challenges. He is an optimist, who can see the silver lining in most situations. Optimism touts plenty of health benefits, including less stress, a better tolerance for pain and, even longevity among those with heart disease. Confronted by a bad situation, successful entrepreneurs perceive it as a challenge and try harder.
5. Entrepreneurs are focused  Psychologists have long since studied how when you’re immersed in an activity that is simultaneously challenging, invigorating and meaningful, you experience a joyful state. You get into what is called “flow.” Entrepreneurs are almost always completely engrossed in their startup, and get “caught up” or “carried away” by their ideas. They are so focused in making their business work that this reduces self-consciousness and promotes the feelings of joy. According to Pursuit-of-happiness.org, “In order for a “flow” state to occur, you must see the activity as voluntary, enjoyable (intrinsically motivating), and it must require skill and be challenging (but not too challenging) with clear goals towards success” – all of which are perfect descriptions of what an entrepreneur does.

Are You an Introvert? | 11 Traits of Introverts

Are You an Introvert?

Introverts and Extroverts are the two basic personality types at the heart of human nature. Once you figure out which type you belong to, you can make better decisions to unlock your true potential. See if these traits sound like you.

1. You Enjoy Solitude

2. Dislike Small-talk, but enjoy in-depth conversations about topics that interest you.

3. People Say You Are A Good Listener

4. You like to think about and choose your words carefully before speaking

5. Dislike Conflict

6. You prefer to work alone and without interruptions

7. When stressed or need to recharge, you spend a few days alone by yourself.

8. Often express yourself through writing

9. People describe you as “soft-spoken” or “mellow”

10. You like people, just not all the time

11. You don’t normally like to take the lead, but will step up when no one else will.

                                  

If you can relate to most of the traits on this list, then odds are your’re probably an Introvert. Although Introverts have a hard time copping with societies pressure to be a social butterfly, there is nothing wrong with you. While extroverts feel most themselves around big groups of people, you enjoy solitude and though others may see you as weird it is completely fine, it is just your personality type. and it’s one you share with some great minds, like Albert Einstein and Mahatma Gandhi.

Some describe Introversion and Extroversion of the “North and South of Human Temperament” and when you make life choices that are aligned with your temperament, life becomes a lot better suited for you.

via mindopenerz

How Negative Energy Affects Your Life and How to Clear It

You know that like attracts like, right? So here’s the deal: Positive people are drawn to positive energy; negative people are drawn to negative energy.

We tend to perceive negative energy as something other people have. Sure, sometimes we feel negative – as in, “go away and leave me alone, world!” but did you know that negativity can be so ingrained in you that it goes unnoticed?

That’s because negativity sometimes wears a disguise called ‘reality’. It’s easy to rationalize that you’re ‘just being realistic’ in not daring to act on a dream – and believe it!

You may assume that positive people are not being realistic – that they’re being naive, that they are in denial with their heads stuck in the sand, that they put on fake smiles in the face of difficulty and so forth. But are they really happy idiots or is there something to their positivity?

Consider this: since when does ‘being realistic’ necessarily mean that things will go wrong and that you have to accept that as the truth?

That doesn’t mean that being realistic is automatically negative. When you view the world from a ‘realistic’ standpoint, you can’t help but be negative IF your version of reality is negative.

If your version of reality is negative, you are conditioned to believe that whatever can go wrong, will go wrong and whatever can go right, will probably go wrong too. Your unconsciously held beliefs make you into a negative person without your being aware of it!

So – if this negativity is so ingrained in you that you don’t notice it, how do you determine whether you’re stuck in a cloud of negative energy that is attracting the wrong people, wrong situations and wrong feelings? And how can you be sure you’re not perpetuating that negativity?

Here’s a quick quiz to gauge the level of negative energy within you:

• Do you complain? All the time or just sometimes?
• Do you often discuss what’s wrong in the world more than what’s right? This includes the ‘terrible’ weather, ‘horrible’ traffic, ‘idiotic’ government, ‘lousy’ economy, ‘stupid’ in-laws, etc.
• Do you criticize? All the time or just certain people?
• Are you attracted to drama and disaster (can you unglue yourself from the TV when there’s a news story of a disaster and can you avoid getting involved in the lives of dysfunctional celebrities?)
• Do you blame? All the time or just certain situations?
• Do you believe that you have no control over most of your results?
• Do you feel like a victim? Do you talk about people doing things to you?
• Are you grateful for what is or will you be grateful when things finally start going right for you?
• Do you feel like things are happening to you? Or do you feel that they are happening through you?

This last two points are important:

If you’re not grateful except when things go right, you are negative. Gratitude is positive. If you are grateful for what is (including the unpleasant school of life lessons, then you can invite more and more positive energy into your life.

Believing that things happen to you puts you in the role of victim; then it’s easy to be negative because it’s convenient to give up that power. So consider this alternative: who or what is to blame when GOOD things happen to you? Do you acknowledge that you are responsible for the good things – as in, you worked hard, you earned it, etc… but blame external events or other people for your failures? So how come, when good things happen, they are a result of what you do, but when bad things happen, they are not your fault?

Nobody likes to hear that. It takes courage to accept that you create your life experience!

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you are holding on to negative energy to some degree! To clear your negative energy and raise your vibration, you will need to retrain yourself tochoose a positive attitude.

Here’s another interesting idea to consider: have you noticed that positive people seem to get what they want out of life, and even if things don’t go their way, they still enjoy their lives… while negative people whine and moan about their misfortunes and even the good things in their lives?

To clear negative energy, try this 3 -step process:

1. Take ownership: “When you think everything is someone else’s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.” – the Dalai Lama

2. Cancel negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts. This takes practice, dedication and making a decision to see the world through the eyes of “what can go right” instead of “what can go wrong.” You’ll have to catch yourself anytime you are acting out or speaking out your negativity, and immediately change your tune.

3. Use the Love or Above Spiritual Toolkit to clear your energy and bring more light and love into your life; visualize the positive instead of getting sucked into negativity; overcome past conditioning; think intuitively from the soul instead from ‘reality’; create a new, desired reality in your imagination and manifest it in the outer world. Nobody wants negative energy to permeate their lives, yet many of us allow it. But we allow it unconsciously, based on past conditioning that suggests an inevitable outcome to certain situations. When you overcome that conditioning and realize that the future is NOT cast in stone but that you have more control over your circumstances than you believe – then you can begin to consciously design your life.

What’s going to happen then? Your positive energy will magnetically attract what you consider to be good and right for you: people, situations, things… and you’ll notice a huge, huge increase in your happiness and inner peace.

Why not choose positive energy? Make some changes within, and you’ll quickly see positive changes in your life. Enjoy the good feelings and abundance!

via eyeopener.com

10 Surprising Habits That Will Help You Transform Your Life Beyond All Recognition

Some people make life seem effortless and simple. They achieve amazing goals with no struggle, breeze through the hardest days without breaking a sweat, and seem to feel happy in even the toughest of circumstances.

These people aren’t different from you. In fact, they face the exact same feelings and anxieties. However, what separates the successful and the unsuccessful isn’t genetic material or ability, but their mindset, their goals, and – most importantly – their habits.

These 10 habits of the rich, successful, and healthy might surprise you due to their simplicity. However, they’re the key to transforming your life and making yourself a more productive, focused, and fulfilled person.

1.     Set yourself unique and inspiring goals every single day

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Jerry Seinfeld is one of the world’s most celebrated comedians. He’s also one of the richest – since the final episode of Seinfeld aired in 1998, he’s earned $3.1 billion in repeat fees.

Seinfeld’s success didn’t come out of thin air. Instead, he used a remarkably simple productivity system to come up with the best jokes and funniest stories:

Every day, he would write something. It could be a single joke, a funny anecdote, or even a full episode’s script. After he’d finished writing, he would mark the day on a wall calendar with a red X.

After a few days, a chain of crosses started to emerge on the calendar. Seinfeld’s only goal was to keep the chain going – every day, whether a Monday or a Sunday, he sat down to write, and marked each day with a big red X.

2.     Before you sleep, summarize your biggest achievements

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There’s more to productivity and success than just setting goals. After all, it’s easy to set goals and then ignore them.

Before you go to sleep, look back over your daily to-do list and cross off tasks you’ve completed. Add any incomplete tasks to the next day’s schedule and force yourself to complete them.

3.     Wake up at the exact same time every day

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Everyone knows the importance of going to sleep at the same time every night. Few people, however, know how important it is to wake up at the same time every day.

Set yourself a ‘wake-up time’ and make sure you’re alert, awake, and out of bed at the right time each morning. Whether you go to sleep at 10PM or 4AM, make sure you stick to your schedule.

Waking up at the same time every day helps to develop your circadian rhythm – an internal body clock that keeps your body energetic, healthy, and focused.

4.     Don’t fall for the hype about multitasking

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You’ve probably heard how important multitasking is for getting things done. Here’s a little secret: it’s really not that great.

Multitasking sounds like an excellent strategy for getting work done – after all, what could be better than doing two tasks in the time it normally takes to do one? Its only problem is that it doesn’t work far more often than it does.

The world’s most successful people all have one thing in common: they focused on one goal at a time. From Steve Jobs to William Shakespeare, the world’s best CEOs and artists always achieved one goal before starting on the next.

5.     Spend too much time online? Block distracting sites

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Most people waste 80 percent of their workday online. Even if you’re focused and attentive at work, you doubtlessly spend at least an hour or two browsing Twitter and Facebook once you get home.

It’s amazing what you can achieve when you dedicate time normally spent on social media on achieving your goals and transforming your life. Log off early and go for a run, develop your artwork, or expand your dream business!

6.     Practice mindful eating for health and relaxation

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Mindful eating is a Buddhist practice that asks you to do something simple: eat your food slowly and appreciate every single bite.

It sounds silly, but it’s an amazing way to do two things: eat a better diet and truly appreciate the taste of the food that you eat. Next time you’re about to stuff down dinner, stop and appreciate the taste, the smell, and the texture of your meal.

7.     Every week, reconnect with a friend or acquaintance

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In France and Italy, workers take two-hour lunch breaks to socialize and reconnect with their friends and coworkers. In Hong Kong, businesses refuse to answer their phones from 12PM until 2PM due to the importance of taking time off for lunch.

Does your rushed, fast-paced lifestyle make it difficult to sit down with friends and acquaintances for lunch? Set yourself a goal of catching up with friends every week for an extended lunch or dinner – your mind and body will appreciate it.

8.     Can’t sleep? Write down your thoughts before you go to bed

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Do you spend hours tossing and turning before you fall asleep? There are hundreds of reasons for insomnia to occur, but one of the most common is anxiety over your thoughts.

Purge your mind of demanding thoughts by keeping a special diary on your bedside table. Whenever you find yourself worrying about something, write it down to deal with tomorrow.

Not only will this help you fall asleep faster – you’ll also wake up feeling refreshed, prepared, and ready to conquer last night’s thoughts and ideas.

9.     Write negative people and influences out of your life

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Some people are emotional vampires. No, not the bloodsucking type – these people feed on your happiness and seem to drag you down whenever you’re feeling happy with your life.

From narcissists to perpetual victims, emotional vampires can be a huge drag on your happiness, your focus, and your ambition. Write them out of your life to feel more focused and ambitious, as well as far happier.

10.     Avoid technology an hour before you go to sleep

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Technology is addictive, and using it too much (or for too long) can lead to a new condition known as tech burnout. Free yourself from tech addiction by turning off your computer, tablet, or TV at least an hour before you go to sleep.

Not only will this give you some personal time to reflect on your day or read a new book, it will also help you fall asleep quicker. Researchers believe that using tablets before sleeping stops your body from producing melatonin – an important sleep hormone

via  eyeopener.com

3 Things To Remember When You Feel Like You’re Failing

If you were to examine the lives of some of the most successful people, you’d find many pathways marked by failure.

Take Abraham Lincoln. “He failed all the way to the White House,” says JetBlue Chairman Joel Peterson in his recent LinkedIn post. Look at Steve Jobs, who was fired by Apple, the company he co-founded, in 1985. Or Dr. Seuss, who had his first book rejected by 27 different publishers.

So, if and when you ever feel like you’re failing, remember that you’re in the company of the world’s greatest leaders, inventors, business people, and reformers, Peterson says. “And think of failure not as a sign of weakness, but as the valuable raw material from which you can forge success.”

Here are three things to remember when you hit a bump in the road: 

There’s important information in failure. Remember that failing is a learning experience. “It was Thomas Edison who declared, ‘I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work,’” Peterson says. “He followed up with, ‘Negative results are just what I want. They’re just as valuable to me as positive results.’” Maintain this type of attitude and you'll be more likely to succeed. 

The worst will pass more quickly than you think. Move forward, Peterson suggests. And remember that there’s a good chance you’ll eventually look back at your struggle as something you’d not wish on your worst enemy — but also as something that was crucial to your own development and success. “Many failures are devastating, but if you proceed with integrity and refuse to let setbacks change your spirit, you may rebound stronger than ever.”

You need to accept responsibility. Peterson says he was once involved in a conflict that he had concluded was entirely the responsibility of another party. “A wise woman asked me, ‘What did you contribute to this unhappy situation?’ At first, my answer was, ‘Nothing.’ But as I reflected on things, I could see I’d been a ‘joint venture partner’ in my distress.” Assessing our own role in setbacks will not only help you avoid similar problems in the future, but it can also keep failure from “spawning victimhood,” he concludes

via businessinsider.com

This Is Your Brain on Power

Power corrupts, and we know exactly what it corrupts: empathy. The narcissistic mind keen on building fiefdoms has trouble seeing the effect of its actions on others. When at the University of Kent, researcher Ana Guinote found that powerful people tend to ignore peripheral data and don't process information about the less powerful folks around them. Their tunnel vision stays locked on the actions that will win the praise, status or glory they crave. Minions become invisible.

There's evidence that power actually changes the way the brain sees others. A 2013 study by researchers at the University of Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada, tracked how the brain's motor resonance system, which mimics the actions of others through what are known as mirror neurons and helps us relate, responded in high-power and low-power individuals. The high-power individuals had less motor simulation, "reduced interpersonal sensitivity" and "decreased processing of social input."

As a result, the powerful have decreased recognition of others' concerns, allowing them to throw their weight around with-out qualm. That gives empire builders the control they need to reduce the fears--insecurity, imperfection, loss of status--that fuel their pursuit of external validation.

But it's more than aversion that motivates empire builders; the brain's motivation and reward systems are also intricately involved. The leading reward mechanism is the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical released when we experience pleasurable activities or anticipate something new or novel. Dopamine connects with receptors in the striatum to help commit a person to an action and sets off a reaction that can lead to feelings of satisfaction or accomplishment.

Empire builders get their dopamine hits through activities that pump up ego. It's a never-ending chase for the next external fix--more staffers, bigger budget--all of which is highly ephemeral. The bumps to the striatum and ego fade, since they're based on the gaze of others, and when they do, the fear returns--feelings of worthlessness, inferiority, expendability. Those emotions lead directly to the primitive limbic system of the brain, where fear-quashing goals such as power and status initiate impulsive actions without conscious direction.

Leaders have to find ways to break through the mind lock and the knee-jerk rationales. "The person really believes they're doing the right thing for the right reason," says Annette Simmons, author of Territorial Games. "They have to hear the specific implications that empire-building behavior has on the company and those around them." 

Article via entrepreneur.com

7 Reasons Why You Will Never Do Anything Amazing With Your Life

I’m looking you in the eyes, (ok well, not really since you are probably reading this article, but figuratively, I am burning a cyclops type hole in your face right now) and telling you that you don’t stand a chance.

I’m telling you that if you can read this article, look through this list and not claim it as your own, then you should be a little worried. Actually, you should be very worried. You should drop everything and immediately question your existence on earth. You should find a mirror, look yourself in the eyes, raise your hand and slap yourself in the face. Got it? Now repeat that until you come to your senses and continue reading whenever you’re ready.

I’M TALKIN’ ‘BOUT STREET SKILLS SON!

I’m not talking about the: study hard, party light, graduate top-of-your-class skills. I’m not even talking about the: slack-off, skip class, smoke weed, drink and party but still graduate, skill-set your $50,000+ diploma has lead you to believe you have.

“I’m talking ’bout, step out your door, make some moves, and get-some-shit-done, kind of skills! Some, move out your mama’s house, quit your job — say “fuck the world” — and then actually go do it, kind of skills”.The kind of skills you develop in the real world, outside the bubble of your parents protection or the ideological indoctrination that has overwhelmed our entire educational system.

Skills that can be had by anyone willing to pay the price to get them. Skills that are quickly becoming extinct. I’m talking about skills that cannot be taught in a classroom or in a textbook. Skills you can only learn by doing; by learning how to fly after jumping off the cliff.

Skills that can only be developed when you find your true self. When you put yourself on the line or otherwise expose yourself to the possibility of failure. The skills you can only develop when you are willing to risk it all in order to do that one amazing thing.

Skills that up until now, you thought you had.

“Basically, what I am trying to tell you is that, in this game called life, you don’t stand a chance…

1 :: BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT FAILED ENOUGH

Because you are comfortable in your mediocrity; because you choose not to try.

Because it is easier to talk about learning that new (programming?) language as opposed to actually learning it.

Because you think everything is too hard or too complicated so you will just “sit this one out”, or maybe you’ll, “do-it-tomorrow”!

Because you hate your job but won’t get a new one; because it is easy to reject rejection.

Because while you’re sitting around failing to try, I am out there trying to fail, challenging myself, learning new things and failing as fast as possible.

Because as I fail, I learn, and then adjust my course to make sure my path is always forward. Like the process of annealing steel, I’ve been through the fire and pounded into shape. The shape of a sword with polished edges and a razor sharp blade that will cut you in half if you are not equally hardened.

2 :: BECAUSE YOU CARE WHAT OTHERS THINK ABOUT YOU

Because you have to fit in.

Because you believe that being different is only cool if you’re different in the same way that other people are different.

Because you are afraid to embrace your true self for fear of how the world will see you. You think that because you judge others, this means that those people must, in-turn, be judging you.

Because you care more about the stuff you have as opposed to the things you’ve done.

Because while you’re out spending your money on new outfits, new cars, overpriced meals or nights at the bar, I’ll be investing in myself. And while you try to fit in with the world I’ll make the world fit in with me.

Because I will recklessly abandon all insecurities and expose my true self to the world. I will become immune to the impact of your opinion and stand naked in a crowd of ideas; comfortable in knowing that while you married the mundane I explored the exceptional.

3 :: BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU ARE SMARTER THAN YOU ARE

Because you did what everyone else did; you studied what they studied and read what they read.

Because you learned what you had to learn in order to pass their tests and you think that makes you smart.

Because you think learning is only something people do in schools.

Because while you were away at college, I was studying life; because instead of learning about the world in a classroom I went out and learned it by living.

Because I know more than any piece of paper you could ever frame from a university. Because smart is not what you learn, it’s how you live.

Because I might not have a degree but I challenge you to find a topic that I can’t talk to you about cohesively.

Because I could pass your tests if I had to, but you couldn’t stand for a single second in the face of the tests that life has thrown me. Tests that are not graded on a bell curve or by percentages; tests that are graded by one simple stipulation: survival!

4 :: BECAUSE YOU DON’T READ

Because you read the things you are required to read or nothing at all.

Because you think history is boring and philosophy is stupid.

Because you would rather sit and watch “E!” or “MTV” instead of exploring something new, instead of diving head first, into the brain of another man in an attempt to better understand the world around you.

Because you refuse to acknowledge that all the power in the world comes from the words of those that lived before us. That anything you desire can be had by searching through the multitude of words that are available to us now more abundantly than ever before.

Because you are probably not reading this article even though you know you should.

Because the people that are reading this already know these things.

Because you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.

5 :: BECAUSE YOU LACK CURIOSITY

Because you get your news from copy-cat members of the state-controlled media.

Because you are unwilling to ask this simple question… “What if it’s all a lie?”, and accept the possibility that maybe it is; that just maybe, the methods of mass media are under direct orders to: keep you distracted.

Because you call me a know-it-all but refuse to call yourself a know-nothing-at-all.

Because I thirst for knowledge, regardless the topic.

Because while you’re busy playing Candy Crush, or Megalopolis, I am reading about string theory and quantum mechanics.

Because while you waste your time with Tosh.o I am learning how to edit video, build websites and design mobile apps.

Because if we were to go heads-up in a debate, I would crush you. I would make it a point to defeat my own argument; from every imaginable angle; in order to understand everything you might be able to use against me.

Because I would dedicate myself to understanding both sides of the argument so thoroughly that I could argue your side for you and win; even after having just handed you a defeat in the same debate.

6 :: BECAUSE YOU DON’T ASK ENOUGH QUESTIONS

Because you do not question authority.

Because you don’t question yourself.

Because you don’t understand the power of properly placed questioning in life, respectful disagreements and standing up for what you know to be right in the face of someone telling you otherwise. Unable to question reality; stuck in a self imposed survival strategy within a matrix-style monotony.

Because I know that you will give me all the information I need to destroy you by letting you talk.

Because I study human behaviors and you ignore everyone but yourself.

Because I watch how you say the things you say just as closely as I listen to what you say; and you say way too much!

Because control comes, not from spewing your ignorance like some incurable case of logorrhea, but from properly structuring the context of your questions.

Because I study the premise of your argument and destroy it from the ground level before you even get a chance to establish your ideas.

7 :: BECAUSE YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH

Because you refuse to admit that you don’t even know the things you don’t know.

Because there isn’t an article online that would make up for all the time you have wasted in life.

Because even if I told you everything could be different tomorrow you would wait until then to begin doing anything about it.

Because even when you think I’m not, I’m aware of my surroundings.

Because you think that since I have not acknowledged you, it means that I have not seen you.

Because, you walk around with your head up your ass, oblivious to the world around you. Blissfully ignorant of the reality that sits so close to your face that if you stuck your tongue out, just once, you would taste it and realize how delicious the truth actually is.

Because you would become an instant addict. Unable to pull yourself from the teat of truth. Finally able to understand your lack of understanding, and then you would see; then you would know that the only thing holding you back from doing something truly amazing, is you

Article  via raymmer.com