Rule 64 - the power of commitment...

Get in, and I mean ALL in!

Happy 2024 everyone! Here's to a healthy and prosperous year ahead!

So, I'm at a "Holiday" party (so PC), talking to a friend about the nuggets of wisdom that we try to pass to our 10 year old kids as they deal with the classroom, playground, building friendships they can hold onto and trust, blah blah blah. All the stuff that goes in one ear and hopefully sticks around just long enough before it rushes out the other ear.. Either you remember these nuggets (or crap) from your parents, or you're in the middle of distributing them yourself as a young parent? Honestly, it feels like I'm warning my daughter about my own misguided behavior, but then again, I guess that's exactly what we're here for....?

So I spit out this nugget called "rule 64", because we were talking about the 63 other stupid things that we've done as kids and young adults that were all about reckless behavior, throwing caution out the window, making calculated risks with dumb ideas like cliff skiing, bridge jumping into rivers 75 feet below, or countless other ideas that we likely should have never dared each other to do. But then again, maybe that's what separated a few of us from the worker bees in the first place?

So here's the core premiss of "rule 64". If you are going to have the balls to start a company, to dare each other to take the jump, drop into the wave or hit that single track, then do it with purpose, confidence and commitment. Get in, and I mean ALL IN!

The principal to live by and remind yourself of is that if you are crazy enough to make this commitment, to risk your life and success, then believe in yourself, and if you don't then don't do it, period! The lesson here is that don't just start a company, or jump off a bridge for that matter because someone or some idea says that you can or should. Start a company because you know and trust that you truly want to be committed, focused and have the discipline to do the work, make the sacrifices, and never give up. This is not about the notion of getting rich quickly, that just straight up bullshit. This is about solving really hard problems, making big shifts in user behavior and business sectors that deliver uncommon value. It's about a relentless pursuit of the perfect wave, the fresh pow, the perfect ride.

These are not things to be taken lightly, it's very hard and it's also not about being weak or strong, smart or stupid. It's about resolve and confidence that you may be the last person standing at the bottom of the hill or on the beach. If you are meant to jump then do so, but if you are not meant to jump, get a job and do something you love. Here's the real message: If you don't really believe that you can make the jump, catch the wave or make the ride then don't. There are always going to be mistakes, falls, big challenges, but if you're going to be an entrepreneur truly believe in the commitment to yourself and your partners. Look each other in the eye everyday, put your hands in and take the wave, jump the cliff, but do it with confidence despite the fact that you'll often fall hard. That's no biggie, getting up is the satisfaction that keeps you going...