Shock and Awe!
I ran into a girl while Wake Boarding yesterday that I hadn’t seen since High School. We got chatting about the usual things like what we’d been up to over the years, what we were doing now and where we were heading in life. We also touched on topics like the state of the economy & the employment market, job security and photography.
As it turns out she is now a very talented Graphic Designer. Information I wish I had 12 months ago!
But it was something she said to me that startled me a little, something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since.
While talking about how I started Coolybar in 2007 and quit my job to work for myself, she stopped me as if in awe, and said “That’s really great! But wasn’t it risky?”…… “I mean, most people wouldn’t dream of it (starting their own business) because it’s so much trouble & hard work. What if you didn’t make any money?”
At the time this left me feeling a little dumb-founded and I simply brushed the comment aside by saying something along the lines of “Yeah well, I love that sort of thing, I love the challenge.” and left it at that. But what really got to me was not really what she said but how she arrived at that comment in the first place.
I was shocked. I didn’t take offense to anything she had said but I simply could not understand why someone would not want to challenge themselves, strive for their best and aim to make a difference in the world. I had never viewed what I was doing in the way that she had. Business, self development and entrepreneurship is my life, it’s what I do, it’s what I’ve always done, I don’t know any different. So to hear a completely different take on my life and how I go about it was some what mind-boggling.
Why do you think this was?
- Is this showing my ignorance for the 9-5 lifestyle I do my best to avoid?
- Is it because I tend to interact with people like myself most of the time who share common interests?
- Or, is it because I’ve never known anything other than to push myself to tackle new & exciting challenges and follow my own set of rules?
Yes, everybody goes about their lives in different ways, with different priorities and end goals. However I’m not sure I will ever understand why some people choose to move through life with no particular passion to achieve as high as they possibly can in their work, home and personal lives.
Never be afraid to do something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the titanic.
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If we haven’t met before, I’d love to meet you! You can find out a little bit about me here and get in contact with me here. Are you on Twitter? You can follow me here: @mikeboyd
There is risk in the unknown, and most people avoid risk. You have a different risk tolerance
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There is risk in the unknown, and most people avoid risk. You have a different risk tolerance
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Mike, I’ve noticed the exact same sentiments coming from people as well when I tell them that I work for myself. I’ve noticed it even more prominently from students in the Creative Industries Faculty at QUT which in my opinion is the ideal environment to start up a business in since you have so many peers studying in similar disciplines to you that you can bounce ideas off of.
Each to their own, it just amazes me that so many people don’t even consider it until someone shows them it’s possible, and even then, don’t seem to realise that they could do it too, or don’t think they could.
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Mike, I’ve noticed the exact same sentiments coming from people as well when I tell them that I work for myself. I’ve noticed it even more prominently from students in the Creative Industries Faculty at QUT which in my opinion is the ideal environment to start up a business in since you have so many peers studying in similar disciplines to you that you can bounce ideas off of.
Each to their own, it just amazes me that so many people don’t even consider it until someone shows them it’s possible, and even then, don’t seem to realise that they could do it too, or don’t think they could.
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I know what you mean Mike, I have always been intrigued by why people dont want to expand their minds and challenge themselves outside the 9 -5.
But as Matt says above… each to their own (as they are thinking the exact opposite of us.. why dont we want a secure 9-5!)
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I know what you mean Mike, I have always been intrigued by why people dont want to expand their minds and challenge themselves outside the 9 -5.
But as Matt says above… each to their own (as they are thinking the exact opposite of us.. why dont we want a secure 9-5!)
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You’ve raised some interesting points gents and I think there are two clear statements from what you’re saying:
- Some people never think to consider working for themselves in the first place,
- Others who do consider it have a much lower risk tolerance and simply never progress from the thought.
But I guess I’m still trying to find the answer to my question. WHY? Why are we like this?
- Are we a product of our environment and our upbringing?
- Are we born with it?
- Do we acquire these passions from role models & mentors?
From my experience we are a clear minority in society. So what is it that draws us into this world from such a young age?
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You’ve raised some interesting points gents and I think there are two clear statements from what you’re saying:
- Some people never think to consider working for themselves in the first place,
- Others who do consider it have a much lower risk tolerance and simply never progress from the thought.
But I guess I’m still trying to find the answer to my question. WHY? Why are we like this?
- Are we a product of our environment and our upbringing?
- Are we born with it?
- Do we acquire these passions from role models & mentors?
From my experience we are a clear minority in society. So what is it that draws us into this world from such a young age?
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Interesting questions Mike.
I’ve always thought it was the norm to be a self starter.
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Interesting questions Mike.
I’ve always thought it was the norm to be a self starter.
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We’re selfish and never satisfied
Comfort is the enemy
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We’re selfish and never satisfied
Comfort is the enemy
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As Ross said above, it’s all about the risks you’re willing to take. You challenge yourself, push the boundaries, accepting before you start that it may not necessarily go completely right but you will learn something from it to apply to something else. That’s what I’ve picked up in the little time of knowing you, Mike.
I’m starting to apply this myself, not in a business sense, but in a building my house without a builder sense. I’m sure there will be problems and I’ll probably tear my hair out at some point, but I’m going to take up the challenge, do something against the “norm” (especially of what some of my friends think) and learn something.
I figure if you don’t take chances and risks sometimes, you’ll end up in 10 years time thinking ‘what if?’
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As Ross said above, it’s all about the risks you’re willing to take. You challenge yourself, push the boundaries, accepting before you start that it may not necessarily go completely right but you will learn something from it to apply to something else. That’s what I’ve picked up in the little time of knowing you, Mike.
I’m starting to apply this myself, not in a business sense, but in a building my house without a builder sense. I’m sure there will be problems and I’ll probably tear my hair out at some point, but I’m going to take up the challenge, do something against the “norm” (especially of what some of my friends think) and learn something.
I figure if you don’t take chances and risks sometimes, you’ll end up in 10 years time thinking ‘what if?’
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Thanks Nick, thanks Amilia, you guys rock!
Selfishness… yeah pretty true to a degree. I’m selfish in that I like to challenge myself and do my own thing. I hate to conform. But on the same token I love to use that selfish drive to give back and help others. Hard to define really isn’t it?
Amilia, you go girl! Don’t let anyone hold you back or steal your dreams. Sure you’re doing things differently, but that’s how the most successful people in life operate on a daily basis. Edison failed more times than most people could ever imagine but the clever bastard still managed to invent the light bulb despite his critics!
I’ve got all the time in the world for people who are passionate, driven or motivated to DO SOMETHING. I don’t care what… just don’t waste your time coasting through life and accepting the ‘norm’. We’ve only got one shot at this thing we call life, let’s do something with it I say!
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Thanks Nick, thanks Amilia, you guys rock!
Selfishness… yeah pretty true to a degree. I’m selfish in that I like to challenge myself and do my own thing. I hate to conform. But on the same token I love to use that selfish drive to give back and help others. Hard to define really isn’t it?
Amilia, you go girl! Don’t let anyone hold you back or steal your dreams. Sure you’re doing things differently, but that’s how the most successful people in life operate on a daily basis. Edison failed more times than most people could ever imagine but the clever bastard still managed to invent the light bulb despite his critics!
I’ve got all the time in the world for people who are passionate, driven or motivated to DO SOMETHING. I don’t care what… just don’t waste your time coasting through life and accepting the ‘norm’. We’ve only got one shot at this thing we call life, let’s do something with it I say!
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It is because the majority of the population just adopt the “duck and cover” strategy (thanks South Park).
I believe it is because of all three points you made Mike – but in a semi-organic order!
1. We must be born with the “seed of risk taking” embedded in our brain.
2->100. Through our upbringing and role models, we read about people who took risks that paid off, and people who live their passions not in the rat race who we strive to emulate. This motivation leads us to find similar circles of like minds and mentors who you feed off and grow.. and the cycle continues!
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It is because the majority of the population just adopt the “duck and cover” strategy (thanks South Park).
I believe it is because of all three points you made Mike – but in a semi-organic order!
1. We must be born with the “seed of risk taking” embedded in our brain.
2->100. Through our upbringing and role models, we read about people who took risks that paid off, and people who live their passions not in the rat race who we strive to emulate. This motivation leads us to find similar circles of like minds and mentors who you feed off and grow.. and the cycle continues!
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Too true Jono, kids are fearless. They don’t understand the concept of risk or fear, they just do it. Then at some age, we get drilled into us that we “mustn’t do something” because we could get hurt, etc and we carry that through.
People are scared of failure. They’re scared of “getting hurt” so they don’t jump fearlessly into something, they hold back, play the safe card, instead of recognising that something can be learnt from the good and the bad. Of course I’m not suggesting jumping into something that you haven’t developed/thought out etc, but if you’ve done your research and the only thing holding you back is yourself… it’s disappointing to see.
Just read some of those quotes you posted a while back, Mike, think I might get them printed up for the study walls. Thanks for the inspiration.
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Too true Jono, kids are fearless. They don’t understand the concept of risk or fear, they just do it. Then at some age, we get drilled into us that we “mustn’t do something” because we could get hurt, etc and we carry that through.
People are scared of failure. They’re scared of “getting hurt” so they don’t jump fearlessly into something, they hold back, play the safe card, instead of recognising that something can be learnt from the good and the bad. Of course I’m not suggesting jumping into something that you haven’t developed/thought out etc, but if you’ve done your research and the only thing holding you back is yourself… it’s disappointing to see.
Just read some of those quotes you posted a while back, Mike, think I might get them printed up for the study walls. Thanks for the inspiration.
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Hey Bro, (and friends),
I regularly read your column with interest. I think that i might be able to shed some light on your questions. We had the same upbringing but have gone in different directions. I am a 9-5er and you are certainly not. I would suggest that just because i am a 9-5er does not mean that i do not seek out and conquer challenges in everyday. The 9-5 helps me breakup my time and prioritise; 9-5 is work time, before and after is family/recreation time.
I do believe however that there are people who are happy to do just enough to get by. This is true for kids and adults alike. For some staying well within their comfort zone is just the way they like it. Im sure there is a Fight Club quote about having the “right coffee table and tie” that would fit in nicely here. Perhaps it is something to do with the way we were raised, the fact that we were always told that we were smart enough to achieve what we set out to do, and encouraged to finish what we started. I thank you for your questions as it has allowed me to reflect on my/our upbringing and to think about what opportunities Levi (Mike’s nephew) will have in the future.
To summarise, i dont work for myself not because i dont think that i could, I dont work for myself because it suits my lifestyle and that is a choice i have made. I seek challenges on a daily basis to better myself and those i work for.
Not everyone can be a boss – who would do the work?
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Hey Bro, (and friends),
I regularly read your column with interest. I think that i might be able to shed some light on your questions. We had the same upbringing but have gone in different directions. I am a 9-5er and you are certainly not. I would suggest that just because i am a 9-5er does not mean that i do not seek out and conquer challenges in everyday. The 9-5 helps me breakup my time and prioritise; 9-5 is work time, before and after is family/recreation time.
I do believe however that there are people who are happy to do just enough to get by. This is true for kids and adults alike. For some staying well within their comfort zone is just the way they like it. Im sure there is a Fight Club quote about having the “right coffee table and tie” that would fit in nicely here. Perhaps it is something to do with the way we were raised, the fact that we were always told that we were smart enough to achieve what we set out to do, and encouraged to finish what we started. I thank you for your questions as it has allowed me to reflect on my/our upbringing and to think about what opportunities Levi (Mike’s nephew) will have in the future.
To summarise, i dont work for myself not because i dont think that i could, I dont work for myself because it suits my lifestyle and that is a choice i have made. I seek challenges on a daily basis to better myself and those i work for.
Not everyone can be a boss – who would do the work?
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If you have passion for your job and love it to bits – regardless if you are working 9-5 – then I believe it will consistently challenge you and you will get as much satisfaction from it as you would running a company.
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If you have passion for your job and love it to bits – regardless if you are working 9-5 – then I believe it will consistently challenge you and you will get as much satisfaction from it as you would running a company.
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“Perhaps it is something to do with the way we were raised, the fact that we were always told that we were smart enough to achieve what we set out to do, and encouraged to finish what we started.”
You hit the nail on the head Matty! It doesn’t matter what the challenge, obstacle or goal is, we all take different paths. It’s not about rebelling against the 9-5, that’s my game but not everyone’s. As long as you love what you do, chase your dreams and get the most out of life – what more is there!?
Like I said above: “I’ve got all the time in the world for people who are passionate, driven or motivated to DO SOMETHING. I don’t care what…just don’t waste your time coasting through life and accepting the ‘norm’.”
Maybe there is no ‘norm’. Maybe there is no standard way of life. Maybe I should have finished that sentence with “… just don’t waste your life.”
I love you bro. Thanks for contributing, it means a lot! See you, Katie and that little tyke Levi in a week!
I wrote this other post around a similar time back in January titled: Where’s the love? I tell you what… I’m certainly feeling the love today! Thanks everyone, please keep participating this is great!
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“Perhaps it is something to do with the way we were raised, the fact that we were always told that we were smart enough to achieve what we set out to do, and encouraged to finish what we started.”
You hit the nail on the head Matty! It doesn’t matter what the challenge, obstacle or goal is, we all take different paths. It’s not about rebelling against the 9-5, that’s my game but not everyone’s. As long as you love what you do, chase your dreams and get the most out of life – what more is there!?
Like I said above: “I’ve got all the time in the world for people who are passionate, driven or motivated to DO SOMETHING. I don’t care what…just don’t waste your time coasting through life and accepting the ‘norm’.”
Maybe there is no ‘norm’. Maybe there is no standard way of life. Maybe I should have finished that sentence with “… just don’t waste your life.”
I love you bro. Thanks for contributing, it means a lot! See you, Katie and that little tyke Levi in a week!
I wrote this other post around a similar time back in January titled: Where’s the love? I tell you what… I’m certainly feeling the love today! Thanks everyone, please keep participating this is great!
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Hi Mike and All
It’s a facinating topic. Mostly I feel we are raised in a community that pigeon holes everyone. My parents did the same job for their entire lives without batting an eyelid and completely freak out when their children change jobs every few years or in my case churn out another business they can’t understand and then sell it- this tips them over…….
Matt is correct in terms of the choice he makes to have structure but challenges himself within that environment. One of my business partners invests heavily in our start ups and works on them but refuses to work in them…he prefers the structure and security of employment with someone other than himself.
My 5yo son has recently learned the benefit of taking risks…he siddled up to me and asked for his training wheels to be taken of his bike knowing the rule that once they come off they can’t go back on. 4 weeks and some blood loss later we spent wednesday riding around the city botanic gardens together, having lunch, people watching and sitting by the river- on the way home we were discussing how magnificent our day had been and he asked me what other things he can take the training wheels off? I answered, with a huge smile and tear in my eye, ‘Anything you like son, anything you like!’
Someone has to work 9-5, I’m just glad it’s not me!
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Hi Mike and All
It’s a facinating topic. Mostly I feel we are raised in a community that pigeon holes everyone. My parents did the same job for their entire lives without batting an eyelid and completely freak out when their children change jobs every few years or in my case churn out another business they can’t understand and then sell it- this tips them over…….
Matt is correct in terms of the choice he makes to have structure but challenges himself within that environment. One of my business partners invests heavily in our start ups and works on them but refuses to work in them…he prefers the structure and security of employment with someone other than himself.
My 5yo son has recently learned the benefit of taking risks…he siddled up to me and asked for his training wheels to be taken of his bike knowing the rule that once they come off they can’t go back on. 4 weeks and some blood loss later we spent wednesday riding around the city botanic gardens together, having lunch, people watching and sitting by the river- on the way home we were discussing how magnificent our day had been and he asked me what other things he can take the training wheels off? I answered, with a huge smile and tear in my eye, ‘Anything you like son, anything you like!’
Someone has to work 9-5, I’m just glad it’s not me!
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Great story about your son, Ken.
Understand about the parents roles as well… my mother has been in the same job 23 years and has found it very difficult to move out of the company/industry the few times that she’s decided she wants a change. No longer, it appears, is it a good thing to stay in the one spot too long. You have to demonstrate openness to change and to new challenges.
Ok, I think it’s bed time!
Cheers,
Amilia.
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Great story about your son, Ken.
Understand about the parents roles as well… my mother has been in the same job 23 years and has found it very difficult to move out of the company/industry the few times that she’s decided she wants a change. No longer, it appears, is it a good thing to stay in the one spot too long. You have to demonstrate openness to change and to new challenges.
Ok, I think it’s bed time!
Cheers,
Amilia.
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Mike, good question, and as you know it’s one with many answers that include social conditioning and where an individuals values & goals lie. But in addition to this there are two things I would like to add to the conversation …
Firstly I’d just like to say the 9-5’ers are the people who keep this world turning. They are the ones that make things happen, and give life to the entrepreneur’s vision. If we were all entrepreneurs, if we all started our own businesses, who would be left to build these great enterprises, produce these great inventions, and construct these great structures? It’s the 9-5 people who are the real heroes!
Secondly, as human beings we’re ‘hard-wired’ to seek security and safety. So why are entrepreneurs different? Well, one answer I propose is that they are all nutters (and I include myself in this!). But there could be another reason as a guy called Garrett Lo Porto reasons. In his book ‘The DaVinci Method” Garrett explains how roughly 10% of the population share a common genetic polymorphism called the DRD4 exon III 7-repeat allele (try saying that one fast three times in a row!). This is the gene which supports risk-taking & novelty seeking, and gives people increased alpha/theta brainwave patterns. He explains how this gene gives people what it takes to be a charismatic leader, rock star, firefighter or rebel billionaire, as well as some of the other symptoms which can manifest such as anxiety, ADD/ADHD, addiction, procrastination, depression and lack of success. It’s an interesting read!
But I still think we’re all nutters! ☺
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Mike, good question, and as you know it’s one with many answers that include social conditioning and where an individuals values & goals lie. But in addition to this there are two things I would like to add to the conversation …
Firstly I’d just like to say the 9-5’ers are the people who keep this world turning. They are the ones that make things happen, and give life to the entrepreneur’s vision. If we were all entrepreneurs, if we all started our own businesses, who would be left to build these great enterprises, produce these great inventions, and construct these great structures? It’s the 9-5 people who are the real heroes!
Secondly, as human beings we’re ‘hard-wired’ to seek security and safety. So why are entrepreneurs different? Well, one answer I propose is that they are all nutters (and I include myself in this!). But there could be another reason as a guy called Garrett Lo Porto reasons. In his book ‘The DaVinci Method” Garrett explains how roughly 10% of the population share a common genetic polymorphism called the DRD4 exon III 7-repeat allele (try saying that one fast three times in a row!). This is the gene which supports risk-taking & novelty seeking, and gives people increased alpha/theta brainwave patterns. He explains how this gene gives people what it takes to be a charismatic leader, rock star, firefighter or rebel billionaire, as well as some of the other symptoms which can manifest such as anxiety, ADD/ADHD, addiction, procrastination, depression and lack of success. It’s an interesting read!
But I still think we’re all nutters! ☺
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