good evening everyone my name is Isabella Efimov and today I have the
Isabella Efimov and today I have the
Isabella Efimov and today I have the honor to stand here and tell you why you
honor to stand here and tell you why you
honor to stand here and tell you why you are not an entrepreneur yet but who the
are not an entrepreneur yet but who the
are not an entrepreneur yet but who the hell am I to tell you this I am no
hell am I to tell you this I am no
hell am I to tell you this I am no different than you I’m a student at this
different than you I’m a student at this
different than you I’m a student at this university
university
university I’m studying European business and I
I’m studying European business and I
I’m studying European business and I don’t even have my bachelor’s degree yet
don’t even have my bachelor’s degree yet
don’t even have my bachelor’s degree yet but what I do have is a company it’s an
but what I do have is a company it’s an
but what I do have is a company it’s an online platform where children who are
online platform where children who are
online platform where children who are socially or financially disadvantaged
socially or financially disadvantaged
socially or financially disadvantaged can receive private tutoring for free
can receive private tutoring for free
can receive private tutoring for free via video chat from university students
via video chat from university students
via video chat from university students from all over the world and in my
from all over the world and in my
from all over the world and in my interpreter real journey that I went
interpreter real journey that I went
interpreter real journey that I went through and still going through I
through and still going through I
through and still going through I encountered five fears that were so
encountered five fears that were so
encountered five fears that were so close to prevent me from founding my
close to prevent me from founding my
close to prevent me from founding my business and death also standing here
business and death also standing here
business and death also standing here today and telling you about all of this
today and telling you about all of this
today and telling you about all of this so what did I do with those fears did I
so what did I do with those fears did I
so what did I do with those fears did I kill them buried em somehow muted tongue
kill them buried em somehow muted tongue
kill them buried em somehow muted tongue no I kept them right what I have been in
no I kept them right what I have been in
no I kept them right what I have been in my head but now they are working for me
my head but now they are working for me
my head but now they are working for me rather than against me this might sound
rather than against me this might sound
rather than against me this might sound weird to you but I’d like to imagine it
weird to you but I’d like to imagine it
weird to you but I’d like to imagine it as in a movie inside out or in German a
as in a movie inside out or in German a
as in a movie inside out or in German a legit cop
legit cop
legit cop perhaps some of you have seen this movie
perhaps some of you have seen this movie
perhaps some of you have seen this movie it’s about a girl’s mind which is
it’s about a girl’s mind which is
it’s about a girl’s mind which is controlled by five emotions all embodied
controlled by five emotions all embodied
controlled by five emotions all embodied as small and colorful characters so here
as small and colorful characters so here
as small and colorful characters so here you can see all of them fear joy disgust
you can see all of them fear joy disgust
you can see all of them fear joy disgust anger and sadness so coming back to my
anger and sadness so coming back to my
anger and sadness so coming back to my fears I’d like to imagine them as small
fears I’d like to imagine them as small
fears I’d like to imagine them as small and colorful characters as well sitting
and colorful characters as well sitting
and colorful characters as well sitting in my head controlling my mind and in
in my head controlling my mind and in
in my head controlling my mind and in the upcoming 10 minutes I would like to
the upcoming 10 minutes I would like to
the upcoming 10 minutes I would like to introduce you to each of my fears and
introduce you to each of my fears and
introduce you to each of my fears and tell you the secret of how I became
tell you the secret of how I became
tell you the secret of how I became friends with them also I believe that at
friends with them also I believe that at
friends with them also I believe that at the end of my talk you will have to
the end of my talk you will have to
the end of my talk you will have to admit to yourself that some of those
admit to yourself that some of those
admit to yourself that some of those fears or maybe even more are also living
fears or maybe even more are also living
fears or maybe even more are also living in your head so let’s start with your
in your head so let’s start with your
in your head so let’s start with your number one the fear of failure or as I’d
number one the fear of failure or as I’d
number one the fear of failure or as I’d like to call her the Titanic of course
like to call her the Titanic of course
like to call her the Titanic of course each of the fears that I’m gonna talk
each of the fears that I’m gonna talk
each of the fears that I’m gonna talk about tonight a kind of link to the
about tonight a kind of link to the
about tonight a kind of link to the sphere
sphere
sphere but what I am talking about is the
but what I am talking about is the
but what I am talking about is the complete failure the absolute worst case
complete failure the absolute worst case
complete failure the absolute worst case the sinking of the Titanic or your
the sinking of the Titanic or your
the sinking of the Titanic or your business and not just the fear of your
business and not just the fear of your
business and not just the fear of your startup simply not excelling so how can
startup simply not excelling so how can
startup simply not excelling so how can you make this very challenging one over
you make this very challenging one over
you make this very challenging one over here work for you ask her a million
here work for you ask her a million
here work for you ask her a million questions
questions
questions don’t let it simple oh my god I will
don’t let it simple oh my god I will
don’t let it simple oh my god I will fail convince you to bend your idea dig
fail convince you to bend your idea dig
fail convince you to bend your idea dig further ask what could go wrong why
further ask what could go wrong why
further ask what could go wrong why would it go wrong and what would the
would it go wrong and what would the
would it go wrong and what would the consequences be it’s like a Jenga game
consequences be it’s like a Jenga game
consequences be it’s like a Jenga game there are luckily only a few blocks that
there are luckily only a few blocks that
there are luckily only a few blocks that can make your whole construction fall
can make your whole construction fall
can make your whole construction fall apart hence it’s her task to identify
apart hence it’s her task to identify
apart hence it’s her task to identify those blocks and your task to prevent
those blocks and your task to prevent
those blocks and your task to prevent them from happening and therefore making
them from happening and therefore making
them from happening and therefore making your business fail let me tell you about
your business fail let me tell you about
your business fail let me tell you about fear number two the doorman and ladies
fear number two the doorman and ladies
fear number two the doorman and ladies and gentlemen this fear constantly
and gentlemen this fear constantly
and gentlemen this fear constantly annoys me not just when it comes to
annoys me not just when it comes to
annoys me not just when it comes to being an entrepreneur but also right
being an entrepreneur but also right
being an entrepreneur but also right before each job interview I have and to
before each job interview I have and to
before each job interview I have and to be truly honest with you also right
be truly honest with you also right
be truly honest with you also right before I came up to stage it’s the fear
before I came up to stage it’s the fear
before I came up to stage it’s the fear of not be taken seriously if you decide
of not be taken seriously if you decide
of not be taken seriously if you decide to start a business and pitch your idea
to start a business and pitch your idea
to start a business and pitch your idea to potential clients investors or your
to potential clients investors or your
to potential clients investors or your friends the fear that they are going to
friends the fear that they are going to
friends the fear that they are going to see your idea as a joke is huge but let
see your idea as a joke is huge but let
see your idea as a joke is huge but let me tell you something this one over here
me tell you something this one over here
me tell you something this one over here is your biggest and cruelest critic
is your biggest and cruelest critic
is your biggest and cruelest critic because she knows all of your weaknesses
because she knows all of your weaknesses
because she knows all of your weaknesses so let her reaction to your idea be the
so let her reaction to your idea be the
so let her reaction to your idea be the highest hurdle to overcome she’s
highest hurdle to overcome she’s
highest hurdle to overcome she’s basically the doorman standing in front
basically the doorman standing in front
basically the doorman standing in front of the door that is going to release
of the door that is going to release
of the door that is going to release your idea to the whole world so you can
your idea to the whole world so you can
your idea to the whole world so you can be sure that if you turn your face from
be sure that if you turn your face from
be sure that if you turn your face from this to this you will feel confident and
this to this you will feel confident and
this to this you will feel confident and also be able to show that confidence
also be able to show that confidence
also be able to show that confidence while pitching your idea to literally
while pitching your idea to literally
while pitching your idea to literally anyone let me mention that this process
anyone let me mention that this process
anyone let me mention that this process of getting through the door is not only
of getting through the door is not only
of getting through the door is not only going to happen at the beginning of your
going to happen at the beginning of your
going to happen at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey it is surely
entrepreneurial journey it is surely
entrepreneurial journey it is surely going to happen at multiple milestones
going to happen at multiple milestones
going to happen at multiple milestones such as releasing a new product in your
such as releasing a new product in your
such as releasing a new product in your assortment or in my personal experience
assortment or in my personal experience
assortment or in my personal experience reans it was launching our updated
reans it was launching our updated
reans it was launching our updated platform and now it’s time to introduce
platform and now it’s time to introduce
platform and now it’s time to introduce you to my third friend the question mark
you to my third friend the question mark
you to my third friend the question mark or also known as I don’t know anything
or also known as I don’t know anything
or also known as I don’t know anything and I have no experience in building a
and I have no experience in building a
and I have no experience in building a business sorry everyone but I kind of
business sorry everyone but I kind of
business sorry everyone but I kind of have to admit that she’s right I didn’t
have to admit that she’s right I didn’t
have to admit that she’s right I didn’t have any entrepreneurial experience and
have any entrepreneurial experience and
have any entrepreneurial experience and my knowledge in this area was also not
my knowledge in this area was also not
my knowledge in this area was also not admirably but still I somehow made it
admirably but still I somehow made it
admirably but still I somehow made it this far
this far
this far so let’s break this down she is pointing
so let’s break this down she is pointing
so let’s break this down she is pointing out two things knowledge and experience
out two things knowledge and experience
out two things knowledge and experience I won’t tell you anything new by saying
I won’t tell you anything new by saying
I won’t tell you anything new by saying acquire knowledge through internet or
acquire knowledge through internet or
acquire knowledge through internet or ebooks but let’s face it unless your
ebooks but let’s face it unless your
ebooks but let’s face it unless your name is Sergey Brin or Larry Page you
name is Sergey Brin or Larry Page you
name is Sergey Brin or Larry Page you cannot just Google your way to become a
cannot just Google your way to become a
cannot just Google your way to become a billionaire you need to have the
billionaire you need to have the
billionaire you need to have the experience however it doesn’t have to be
experience however it doesn’t have to be
experience however it doesn’t have to be your own experience in the first three
your own experience in the first three
your own experience in the first three months having founded my startup I
months having founded my startup I
months having founded my startup I struggled a lot with public relations
struggled a lot with public relations
struggled a lot with public relations and getting my idea into the press I
and getting my idea into the press I
and getting my idea into the press I noticed that there is a company also
noticed that there is a company also
noticed that there is a company also nonprofits well established with the
nonprofits well established with the
nonprofits well established with the mission of helping financially
mission of helping financially
mission of helping financially disadvantaged children to get into
disadvantaged children to get into
disadvantaged children to get into university this company frequently gets
university this company frequently gets
university this company frequently gets a lot of positive attention from press
a lot of positive attention from press
a lot of positive attention from press so I found a way to get into contact
so I found a way to get into contact
so I found a way to get into contact with the founder and asked her for help
with the founder and asked her for help
with the founder and asked her for help not only did I received an extensive
not only did I received an extensive
not only did I received an extensive list of all big of contexts from all big
list of all big of contexts from all big
list of all big of contexts from all big newspapers in Germany also I got a
newspapers in Germany also I got a
newspapers in Germany also I got a mentor who I still ask for advice up to
mentor who I still ask for advice up to
mentor who I still ask for advice up to now drawing from her experience helped
now drawing from her experience helped
now drawing from her experience helped me substitute my own
me substitute my own
me substitute my own lacking experience to wrap the sphere up
lacking experience to wrap the sphere up
lacking experience to wrap the sphere up let her find the question marks the gaps
let her find the question marks the gaps
let her find the question marks the gaps that need to be filled so that you can
that need to be filled so that you can
that need to be filled so that you can start building your knowledge and
start building your knowledge and
start building your knowledge and network based on that before fear
network based on that before fear
network based on that before fear concerns something that makes the world
concerns something that makes the world
concerns something that makes the world go round
go round
go round something that can’t buy you happiness
something that can’t buy you happiness
something that can’t buy you happiness but choose another fun stuff I am
but choose another fun stuff I am
but choose another fun stuff I am talking about money and it slag is
talking about money and it slag is
talking about money and it slag is probably the biggest fear and obstacle
probably the biggest fear and obstacle
probably the biggest fear and obstacle faced by entrepreneurs before and you
faced by entrepreneurs before and you
faced by entrepreneurs before and you they take the plunge and start a
they take the plunge and start a
they take the plunge and start a business totally understandable
business totally understandable
business totally understandable and being a students I know this feeling
and being a students I know this feeling
and being a students I know this feeling really well so there is a quote by the
really well so there is a quote by the
really well so there is a quote by the American inventor Ken hakuta that
American inventor Ken hakuta that
American inventor Ken hakuta that highlights something very true he says
highlights something very true he says
highlights something very true he says the lack of money is not an obstacle the
the lack of money is not an obstacle the
the lack of money is not an obstacle the lack of an idea is an obstacle for the
lack of an idea is an obstacle for the
lack of an idea is an obstacle for the purpose of this talk I would like to
purpose of this talk I would like to
purpose of this talk I would like to adapt as quote a bit and say the lack of
adapt as quote a bit and say the lack of
adapt as quote a bit and say the lack of money is not an obstacle the lack of
money is not an obstacle the lack of
money is not an obstacle the lack of creativity is an obstacle
creativity is an obstacle
creativity is an obstacle use your energy and creativity on
use your energy and creativity on
use your energy and creativity on finding more affordable ways to receive
finding more affordable ways to receive
finding more affordable ways to receive the same or similar outcome rather than
the same or similar outcome rather than
the same or similar outcome rather than on worrying to getting the money needed
on worrying to getting the money needed
on worrying to getting the money needed I did that mistake and this is exactly
I did that mistake and this is exactly
I did that mistake and this is exactly how I wasted six months of my
how I wasted six months of my
how I wasted six months of my entrepreneurial journey let me tell you
entrepreneurial journey let me tell you
entrepreneurial journey let me tell you about this adventure as you can imagine
about this adventure as you can imagine
about this adventure as you can imagine my idea is very technical because it
my idea is very technical because it
my idea is very technical because it consists of a platform that connects
consists of a platform that connects
consists of a platform that connects people online none of the agencies and
people online none of the agencies and
people online none of the agencies and web developers I contacted wanted to
web developers I contacted wanted to
web developers I contacted wanted to help me for free instead they calculated
help me for free instead they calculated
help me for free instead they calculated an amount between three and six thousand
an amount between three and six thousand
an amount between three and six thousand euros for the platform development from
euros for the platform development from
euros for the platform development from that moment on I solely focused on
that moment on I solely focused on
that moment on I solely focused on gathering this money which obviously
gathering this money which obviously
gathering this money which obviously failed so after six months I finally
failed so after six months I finally
failed so after six months I finally realized that I have to find another way
realized that I have to find another way
realized that I have to find another way and I did I taught myself basic web
and I did I taught myself basic web
and I did I taught myself basic web design and web development skills build
design and web development skills build
design and web development skills build a simple website created to Google Docs
a simple website created to Google Docs
a simple website created to Google Docs where tutors and duties could sign in
where tutors and duties could sign in
where tutors and duties could sign in and started connecting them myself via
and started connecting them myself via
and started connecting them myself via email around three months later my
email around three months later my
email around three months later my company received a social engagement
company received a social engagement
company received a social engagement award and 1500 euros do you see the
award and 1500 euros do you see the
award and 1500 euros do you see the irony what I want to say with that is
irony what I want to say with that is
irony what I want to say with that is this fear limited my view on only one
this fear limited my view on only one
this fear limited my view on only one possible way to get to the end goal so
possible way to get to the end goal so
possible way to get to the end goal so that I ignored all the other ways to
that I ignored all the other ways to
that I ignored all the other ways to reach that same goal therefore make this
reach that same goal therefore make this
reach that same goal therefore make this fear and large review and figure out
fear and large review and figure out
fear and large review and figure out other cheaper ways to get what you want
other cheaper ways to get what you want
other cheaper ways to get what you want the last but certainly not the least
the last but certainly not the least
the last but certainly not the least fear is called the plate and you will
fear is called the plate and you will
fear is called the plate and you will recognize it when you hear something
recognize it when you hear something
recognize it when you hear something like
like
like starting a business will be too much on
starting a business will be too much on
starting a business will be too much on my plate coming out of your mouth as I
my plate coming out of your mouth as I
my plate coming out of your mouth as I was and still am a student when I
was and still am a student when I
was and still am a student when I started my business this thought was
started my business this thought was
started my business this thought was constantly present and I believe that
constantly present and I believe that
constantly present and I believe that because many students are sitting in
because many students are sitting in
because many students are sitting in this audience today and maybe some of
this audience today and maybe some of
this audience today and maybe some of you also think of becoming entrepreneurs
you also think of becoming entrepreneurs
you also think of becoming entrepreneurs you can relate to this fear it’s crucial
you can relate to this fear it’s crucial
you can relate to this fear it’s crucial to become friends with this fear why
to become friends with this fear why
to become friends with this fear why because business opportunities won’t
because business opportunities won’t
because business opportunities won’t wait for you to graduate and pick you up
wait for you to graduate and pick you up
wait for you to graduate and pick you up from your graduation party it’s not
from your graduation party it’s not
from your graduation party it’s not whenever and you can make it happen now
whenever and you can make it happen now
whenever and you can make it happen now if you let this fear identify what is it
if you let this fear identify what is it
if you let this fear identify what is it worth putting on your plate investing
worth putting on your plate investing
worth putting on your plate investing your time into and for the other tasks
your time into and for the other tasks
your time into and for the other tasks add plates ask friends for help build
add plates ask friends for help build
add plates ask friends for help build your team in my personal experience I
your team in my personal experience I
your team in my personal experience I put business development and marketing
put business development and marketing
put business development and marketing on my plate and for social media local
on my plate and for social media local
on my plate and for social media local expansion and public relations I ask
expansion and public relations I ask
expansion and public relations I ask friends for help who I can now also call
friends for help who I can now also call
friends for help who I can now also call my team also be aware of the fact that
my team also be aware of the fact that
my team also be aware of the fact that once you give up control to others you
once you give up control to others you
once you give up control to others you really have to give it up the
really have to give it up the
really have to give it up the perfectionist among us including me can
perfectionist among us including me can
perfectionist among us including me can have a hard time to fully give up
have a hard time to fully give up
have a hard time to fully give up control over certain business areas
control over certain business areas
control over certain business areas therefore it’s so important that you
therefore it’s so important that you
therefore it’s so important that you find a team you trust will do a good job
find a team you trust will do a good job
find a team you trust will do a good job and show you how valuable their input is
and show you how valuable their input is
and show you how valuable their input is and now ladies and gentlemen do you
and now ladies and gentlemen do you
and now ladies and gentlemen do you remember my statement at the beginning
remember my statement at the beginning
remember my statement at the beginning of this talk I wanted to tell you why
of this talk I wanted to tell you why
of this talk I wanted to tell you why you are not an entrepreneur yet so here
you are not an entrepreneur yet so here
you are not an entrepreneur yet so here is my response
is my response
is my response there is no reason anymore I want you to
there is no reason anymore I want you to
there is no reason anymore I want you to say goodbye to your enemies that took
say goodbye to your enemies that took
say goodbye to your enemies that took the decisions in your life for way too
the decisions in your life for way too
the decisions in your life for way too long and say hello to your new friends
long and say hello to your new friends
long and say hello to your new friends let those fears regardless of them being
let those fears regardless of them being
let those fears regardless of them being 5 10 or 100 turn you into the makers the
5 10 or 100 turn you into the makers the
5 10 or 100 turn you into the makers the creators rather than the procrastinators
creators rather than the procrastinators
creators rather than the procrastinators start now because we have way too many
start now because we have way too many
start now because we have way too many ideas and too little time left
ideas and too little time left
ideas and too little time left don’t you think thank
don’t you think thank
don’t you think thank [Applause]
”
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