[Music] [Applause]
guys I’m I’m sorry I I can’t do this I
guys I’m I’m sorry I I can’t do this I quit
daddy save for this to work you
daddy save for this to work you absolutely have to believe that I’m an
absolutely have to believe that I’m an
absolutely have to believe that I’m an expert in quitting I didn’t get a degree
expert in quitting I didn’t get a degree
expert in quitting I didn’t get a degree in quitting so you have to understand
in quitting so you have to understand
in quitting so you have to understand that I’m absolutely a quitter my name is
that I’m absolutely a quitter my name is
that I’m absolutely a quitter my name is Josh Mabus I own a marketing and
Josh Mabus I own a marketing and
Josh Mabus I own a marketing and creative firm and Tupelo Mississippi
creative firm and Tupelo Mississippi
creative firm and Tupelo Mississippi called the Mabus agency but I’m not
called the Mabus agency but I’m not
called the Mabus agency but I’m not gonna talk to you about marketing and
gonna talk to you about marketing and
gonna talk to you about marketing and advertising it will absolutely be about
advertising it will absolutely be about
advertising it will absolutely be about quitting and my experience in quitting
quitting and my experience in quitting
quitting and my experience in quitting some good some bad some of the worst
some good some bad some of the worst
some good some bad some of the worst happen right here at the University of
happen right here at the University of
happen right here at the University of Mississippi I quit school here and it
Mississippi I quit school here and it
Mississippi I quit school here and it was absolutely horrible for a long time
was absolutely horrible for a long time
was absolutely horrible for a long time when I would come back to Oxford
when I would come back to Oxford
when I would come back to Oxford Mississippi I would have these deep
Mississippi I would have these deep
Mississippi I would have these deep pangs of regret at the what I had
pangs of regret at the what I had
pangs of regret at the what I had squander this opportunity that giving up
squander this opportunity that giving up
squander this opportunity that giving up and trying to recapture through
and trying to recapture through
and trying to recapture through experience what I would have gotten here
experience what I would have gotten here
experience what I would have gotten here and only four maybe five years some
and only four maybe five years some
and only four maybe five years some quitting though has been great I quit
quitting though has been great I quit
quitting though has been great I quit drinking 11 years ago almost to the day
drinking 11 years ago almost to the day
drinking 11 years ago almost to the day last week I celebrate a sobriety
last week I celebrate a sobriety
last week I celebrate a sobriety anniversary and and and escaping from
anniversary and and and escaping from
anniversary and and and escaping from alcoholism I got my life back
it it’s given me the platform for
it it’s given me the platform for success that that I can be here talk to
success that that I can be here talk to
success that that I can be here talk to you now and alcohol probably at least
you now and alcohol probably at least
you now and alcohol probably at least had something to do with me leaving
had something to do with me leaving
had something to do with me leaving school early just truth be told I’ve had
school early just truth be told I’ve had
school early just truth be told I’ve had two businesses that didn’t succeed one
two businesses that didn’t succeed one
two businesses that didn’t succeed one of those I’m the other partners fired me
of those I’m the other partners fired me
of those I’m the other partners fired me that’s an intriguing story but too long
that’s an intriguing story but too long
that’s an intriguing story but too long for this talk let’s see I’ve averaged
for this talk let’s see I’ve averaged
for this talk let’s see I’ve averaged quitting a job every three years before
quitting a job every three years before
quitting a job every three years before this business at Island now I’ve been in
this business at Island now I’ve been in
this business at Island now I’ve been in business nine years I’m on a multiple of
business nine years I’m on a multiple of
business nine years I’m on a multiple of three so I’m getting a little a little
three so I’m getting a little a little
three so I’m getting a little a little antsy but I’m not only going to talk to
antsy but I’m not only going to talk to
antsy but I’m not only going to talk to you about my experience but I’ve also
you about my experience but I’ve also
you about my experience but I’ve also been able to work with dozens and dozens
been able to work with dozens and dozens
been able to work with dozens and dozens of startups and and some of the region’s
of startups and and some of the region’s
of startups and and some of the region’s biggest and best businesses and being in
biggest and best businesses and being in
biggest and best businesses and being in a marketing and advertising firm I get a
a marketing and advertising firm I get a
a marketing and advertising firm I get a lot of questions about creativity
lot of questions about creativity
lot of questions about creativity people want insight on that and the only
people want insight on that and the only
people want insight on that and the only inside I’ve got is that creativity is
inside I’ve got is that creativity is
inside I’ve got is that creativity is overrated it’s absolutely one of the
overrated it’s absolutely one of the
overrated it’s absolutely one of the scariest things that you can do and it’s
scariest things that you can do and it’s
scariest things that you can do and it’s a career path I wouldn’t recommend any
a career path I wouldn’t recommend any
a career path I wouldn’t recommend any of you go down by its very nature
of you go down by its very nature
of you go down by its very nature creating is making something that
creating is making something that
creating is making something that moments before didn’t exist incredibly
moments before didn’t exist incredibly
moments before didn’t exist incredibly intimidating and any creative endeavor
intimidating and any creative endeavor
intimidating and any creative endeavor is surrounded by cloud and negativity
is surrounded by cloud and negativity
is surrounded by cloud and negativity it’s just so difficult this is true from
it’s just so difficult this is true from
it’s just so difficult this is true from the from the scientists of the
the from the scientists of the
the from the scientists of the mathematician to the artist
mathematician to the artist
mathematician to the artist what’s a deeply held belief in the
what’s a deeply held belief in the
what’s a deeply held belief in the business community in business creation
business community in business creation
business community in business creation entrepreneurship it’s where we see
entrepreneurship it’s where we see
entrepreneurship it’s where we see statistics like this 80% of small
statistics like this 80% of small
statistics like this 80% of small businesses fail ever since I’ve heard
businesses fail ever since I’ve heard
businesses fail ever since I’ve heard this stat I’ve repeated it often likely
this stat I’ve repeated it often likely
this stat I’ve repeated it often likely you’ve heard it believed it and repeated
you’ve heard it believed it and repeated
you’ve heard it believed it and repeated it I didn’t hear any gasp when this came
it I didn’t hear any gasp when this came
it I didn’t hear any gasp when this came up didn’t surprise anybody I write a
up didn’t surprise anybody I write a
up didn’t surprise anybody I write a weekly business column for the
weekly business column for the
weekly business column for the Mississippi Business Journal and I
Mississippi Business Journal and I
Mississippi Business Journal and I wanted to use this as the basis for a
wanted to use this as the basis for a
wanted to use this as the basis for a column and just like any good writer I
column and just like any good writer I
column and just like any good writer I have the thing I want to talk about
have the thing I want to talk about
have the thing I want to talk about have to go find a source to substantiate
have to go find a source to substantiate
have to go find a source to substantiate it so I begin to search at searching
it so I begin to search at searching
it so I begin to search at searching search I didn’t think it would be that
search I didn’t think it would be that
search I didn’t think it would be that many searches when I started but it it
many searches when I started but it it
many searches when I started but it it took a long time to find anything and
took a long time to find anything and
took a long time to find anything and through that journey I began to question
through that journey I began to question
through that journey I began to question the stat itself because there were just
the stat itself because there were just
the stat itself because there were just circular references this article would
circular references this article would
circular references this article would reference this one would reference back
reference this one would reference back
reference this one would reference back to the first one and so on and so forth
to the first one and so on and so forth
to the first one and so on and so forth couldn’t find anything so in questioning
couldn’t find anything so in questioning
couldn’t find anything so in questioning this first it was 80% if if something
this first it was 80% if if something
this first it was 80% if if something similar happens to a group to 80% of a
similar happens to a group to 80% of a
similar happens to a group to 80% of a group normally researchers are lined up
group normally researchers are lined up
group normally researchers are lined up to study that now I’m not saying this
to study that now I’m not saying this
to study that now I’m not saying this research doesn’t exist I just couldn’t
research doesn’t exist I just couldn’t
research doesn’t exist I just couldn’t find it okay and then failure the word
find it okay and then failure the word
find it okay and then failure the word failure right that’s that’s an awful
failure right that’s that’s an awful
failure right that’s that’s an awful broad brush with which to pain I mean
broad brush with which to pain I mean
broad brush with which to pain I mean was it lack of clients was it like
was it lack of clients was it like
was it lack of clients was it like revenue like a profits I mean those are
revenue like a profits I mean those are
revenue like a profits I mean those are the the cornerstones of business I mean
the the cornerstones of business I mean
the the cornerstones of business I mean you’re in business to be in business to
you’re in business to be in business to
you’re in business to be in business to gather clients to gather up gather
gather clients to gather up gather
gather clients to gather up gather revenue to gather profits or they get
revenue to gather profits or they get
revenue to gather profits or they get hit by friggin meteor I mean why did
hit by friggin meteor I mean why did
hit by friggin meteor I mean why did these businesses fail and through this
these businesses fail and through this
these businesses fail and through this several factors showed up and also I
several factors showed up and also I
several factors showed up and also I began to develop a theory that that one
began to develop a theory that that one
began to develop a theory that that one factor failure failure itself the
factor failure failure itself the
factor failure failure itself the expectation of it and the acceptance of
expectation of it and the acceptance of
expectation of it and the acceptance of it might contribute more than anything
it might contribute more than anything
it might contribute more than anything else I’m not here to disprove that most
else I’m not here to disprove that most
else I’m not here to disprove that most small businesses fail I don’t have to
small businesses fail I don’t have to
small businesses fail I don’t have to actually in 2012 the US Bureau of Labor
actually in 2012 the US Bureau of Labor
actually in 2012 the US Bureau of Labor Statistics did that for me see I did
Statistics did that for me see I did
Statistics did that for me see I did find something in my search they
find something in my search they
find something in my search they reported that only 24% of small
reported that only 24% of small
reported that only 24% of small businesses fail in their first year and
businesses fail in their first year and
businesses fail in their first year and only 48% fell after two years so you may
only 48% fell after two years so you may
only 48% fell after two years so you may be saying Josh that’s old data 2012 well
be saying Josh that’s old data 2012 well
be saying Josh that’s old data 2012 well just think about where that sits next to
just think about where that sits next to
just think about where that sits next to the economic downturn of 2008 we
the economic downturn of 2008 we
the economic downturn of 2008 we just beginning to begin to come out of
just beginning to begin to come out of
just beginning to begin to come out of the Great Recession at that point so
the Great Recession at that point so
the Great Recession at that point so those numbers might even be skewed to
those numbers might even be skewed to
those numbers might even be skewed to the negative so now in light of this we
the negative so now in light of this we
the negative so now in light of this we can’t even say that most small
can’t even say that most small
can’t even say that most small businesses fail yet every time I bring
businesses fail yet every time I bring
businesses fail yet every time I bring this up I feel like I’m trying to change
this up I feel like I’m trying to change
this up I feel like I’m trying to change somebody’s mind I can feel the energy
somebody’s mind I can feel the energy
somebody’s mind I can feel the energy from the crowd coming in so why don’t we
from the crowd coming in so why don’t we
from the crowd coming in so why don’t we believe that so deeply I think guys like
believe that so deeply I think guys like
believe that so deeply I think guys like me other entrepreneurs may have
me other entrepreneurs may have
me other entrepreneurs may have perpetuated this just a little bit some
perpetuated this just a little bit some
perpetuated this just a little bit some strange
strange
strange well maybe not how much greater is it
well maybe not how much greater is it
well maybe not how much greater is it that I can stand in front of you with
that I can stand in front of you with
that I can stand in front of you with success having survived four and five
success having survived four and five
success having survived four and five chance of failure plus it’s a really
chance of failure plus it’s a really
chance of failure plus it’s a really good way to keep competition down don’t
good way to keep competition down don’t
good way to keep competition down don’t don’t do this thing that I’m doing it is
don’t do this thing that I’m doing it is
don’t do this thing that I’m doing it is incredibly difficult I mean I did it
incredibly difficult I mean I did it
incredibly difficult I mean I did it earlier with creativity right that might
earlier with creativity right that might
earlier with creativity right that might have been sage advice or might have been
have been sage advice or might have been
have been sage advice or might have been a ploy
how much greater the glory when you
how much greater the glory when you survive insurmountable odds makes me
survive insurmountable odds makes me
survive insurmountable odds makes me think about the time of dragons and stay
think about the time of dragons and stay
think about the time of dragons and stay with me for a second yes we’re gonna
with me for a second yes we’re gonna
with me for a second yes we’re gonna talk about dragons for just a minute a
man leaves his village and he olden
man leaves his village and he olden times going to hunt to provide for his
times going to hunt to provide for his
times going to hunt to provide for his family maybe even the entire village
family maybe even the entire village
family maybe even the entire village he’s not a particularly good hunter he
he’s not a particularly good hunter he
he’s not a particularly good hunter he hunts all day sees nothing no tracks no
hunts all day sees nothing no tracks no
hunts all day sees nothing no tracks no sign nights beginning to fall he knows
sign nights beginning to fall he knows
sign nights beginning to fall he knows it will become dangerous so he has to go
it will become dangerous so he has to go
it will become dangerous so he has to go back to the village as he’s strutting
back to the village as he’s strutting
back to the village as he’s strutting back wearily his pride is bruised Z goes
back wearily his pride is bruised Z goes
back wearily his pride is bruised Z goes to shoveled he’s trying to think about
to shoveled he’s trying to think about
to shoveled he’s trying to think about what he’ll say will he go back and tell
what he’ll say will he go back and tell
what he’ll say will he go back and tell the truth maybe or maybe it’ll be more
the truth maybe or maybe it’ll be more
the truth maybe or maybe it’ll be more like this I was just ready to go back
like this I was just ready to go back
like this I was just ready to go back when the largest buck I’d ever seen
when the largest buck I’d ever seen
when the largest buck I’d ever seen stepped into a clear and I knocked an
stepped into a clear and I knocked an
stepped into a clear and I knocked an arrow and let go with the perfect shot
arrow and let go with the perfect shot
arrow and let go with the perfect shot loose tear and it struck the deer right
loose tear and it struck the deer right
loose tear and it struck the deer right in the heart that fell dead instantly as
in the heart that fell dead instantly as
in the heart that fell dead instantly as I was going over
I was going over
I was going over I heard of crashing through the
I heard of crashing through the
I heard of crashing through the underbrush and a great dragon appeared
underbrush and a great dragon appeared
underbrush and a great dragon appeared and I barely missed some fiery breath
and I barely missed some fiery breath
and I barely missed some fiery breath luckily the dragon was more concerned
luckily the dragon was more concerned
luckily the dragon was more concerned with the deer than with me and it
with the deer than with me and it
with the deer than with me and it absconded with my prize into the woods
absconded with my prize into the woods
absconded with my prize into the woods because it’s always the biggest one that
because it’s always the biggest one that
because it’s always the biggest one that gets away right it’s a lot better than
gets away right it’s a lot better than
gets away right it’s a lot better than deciding to go back
deciding to go back
deciding to go back surviving those insurmountable odds is
surviving those insurmountable odds is
surviving those insurmountable odds is much greater than deciding to quit
much greater than deciding to quit
much greater than deciding to quit earlier if I would have quit and not
earlier if I would have quit and not
earlier if I would have quit and not come back out when somebody asked you
come back out when somebody asked you
come back out when somebody asked you have that TEDx event go likely the
have that TEDx event go likely the
have that TEDx event go likely the conversation wouldn’t have been now that
conversation wouldn’t have been now that
conversation wouldn’t have been now that first guy he got up there and done you
first guy he got up there and done you
first guy he got up there and done you know public speakings of bear and he he
know public speakings of bear and he he
know public speakings of bear and he he faced it down and by golly he just
faced it down and by golly he just
faced it down and by golly he just failed bless his heart no I don’t I know
failed bless his heart no I don’t I know
failed bless his heart no I don’t I know some of you I know but I don’t know all
some of you I know but I don’t know all
some of you I know but I don’t know all of you but I think it would go more like
of you but I think it would go more like
of you but I think it would go more like this they do joked the first guy friggin
this they do joked the first guy friggin
this they do joked the first guy friggin choked and ruined the whole rest of the
choked and ruined the whole rest of the
choked and ruined the whole rest of the event he quit me to talk to you about
event he quit me to talk to you about
event he quit me to talk to you about quitting not failing and while there may
quitting not failing and while there may
quitting not failing and while there may seem like there’s an insignificant
seem like there’s an insignificant
seem like there’s an insignificant semantic difference between the two the
semantic difference between the two the
semantic difference between the two the contextual difference is tremendous
contextual difference is tremendous
contextual difference is tremendous because failing happens to you it’s
because failing happens to you it’s
because failing happens to you it’s circumstantial events conspire to cause
circumstantial events conspire to cause
circumstantial events conspire to cause failure quitting well you you decide to
failure quitting well you you decide to
failure quitting well you you decide to do that you give up let’s put it this
do that you give up let’s put it this
do that you give up let’s put it this way if I looked at you and said you’re a
way if I looked at you and said you’re a
way if I looked at you and said you’re a quitter likely you would feel anger if I
quitter likely you would feel anger if I
quitter likely you would feel anger if I looked at you and said you’re a failure
maybe more towards sadness there is a
maybe more towards sadness there is a diff
every pathfinders work every creative
every pathfinders work every creative endeavor is clouded with negativity
endeavor is clouded with negativity
endeavor is clouded with negativity every time a new business opens there’s
every time a new business opens there’s
every time a new business opens there’s the old men down the street at the
the old men down the street at the
the old men down the street at the coffee shop who say I’ll give him six
coffee shop who say I’ll give him six
coffee shop who say I’ll give him six months it’s part of our belief system
months it’s part of our belief system
months it’s part of our belief system starting a business is difficult
starting a business is difficult
starting a business is difficult proving a new theorem is difficult
proving a new theorem is difficult
proving a new theorem is difficult putting the the first stroke of paint on
putting the the first stroke of paint on
putting the the first stroke of paint on the canvas is difficult because when
the canvas is difficult because when
the canvas is difficult because when you’re beginning something and you can’t
you’re beginning something and you can’t
you’re beginning something and you can’t see the end it’s much easier to say I’ll
see the end it’s much easier to say I’ll
see the end it’s much easier to say I’ll probably never get there it’s much
probably never get there it’s much
probably never get there it’s much easier to say how nobody came out
easier to say how nobody came out
easier to say how nobody came out support me to support me then to say I
support me to support me then to say I
support me to support me then to say I didn’t compel enough people to support
didn’t compel enough people to support
didn’t compel enough people to support me I can’t prove to you the success
me I can’t prove to you the success
me I can’t prove to you the success isn’t rare but I don’t think nearly that
isn’t rare but I don’t think nearly that
isn’t rare but I don’t think nearly that many people fail
many people fail
many people fail I think they quit because when you’re
I think they quit because when you’re
I think they quit because when you’re starting something new and you feel that
starting something new and you feel that
starting something new and you feel that the deck is stacked against you that the
the deck is stacked against you that the
the deck is stacked against you that the odds are insurmountable and that failure
odds are insurmountable and that failure
odds are insurmountable and that failure is a foregone conclusion it is much much
is a foregone conclusion it is much much
is a foregone conclusion it is much much easier to look at your circumstances and
easier to look at your circumstances and
easier to look at your circumstances and say I’m done but that’s quitting and I
say I’m done but that’s quitting and I
say I’m done but that’s quitting and I know it’s happened to me a lot it’s
know it’s happened to me a lot it’s
know it’s happened to me a lot it’s happened to me in the business that I
happened to me in the business that I
happened to me in the business that I own now I’d been in business for years
own now I’d been in business for years
own now I’d been in business for years after the first year we grew 30% for
after the first year we grew 30% for
after the first year we grew 30% for three years
three years
three years year after year I had three employees
year after year I had three employees
year after year I had three employees and things were going great until they
and things were going great until they
and things were going great until they weren’t one of my key guys quit and
weren’t one of my key guys quit and
weren’t one of my key guys quit and showed some insufficiencies in the other
showed some insufficiencies in the other
showed some insufficiencies in the other one so I let the other two and I let
one so I let the other two and I let
one so I let the other two and I let them go over time
them go over time
them go over time the clients that we work with in the
the clients that we work with in the
the clients that we work with in the beginning some of them weren’t that
beginning some of them weren’t that
beginning some of them weren’t that great some were abusive some didn’t pay
great some were abusive some didn’t pay
great some were abusive some didn’t pay their bills on time so all the markers
their bills on time so all the markers
their bills on time so all the markers of business success were we’re leaving I
of business success were we’re leaving I
of business success were we’re leaving I wasn’t an employer anymore didn’t have
wasn’t an employer anymore didn’t have
wasn’t an employer anymore didn’t have that many clients the checking account
that many clients the checking account
that many clients the checking account was running out so I felt incredibly
was running out so I felt incredibly
was running out so I felt incredibly lonely
and I felt like a failure which wasn’t
and I felt like a failure which wasn’t that odd really right I’m supposed to
that odd really right I’m supposed to
that odd really right I’m supposed to fail and I began to just accept that
fail and I began to just accept that
fail and I began to just accept that that that I’d live my life cycle and and
that that I’d live my life cycle and and
that that I’d live my life cycle and and I had to go along with this that my
I had to go along with this that my
I had to go along with this that my failure was insured and here it was come
failure was insured and here it was come
failure was insured and here it was come collect and all of this obscured a very
collect and all of this obscured a very
collect and all of this obscured a very real fact you’ve heard of the proverbial
real fact you’ve heard of the proverbial
real fact you’ve heard of the proverbial check that’s in the mail I had a literal
check that’s in the mail I had a literal
check that’s in the mail I had a literal check in the mail contract had
check in the mail contract had
check in the mail contract had automatically renewed and $60,000 was on
automatically renewed and $60,000 was on
automatically renewed and $60,000 was on its way and I don’t know if $60,000
its way and I don’t know if $60,000
its way and I don’t know if $60,000 there’s a lot of money to you but it’s a
there’s a lot of money to you but it’s a
there’s a lot of money to you but it’s a lot of money to me now then whenever it
lot of money to me now then whenever it
lot of money to me now then whenever it was sustaining life giving money and
was sustaining life giving money and
was sustaining life giving money and we’re talking money let’s hold up for a
we’re talking money let’s hold up for a
we’re talking money let’s hold up for a second okay let me tell you something
second okay let me tell you something
second okay let me tell you something failure is real I am not telling you
failure is real I am not telling you
failure is real I am not telling you that failure is false and in business
that failure is false and in business
that failure is false and in business without money you will fail this is not
without money you will fail this is not
without money you will fail this is not that Pollyanna of a presentation where
that Pollyanna of a presentation where
that Pollyanna of a presentation where you just keep your nose to the
you just keep your nose to the
you just keep your nose to the grindstone and try real hard to the law
grindstone and try real hard to the law
grindstone and try real hard to the law work out it’s not that but even with
work out it’s not that but even with
work out it’s not that but even with that money coming in I was still going
that money coming in I was still going
that money coming in I was still going through the motions to quit because I
through the motions to quit because I
through the motions to quit because I thought I was failing and if it weren’t
thought I was failing and if it weren’t
thought I was failing and if it weren’t for a brief moment of clarity where I
for a brief moment of clarity where I
for a brief moment of clarity where I saw the circumstances for what they were
saw the circumstances for what they were
saw the circumstances for what they were and I began to put the puzzle together I
and I began to put the puzzle together I
and I began to put the puzzle together I would have quit and I I wonder how many
would have quit and I I wonder how many
would have quit and I I wonder how many times that happens when somebody’s on
times that happens when somebody’s on
times that happens when somebody’s on the precipice and they’re not really
the precipice and they’re not really
the precipice and they’re not really that close to failure and they quit
that close to failure and they quit
that close to failure and they quit anyway
anyway
anyway how many times does that happen I
how many times does that happen I
how many times does that happen I believe it’s probably enough that 80%
believe it’s probably enough that 80%
believe it’s probably enough that 80% didn’t seem that odd
so this this event shine light on some
so this this event shine light on some changes I should make I I decided to vet
changes I should make I I decided to vet
changes I should make I I decided to vet my clients better to create a cash flow
my clients better to create a cash flow
my clients better to create a cash flow plan and around this time I decided to
plan and around this time I decided to
plan and around this time I decided to only hire perfect people
only hire perfect people
only hire perfect people now this drove the people around me
now this drove the people around me
now this drove the people around me insane and it didn’t just look like I
insane and it didn’t just look like I
insane and it didn’t just look like I was failing to me okay
was failing to me okay
was failing to me okay the signs were there for everybody else
the signs were there for everybody else
the signs were there for everybody else too and they said hey Josh things are
too and they said hey Josh things are
too and they said hey Josh things are not looking great and you see now this
not looking great and you see now this
not looking great and you see now this belief you’re gonna rally okay but now
belief you’re gonna rally okay but now
belief you’re gonna rally okay but now you’re talking about only hiring perfect
you’re talking about only hiring perfect
you’re talking about only hiring perfect people there’s there’s no such thing as
people there’s there’s no such thing as
people there’s there’s no such thing as perfect people well I really believed in
perfect people well I really believed in
perfect people well I really believed in my business case for putting a creative
my business case for putting a creative
my business case for putting a creative firm where I did when I did and I knew I
firm where I did when I did and I knew I
firm where I did when I did and I knew I would need help and I looked at those
would need help and I looked at those
would need help and I looked at those people and I said if I aim for perfect
people and I said if I aim for perfect
people and I said if I aim for perfect people and I come up just a little short
people and I come up just a little short
people and I come up just a little short I’ll still be doing okay so I
I’ll still be doing okay so I
I’ll still be doing okay so I implemented those changes and the next
implemented those changes and the next
implemented those changes and the next year my business doubled and the next
year my business doubled and the next
year my business doubled and the next year that doubled and it doubled again
year that doubled and it doubled again
year that doubled and it doubled again the next year luckily I can tell you now
the next year luckily I can tell you now
the next year luckily I can tell you now that we have a sustainable growth pace
that we have a sustainable growth pace
that we have a sustainable growth pace that’s not driving me insane and several
that’s not driving me insane and several
that’s not driving me insane and several years later I have twenty-something
years later I have twenty-something
years later I have twenty-something nearly perfect people and dozens of
nearly perfect people and dozens of
nearly perfect people and dozens of nearly perfect clients who work with me
nearly perfect clients who work with me
nearly perfect clients who work with me in partnership with trusts but that
in partnership with trusts but that
in partnership with trusts but that nearly wasn’t the case I nearly quit
nearly wasn’t the case I nearly quit
nearly wasn’t the case I nearly quit because I thought I was failing I’m an
because I thought I was failing I’m an
because I thought I was failing I’m an entrepreneur you may be in the audience
entrepreneur you may be in the audience
entrepreneur you may be in the audience thinking this doesn’t apply to me but
thinking this doesn’t apply to me but
thinking this doesn’t apply to me but this is for any creative and if you
this is for any creative and if you
this is for any creative and if you don’t identify as a creative this is
don’t identify as a creative this is
don’t identify as a creative this is really for anybody it’s for the math
really for anybody it’s for the math
really for anybody it’s for the math and the scientists the artists the
and the scientists the artists the
and the scientists the artists the chef’s the expecting parent the teacher
chef’s the expecting parent the teacher
chef’s the expecting parent the teacher who just graduated
who just graduated
who just graduated who’s going back to the small town to
who’s going back to the small town to
who’s going back to the small town to give back or somebody just trying to
give back or somebody just trying to
give back or somebody just trying to find meaning and purpose in their daily
find meaning and purpose in their daily
find meaning and purpose in their daily grind it’s incredibly easy to believe
grind it’s incredibly easy to believe
grind it’s incredibly easy to believe the foregoing conclusion that the
the foregoing conclusion that the
the foregoing conclusion that the naysayers will put Oni that you will
naysayers will put Oni that you will
naysayers will put Oni that you will fail but I encourage you to create your
fail but I encourage you to create your
fail but I encourage you to create your own metrics to desperately look at your
own metrics to desperately look at your
own metrics to desperately look at your own measures of success and follow those
otherwise you may quit when you’re not
otherwise you may quit when you’re not even failing because when it feels like
even failing because when it feels like
even failing because when it feels like things are falling apart
things are falling apart
things are falling apart sometimes they’re falling into place
sometimes they’re falling into place
sometimes they’re falling into place thank you
”
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