Does the title have your attention? Today, we are serving up a dose of reality with a side of optimism by diving into a crucial topic: the rough patches we all face when making big transitions.
Yes, sometimes you have to eat a little sh*t before you reach the place you want to be.
Did you know that in 1971, a young aspiring actor named Sylvester Stallone was completely broke? He had to sell his dog for $40 just so he could get by in the short term. Talk about eating a massive plate of sh*t.
The story has a happy ending though… he later bought the dog back for $15,000.
If you’re in a rut right now because of a dead end job, a bad relationship or some bad financial decisions, don’t fret. Every journey to success starts with some less-than-glamorous moments. Accepting this as a fact will help you manage your own expectations, so you don’t get too low when things don’t go your way. Today we will cover examples of this in the following situations:
I. Starting a Business
II. Money Moves
III. Gaining Experience
IV. Get your foot in the door
V. Love and Relationships
1. Starting a Business
Launching your own venture isn’t all glitz and glamour. In the beginning, you might find yourself handling tasks you never imagined. Whether it’s dealing with paperwork, managing finances, or doing the dirty work, embracing the less attractive aspects is key. It’s like laying the foundation of a house; it’s not flashy, but it’s necessary.
You won’t have the financial resources to cover all your bases, so you’ll have to make some sacrifices in the short term. Your business won’t have any brand equity either, meaning you’ll have to accept less than ideal terms at first just to jumpstart your cash flow. Just remember this is all temporary, and part of the building phase. Once you establish a customer base and a reputation, you’ll be able to invest in more resources and be more selective with the deals you take on.
One startup I joined in the very early stages did not have the cash to pay me a salary at first. Instead, they paid me with equity and commission every month for the first six months. I racked up some credit card debt, and had to make some sacrifices on lifestyle and expenses. It forced me to focus on the business, which drove some incredible results. Within a year we were acquired by a larger company… and I got a fat paycheck when that happened.
2. Making Money Moves
In the pursuit of financial success, there will be times when you have to take on projects that don’t align with your dream job. It’s a stepping stone, not the final destination. Think of it as building a bridge – each plank might not be the most exciting, but they get you to the other side.
The key here is to not get caught waiting for the right moment. The most successful business leaders initiate, even when the conditions aren’t perfect. Being active in the market is key. If you wait for the most ideal situation, you may end up watching from the sidelines.
3. Gaining Experience
Starting at the bottom of the ladder isn’t glamorous, but it’s where you gain the experience that propels you upward. Every grunt work moment contributes to your skill set. It’s like crafting a masterpiece; you start with rough sketches before the final strokes bring out the masterpiece.
This may require you to work at an unpaid internship, or work for an unappreciative boss. In the short term it definitely sucks. But if you eat a little sh*t in the short term, you’ll be able to confidently speak to your experiences in the long term… and doors will open.
When I was 22, I landed my first gig in advertising as a sales assistant to two sales executives who were in their late 20’s. One was a totally chill dude (still friends today) and the other was a controlling, condescending woman. Not fun.
I was being paid $25k per year, had to wear a suit every day, and commuted 90 minutes each way. My commute alone cost me $11,400 per year (monthly: $300 car lease, $150 parking, $400 NJ Transit train, $100 subway card). Oh, and the job was mostly mindless data entry, while being berated by one of the sales execs.
To top it off, the NJ Transit trains were running late 3/5 days per week, so I felt constantly under the gun. You couldn’t get a seat on these trains, mind you, because my particular train station was packed. I estimate that I spent over 29 full days per year commuting! I was living at home with my parents, broke, working a pretty crappy job.
But I persevered, and after a year I applied to a new role in the company in the sports sales department, where I ended up working for the best boss I ever had. If I hadn’t gained the experience and made the connections in that first brutal year, who knows where I’d be today. Many doors would have remained closed.
4. Getting Your Foot in the Door:
Speaking of doors, you may need to take on roles that seem less than ideal to break into your desired industry. It’s like being the new guy in town – you need to make connections, even if it means attending events you’d rather skip. Building relationships is the currency that opens doors to opportunities.
Sure, it can be uncomfortable, but just remember it is only temporary. By putting yourself out there and networking, you’ll eventually find like minded people who you have chemistry with. Once that happens, you’ll build a foundation upon that base … and you’re off to the races.
I once worked for a digital ads company that sold this wonky ad unit which “featured” clouds and “keywords” floating through it. The idea was the person on the website would be so awestruck by the ad unit that they’d hover their mouse over the key word they were most interested in and click on another ad that would take them to a different website…
HUH?
Sounds ridiculous, because it was. But, I used the opportunity to get meetings with potential customers. From there, I found common ground with these folks and got them to meet me in more social settings, like lunch, happy hour, or a ball game. Over those couple years, I built some incredible relationships which ended up helping me in the future.
So yeah, it was pretty brutal and embarrassing having to pitch this laughable product in the short term, but I put myself out there and built relationships. I didn’t hide behind a computer screen and send emails, hoping and praying people would reply. Did my prospects and I have a little laugh at what I was pitching? You bet. But I kept it honest with them. They knew I was doing the job I was hired to do, and they learned to trust me.
Dating
Sadly, we don’t all marry our high school sweethearts, which means we are going to have to endure some negative experiences before we walk down the aisle one day. Whether it be a bad relationship, or dating experiences from hell, part of this process will require you to eat a little sh*t.
There will be times where you’ll be so sick of “putting yourself out there” that you’ll want to sit on the couch and not leave the house. This is natural, but in the long term, not productive. The hardest part is picking yourself up and opening your mind to the idea that your ideal woman is out there, probably feeling the same way you do, waiting to meet you.
In addition to this, you’ll be lied to, betrayed, disrespected and disappointed. While painful, chalk these experiences up to learning. It’s not just about what you want, but ultimately what you need in a partner. By going through this failed relationships, you will learn your own self much better, and you’ll quickly understand what you’re willing to accept. You will be sharper in your evaluations of potential mates, and faster to show them the door when they don’t meet your expectations. One day, they will make for some good stories, too.
(I will elaborate more on this in the coming e-book about crazy ex girlfriends… reserve a heavily discounted copy today)
So, when you find yourself knee-deep in the less glamorous side of your journey, embrace it. These moments are the fertilizer for your growth. As Vince Lombardi wisely put it, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”
Keep grinding, stay resilient, and know that the less-than-glamorous steps you take today are paving the way for a successful tomorrow. One day, you’ll never eat sh*t again.
-Your Big Bro
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”- Winston Churchill