Recently the following questions asked through facebook:
- Is the point ultimately to make a living from one of these entrepreneurship adventures?
- How many people have actually done this?
- Why did you choose to go into website building instead of making a living from one of the adventures.?
I’ll do what I can to give my perspective on these questions. And, fyi, I’m answering the questions here because of a suspicion that others may have some or all of the same questions.
Is the point ultimately to make a living from one of these entrepreneurship adventures?
I would not say that the point is to make a living from one of these activities — at least that is not how I take it. For me the point is mostly about being of service and maybe a little about personal evolution — whatever that means.
It’s clear to me that each of these endeavors stretch my horizons well past my normal boundaries. In the course of normal events I would never have thought of myself as a selling sculptor, jeweler, selling painter, or salesman of sort.
I was designed by nature to be a scientist, most likely in university teaching and research. Or, perhaps in the private sector in a company such as Bell Labs. That is what my background and externally imposed life expectations prepared me for. And, I would have been good at it. Whether I would have stayed in Quantum Mechanics (my graduate school degree) or migrated into medical research, pharmacology, biology, earth sciences, or chemistry is anyone’s guess. My interests in science are quite broad. Who knows I may have mixed science with my interest in early education and become a new generation Mr. Wizard.
All of that is pure speculation. Fact is, my life destiny was diverted into a multitude of different directions by my essential interest in bringing about the liberation of all beings everywhere. Service was more important than a career.
This willingness to be of service has brought me into dance, music, writing, pan handling, consulting, jewelry making, antiquities, education, programming, sales and much more.
Each time I entered into one of these entrepreneurial adventures the point was not financial. The point had more to do with supporting the group and service. However, even though the point was not financial, making it work financially was important.
Take for example my adventures in SnoCone sales. I did not start with the question “How can I make some money?” then settle on the answer: “I know, I’ll go to fairs and other crowd gatherings and sell SnoCones.” Nope. Never would have happened.
The notion of doing SnoCone sales came from a combination of three things: 1) being of service, 2) supporting the group in its activities, and 3) making money. And, it so happened that all three of those aims were served well by SnoCone sales. For a very modest investment in blocks of ice and sugar syrup we could make $500 on a slow day and $1500 on a good day.
And, as it turns out the financial aspect of the adventure was a great thermometer of how well we were doing with our attention to the project.
The same was true with chocolate bar sales. For many weeks I totally sucked at chocolate bar sales, then one night I got the hang of being present, recognizing the spiritual nature of the process, and being a conduit for a transaction that had nothing to do with sales or chocolate. The money transaction of the chocolate bar sale was a coincident event happening at the same time as a very different transaction occurred.
So yes, money can be made, and should be made — but mostly as a measure of your ability to walk the path laid before you by the parameters of the particular entrepreneurial adventure.
For example, if you decide to follow the path of selling t-shirts and fail miserably, that is an indicator of a challenge you have yet to successfully meet. If no one else managed to sell t-shirts successfully then that would be a different story. But, many people have done pretty darn well at selling t-shirts. So, how well you do can be a measure indicating your current challenge and hopefully giving you clues on how to handle it.
How many people have actually done this?
Many. Many people have actually done this. The Truffle Shop has been running successfully for almost two decades now. That started as an entrepreneurial adventure. The Perfumerie is either 20 years in business or will be soon. It also started as an entrepreneurial adventure. Another friend has a very successful fire safety business that started as an entrepreneurial adventure. And, I’ve supported myself since 1981 through one or another entrepreneurial adventure.
Why did you choose to go into website building instead of making a living from one of the adventures?
Actually website building was originally one of these adventures — and still is. It just doesn’t happen to be one of the adventures talked about much on the ICW broadcasts.
The website building is a modern manifestation that began as a programming and support company called Computer Rescue Squad formed by myself, David C., Wayne H., and Nancy C. back in 1981-ish. This was very definitely an entrepreneurial adventure which had a multiplicity of goals and aims — not the least of which was supporting The Institute at a time when most of the support staff was on the road doing other types of entrepreneurial adventures — including producing Creation Story Verbatim off broadway, and running a major series of workshops in New York.
Computer Rescue Squad was a huge success in my eyes. We made enough money to support a large group of people, we had many opportunities for service, and went through the alchemical fires. The reason you don’t hear of Computer Rescue Squad now is not because the company failed. Rather, we split in several directions and several different business entities. All of which continue until this day — changing form as time and opportunity dictates.
Does this mean you can do it or better yet should do it?
Not necessarily. As they say YMMV (your mileage may vary). I have seen many people go through the beginning motions of an entrepreneurial adventure only to fail. As any business planner and if they are honest they will tell you straight up that the vast major of new businesses fail.
My dad worked for a major aerospace company with great retirement benefits and a secure job. He would have been silly in the head to drop that job and start up his own entrepreneurial adventure. That is definitely how it looked until the day the company fell victim to the slowing space race. The stock went through the cellar, great retirement was gone, gone, gone. And, everyone except the night watchman and the janitor was laid off.
Would he have been better of if he did start an entrepreneurial adventure? I don’t know. He was an electrical engineer. Brilliant with this hands. But, I don’t know if he would have developed the business head required to make it in his own business. Maybe yes, maybe no. With a wife and two kids to support that was not a risk he was prepared to take. Without an alternate higher purpose for starting such a business he probably made the best decision. We will never know.
If he asked me what he should do, knowing what I know now, I would have suggested he devote his spare time to whatever entrepreneurial adventure he was dreaming of. Then, if it started to take off and was gaining traction to weigh the balance and make the leap if it seemed right. But, before making the leap, see how it goes by starting and making a weekend success of it.