Building a company: Be ready for the ring.
Building a company is crazy town. The challenges are so much more diverse than I ever would have thought before I dove in. The opposition is so much stronger than I ever could've planned for, and it's comes from every direction. Sometimes it even feels like the people you're out to help are against you. It's a marathon, not a sprint, and if you're not in it for the whole race, there is really only one outcome… you lose. If you're not ready for it, don't get in the ring. Because sometimes the ring sucks.
Whether it's a failed partnership, a disappointing hire or firing someone you really liked, a trust broken or your own character being questioned, or most often plain old self doubt – there are always forces working against you. The only way to make it is to keep your head up so that you can see what punches are coming your way. And to continually iterate on how to counter. But beware, the inevitable result is you're going to take a few slugs in the nose.
But even after taking one in the nose there is really no better feeling than being in the ring. No better thrill than taking on the most difficult challenge you can possibly find. If you ignore the weapons of the opposition you're done, but if you study them and you hustle and show an endurance that outlast your opponent, you start to get a few punches in and slowly the tables turn. Your opponent starts to feel the pressure they once brought on you. But you can't slow down. Thinking you're on top for too long means you're about to get rocked.
You've gotta keep pushing. Lean forward even when you think it may not be necessary. If you've always got your foot to the pedal and you're bouncing, moving, hustling, you will win… but being in the ring and the process of winning isn't always fun, but winning definitely is.