Confessions of an Entrepreneur

Honestly, things are not going well lately but I'm not really afraid to expose my hardships. I'm not able to post regularly as I've been busy trying to make a living my own way. I've been taking care a lot of things in business and it's driving me nuts. People actually are driving me nuts, how shocking! At the moment, I go out of my way to cater to all clients or travelers, even the ones that are not really my target market, you know, just to pay the bills. They are my short-term goals because desperate times call for desperate measures. I wish people can understand what I've been going through but we all act based on self-interest. My clients have their own objective, my service providers have their own, and I have my own needs to take care of too. I wish I can tell oh please book your tours and everything with me because I'm in a bad situation. And I'm still here, to fake it 'till I make it.

Now I get more frustrated as I see the price of cryptocurrency. As much as I want to hold my Steem, I don't really have a choice at the moment. It really pains me to change 200 STEEM for $60. But, what can I do? I've already exhausted my personal funds for my business and basic needs.

I could preach about how I enjoy my job, taking adventures, meeting people, traveling and discovering new places ... but for those who are also on a quest to do what you love, there are other things you have to face behind the scenes. What you don't know! It's not such a glorious road to success.

I am just going through all the ups and downs. As you know, I don't really have a mum's house to fall back into. So here I am, still trying to figure out how to build an empire or even just make enough money to survive here in my tiny flat close to the jungle. I am still trying to figure out how to pay the rent next month. I am still trying to figure out how to adapt to the changes implemented by the local government in terms of sustainability measures and regulations in our nature and tourists sights. I am still trying to figure out how will I be able to renew my business permit next year, pay the fees, taxes and everything. Or even how to pay my domain renewal and hosting plan. There's just too much going on and it's mentally-taxing to even think about my basic needs right now. A friend used to say, it's better not to have something to eat than not to have a roof over my head. And I fully agree.

Today, one of my supposedly trusted service providers messed things up for me. A client who promised me a good review got really frustrated with the boat crew. Good thing he is from couchsurfing and I can explain. The tour started really late and he was understandably upset. I am just really frustrated because my partners don't have a sense of ownership and started blaming everyone else. My online reputation is at stake here and nobody cares. As I said, everyone has their own objective. Sometimes, I wish I am in control of everything. I wish I have my own space in town, my own boat and train my own people because I don't like to depend on others anymore. But, I just can't afford to become a tour operator right now so I have to take it slow. I just have to keep on looking for the right people to partner with and this is the hardest part.

For those who are trying to follow the same road, don't think for a moment that it is easy. It's way harder than anyone will ever tell you. But I know, it's all going to be worth it.