Entrepreneurs - Birds Of A Feather

As an entrepreneur sometimes when you are in between projects - you begin to question everything. Everything from the big existential questions like "who am I" and "what is my purpose" - to ruminating thoughts - like "lightning doesn't strike twice" or "i'm not as young/smart/whatever as I used to be".

In my situation I have learned to recognize these thoughts once they happen. Even more than recognize them - I am able to redirect my thoughts to other things. I have learned over the years that my physical body and my spiritual body both need the same amount of attention. Making sure you eat and sleep while you obsess over what to do next is essential.

I made a list of things i'm good at. I made another list containing the things that I think made me successful in the past - and a list of things I absolutely will not do. It's easy to get to the point where you are jeleous of the cashier at the grocery store - because at least their life plan seems to be working. If they lose their job - there are a lot of potential opportunities. As an entrepreneur - you determine if you are going to get paid of if you are going to wait for something to come along.

I've realized through the years - that nobody around me has a clue about what I do or what i'm good at. People have giving up on asking me what my "latest thing" is. I've given up on trying to explain it. I don't think its the fact that I usually do something in technology that mystifies people - I think most people can pick up on my frustration as I try to explain "simple concepts" like advertising basics or the blockchain. Often i'm met with "why doesn't everyone do that then" or if they are really honest "I dont think that will work". If the people you talk to are not enterprising - you can expect them to never understand you -its up to you to find your peers.

After I made my list I realized something. In every successful business I've had - there have been a few key players. There is always a few people that are my peers - people who I am able to call up and complain about my failures and celebrate my successes. Everyone understands a paycheck - but only people who do what you do are going to understand the huge victories that are not financial.

I selected 10 of my favorite people and began to contact people. Some of the people on my list I talked to everyday for years - some people I provided services for - some people provided services for me. It didn't take me long to decide why I don't talk to most of these people regularly. I lost my stomach for their personalities. The first person I talked to was dismissive and I had to think as hard as I could to remember if I said something to them - then I remembered that the person was combative to begin with - I totally forgot that while we liked each other - shes one of those people who seems mad at you all the time.

The list of 10 was too much - I included people I worked with - regardless of whether they were employed or self-employed. I cut my list in half and only talked to the self-employed people I used to work with. All of them want to partner or develop something (like good entrepreneurs). Some of them are still trying to squeeze money out of my old industry - and some of them are onto new things.

One of my favorite people that I ever worked with contacted me. I mentioned the word block-chain vaguely when I reached out to him. It turns out he's been playing around in crypto for a few years just like myself. I suppose it makes sense that one of my biggest partners would be involved in the same industry as me.

I'm terrible at checking in with people - but there is definite value in it. While I am amazed that someone who I used to talk to daily but haven't talked to in a few years is into the same industry as me - it doesn't surprise me. After all - we partnered years ago because we were doing the exact same thing.

Contacting your favorite people is never a bad idea even if you are a complete introvert. Most people can't "do it on their own". You may find (like I did) that your peers are doing the same thing that you are - perhaps this will reaffirm your belief in what you are doing. Its hard to find people that you don't have to explain yourself too - but if youre like me and you are around people who for the most part don't understand you - find someone who does. My rekindled relationship with an old partner might not amount to anything financial between the two of us - but at least I have another person I can talk to using my entire brain power without having to explain "everything".

This is usually how it starts. An industry, and idea and the right people. Determining who your most valuable contacts are and keeping the relationship up is a good idea. You'll probably never find anyone exactly like you - but when you start talking to people who are just as excited as you about the same things - the world is a brighter happier place to be.