How to Create Your Future in 2 Questions
1901:
“…long before the year a.d. 2000, and very probably before 1950, a successful aeroplane will have soared and come home safe and sound.” ~ H.G. Wells, Anticipations: Of the Reaction of Mechanical and Scientific Progress Upon Human Life
October 9, 1903:
“The flying machine which will really fly might be evolved by the combined and continuous efforts of mathematicians and mechanicians in from one million to ten million years…” ~ New York Times, Flying Machines Which Do Not Fly.
On that same day, Orville Wright wrote in his diary, “We started assembly today.”
December 17, 1903:
The Wright Brothers successfully completed their first flight.
The great science fiction writer missed the mark by nearly half a century. The great newspaper missed it by one to 10,000 millennia. But two lowly entrepreneurs didn’t care about the predictions.
Entrepreneurs know you can’t predict the future. So change your focus.
Think like an entrepreneur. Don’t try to predict your future. Create it.
So let’s talk about how to create your future. You do it by answering two questions:
What resources are readily available now?
Get out a pen and paper. Write down your thoughts as you consider the following.
How much time can you dedicate to building something for your future? Can you commit any money? If so, how much?
And by money, we don’t just mean the paper stuff. Think about all the physical assets you already own which may be useful to create your future. For example, your computer is money.
You have also invested time building relationships. And time is money! This social capital is a valuable resource in creating your future.
Don’t forget your intangible assets. What knowledge and know-how have you gained from your education and experience? What is easy for you that others find difficult? What do you love to do that other people hate?
What can you do with them?
Now you’re ready to review your list of resources. As you do, look for patterns.
As an example, you may be really handy. You love to tinker. You have the tools to prove it! You have a number of people in your network who aren’t so inclined. Why not start a home repair business?
Another example would be that you’ve “collected” a whole lot of “stuff.” Put your computer to work and sell your wares on eBay or Craigslist.
We met a man who became a billionaire in a similar way. He didn’t have visions of being an entrepreneur. But he ended up building a Fortune 500 company.
Now do it.
All the thinking in the world will be a waste of time if you don’t act upon it. So get started.
Once you start operations, the learning really begins. You’re in the marketplace. You’re gaining insights.
You learn and adapt to create your future. Like many entrepreneurs, you may end doing something completely different. But one way or another, you’ll reach BIGG success!
Image in this post from stock.xchng
