Week 4

This week’s journal entry comes from an amazing lesson my uncle taught me. I want to attempt to capture everything in that brief lesson right here in my journal so that I will have it forever.

When it comes down to it, most people are smart and can work hard. He told me that he knows people that are smarter than him and probably more hardworking too, but he is more successful than these people. So I asked the question, “If it isn’t hard work and being smart that made you successful, then what is it?” The answer was so simple but still came as a shock and really taught me what separates regular working men and entrepreneurs. The answer he gave was risk.

My uncle was very poor for most of his life. He would start a business and for one reason or another, he would have to shut it down. There were times when he would have to let very close friends go and tell them he didn’t have any more work for them. I know my uncle’s heart and I can tell you, this was not easy for him. After many, many failures in life, my uncle never quit trying. He told me that he was broke poor and had nothing to lose so that drove him to take risks. All this effort paid off for him in the end. I am happy for my uncle and the success he found. He now owns a multimillion dollar water business and not only will he never be poor again, he has built a company to sustain our family for generations to come.

The takeaway from this lesson is risk. Risk separates the good from the best. Yes, there may be failures, but never give up. Even Henry Ford went bankrupt before he found success. But if it weren’t for his determination, we would not be where we are today. Don’t give up and take risks. And most important, don’t look back.