This post has been a draft with just a title in my dashboard for a while. I’m even typing this sentence weeks after writing the first. I’m not so sure why it was so difficult for me to admit that I’m a wantrepreneur, at the end of the day it isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
There is a line from The Aviator where Leonardo DiCaprio, while playing eccentric millionaire Howard Hughes, says something along the lines of, “I’ve lost millions and will continue losing millions. It’s what I do.”
That’s how I feel about the “businesses” that I’ve started over the last few years. Thankfully I haven’t lost millions and with some projects I’ve actually even made money. Albeit, not enough to cover the losses.
I love to dream. I love to create.
But, I’m shit at running a business.
“At the end of the day you’re another day older”
At the end of the day, I’ve learned a lot from my failures and shortcomings.
I’ve learned a lot from my experiences. I’ve learned what I’m good at and more importantly what I’m not good at. I’ve learned that working with others is important.
I’ve learned that being impulsive can be one of my greatest assets as well as one of my biggest weaknesses.
These projects have been an amazing opportunity to hone my own technical skills which allows me to then work on more complex projects with people much smarter than I.
Wantrepreneur? It’s just what I do
So I’ll keep doing it. I’ll keep learning. I’ll keep strengthening my strengths and finding others to work with that compliment my weaknesses. I’ll keep doing this until one day the formula works and I am a part of a successful business.
Or not.
It doesn’t matter. I’ve enjoyed the process so far and am excited about the prospect of pushing forward with new projects with great people.
It’s just what I do.
You know one of the things that’s always bugged me is the extent to which friends/family/random people often criticize people like me (and like you, I imagine) who start new things, see how they go, and then move on to something else when they have a better idea.
All those, “You need to pick something and ***stay*** with it” type of remarks… you get those a lot too?
I don’t know. I’ve always wondered how many mistakes it’s worth to be right when it really counts. Kind of like you said, you’ll keep doing things, learning, trying new things, and eventually be right enough about something that it’s worth it… or not. But either way, what difference does it make? You’re not hurting anyone and it’s what you want to do. Nothing wrong with that.
This post really resonated with me…. look forward to reading more.