I learned about entrepreneurship through Y combinator’s content, Youtube videos, course lectures and speaker events from my university, books, biographies, formal work experiences and personal life observations. I am fully aware that it is impossible to describe it simply, but I distilled all of the knowledge absorbed into four sets of keywords:
- Build/create/make/invest
- Pre-sell/sell/promote/recruit
- Learn/iterate
- Work/bond with people
There is no right order for these keywords and it is not a step by step approach, because they must be accomplished simultaneously. I also believe that no matter where I am located, these keywords stay relevant especially (but not exclusively) if I can access the Internet.
How I apply them right now.
Build/Create/Make/Invest
I consider these to be the most important part of turning whatever idea I had&have into something tangible. What I launched so far is this website with random posts for anybody to read in three different languages. Even this article right now contains the ideas drafted on a private Google Doc and then shared rather than keeping them for myself or only in my mind. I also made sure to build the website quickly and cheaply. I also love investing in stock, index funds or in anything worthwhile as it gives me ownership in other ideas that inspire me or that can make my savings grow.
Pre-selling/Selling/Promoting/Recruiting
Pre-selling, selling, promoting and recruiting are all very new to me. The blog itself is online and accessible to anybody with an Internet connection and I am not selling any products or services. Rather, I am leveraging my life through online journaling and if others find it interesting, they can tune in. I am therefore more into promoting it mostly verbally by going to nearby places that I would like to visit and letting people know that I am trying to succeed with a blog and a little less through social media (although I am learning about it). Eventually, I have plans to monetize it so I am actively learning about that. Someday, I might potentially film some stuff and create some videos along with it. I have plans of using the blog audience if I ever have ideas about selling or pre selling some stuff. Although I am all about satisfying my curiosity first and just make something, I truly believe in the idea of pre-selling. I never tried it genuinely, but I will definitely lean into it when the time comes and it becomes useful. Whenever I would promote my website, I try to ask potential or current readers the right sets of questions such as what kind of content they would like to read or view. I am not actively recruiting, but I will learn how to do so on the job perhaps someday.
Learning and Iterating
I can’t learn everything, but I want to stay curious. Anything goes by and anything is worth learning as long as I genuinely want to. I try to pick up some random stuff here and there, watch documentaries, read books, cycle around to visit towns and see what is around while taking pictures, etc. I try to pick people’s brains and any famous successful person’s approach to life and goals. I also learned a lot at my previous jobs, from my supervisors and during my university years or before. If I am learning any kind of skills throughout my life, I can leverage it with my blog ( and potentially filming) to show my progress. Although I do not intend to be employed again, I keep a record of the stuff no matter how random they seem for fun. The behind the scenes of content creation and promotion would be my work experience that I would hypothetically show to any employer. This is also in case people ask what I have been up to lately or if they want to know what I have done with my time spent in a non-formal work setting, I would show them this blog and tell them that this is the type of person I am. Even when I am couchsurfing anywhere, I try to learn about the hosts, their culture and their approach to life. I am also iterating on my life and on my goals. If I am not progressing enough with my blog or with my satisfaction in my life, I must learn quickly why and what I can do differently.
Work And Bond With Others
My relationship with work has evolved throughout the years. Adults around me often made the distinction between colleagues, friends, family relatives, etc. I do not disagree when people consider work a different part of their day and then they switch off to other stuff, but I disagree with the statement that life is about separating all of those. For example, in my case, although I am technically working and promoting this blog, I try to form meaningful bonds and learn Spanish while couchsurfing. I do activities and go to events that I enjoy while having in the back of my mind ideas of working with the people I meet or recruiting them someday. There is always a professional aspect to maintain such as not intruding nor projecting too much of anybody’s personal life and to respect their personal time outside of work, but it is not as rigid as those around me suggest. I instead tell myself that if work inevitably takes a big part of my life, I want it to be worth looking back on knowing that although there were important tasks to be done or delivered, the bonding through hardships and the trust built during the journey was purposeful. It is true that relationships in formal work differ, but not to the extent that it can’t be enjoyable either.
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