Comments on: When the going gets tough…

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:25:38 +0000

Thanks Neel. I really am inspired by everyone’s responses. It seems we’ve all been through this and have to stick together through the tough times and the good.

By: Neel S. Sus

Neel S. Sus — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:08:32 +0000

Chris,

This is an awesome article. I’m pressed used to the stress of entrepreneurship but definitely am bookmarking this to rejuvenate when feeling down!

“No one ever erected a statue of a critic”.
Neel

By: Lessons Learned:

Lessons Learned: — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:51:55 +0000

[...] Larry’s comment, on Chris’ post, which is worth reading as well. No TweetBacks yet. (Be the first to Tweet [...]

By: Wesley Verhoeve

Wesley Verhoeve — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:51:41 +0000

awesome post, very inspiring! thanks chris

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:15:07 +0000

Thanks Larry, love that Teddy Roosevelt quote. I’m going to file that away, that really is a great one.

By: Larry

Larry — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:14:45 +0000

Hi Chris,

Great post, and something we all need to hear (and keep in mind) when we’re “in the midst of it” and things are going badly.

It’s funny – one would think that if you were doing what you truly wanted to do, that you’d wake up every morning psyched, positive, and chompin’ at the bit to get at it. But that doesn’t happen – which can make you question yourself (Is there something wrong with me?) and what you are doing. (Is there something wrong with my idea/project?)

Well, that’s not the way life works – nobody gets a free ride, regardless of what they are doing. And you’re right – when you come out the other end, you realize that while it may have been really hard and sucked at times, that it was those trials that contributed most to your growth as a person of substance.

In closing, here’s a truly great quote from Theodore Roosevelt that speaks to “The Journey”:

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

By: David Crais

David Crais — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:22:05 +0000

Chris,
I would add one thing I’ve found healthy. It’s also something I’ve learned from friends of mine who trade commodities at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and with stock traders…keep a Journal. It allows you to “have a conversation” with yourself, get thoughts out, and look at the situation objectively. It’s surprising how much you can learn my ‘brainstorming’ a situation by putting thoughts on paper, listing the details of events, jotting down observations, etc. I’ve logged everything since around 1987 into standard Composition Books. I must have at least 30 single spaced notebooks of about 120 pages each, most in pencil (I like the feel of pencil on paper better than ink). I have a system of putting new ideas on things to explore along the top margin, key observations in the left margin, secondary observations in the right margin, and I draw a line down the center of the page vertically while writing from left column to right column. When I’m in a meeting I write my notes on the right side and notes from the meeting or presentation on the left side.
The key is it’s NOT a diary. It’s not a dreamy catalog of idle ramblings. There is a linear purpose to the work. It’s very much like the content of that what we be posted on a whiteboard during a strategic planning session with a group, but it’s personal, only your ideas. What it does do is give you perspective, objectivity, and the reflection and self awareness to so that you can put both praise and critism to work for you. It’s about logic, not emotion.
I know many successful people who do this. When you’re in the world of Innovation and Startups, by definition you are in uncharted waters (or you should be, if not, what you’re doing may not be very innovative). It’s hard to find objective advice because many times only you have the vision of what you want to achieve. Others, no matter how well intentioned, can’t see what you can. If it was that obvious, everyone would be doing it.
I’ve found using a simple notebook as a vehicle to channel these thoughts and ideas to be very valuable. In fact, it’s interesting to go back to notes I’ve written in the past (I also date and time stamp every entry with the location I’m in at the time…most have been on planes or in hotel rooms around the country and internationally since around 1992 since I’ve spent so much time on the road) and see how things progressed (or regressed, which is sometimes unfortunately the case) since I first made the notes.
Anyhow, I like your comments, and I’ve found that using a simple notebook as a tool to channel the items has helped much, especailly for those of us in often lonely ventures or positions.
Good blog, I liked it.

By: Chris Schultz

Chris Schultz — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:18:01 +0000

@David – you are exactly right. It’s like the trolls you see on TechCrunch sometimes. It can be so easy to criticize, but you notice the people who create and understand how hard it is are generally much more supportive.

By: David Herrold

David Herrold — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:45:32 +0000

“It’s much easier to criticize than to produce something for someone to criticize.”

Amen to that, Chris. It takes an amazing amount of creativity and internal fortitude to create something – and almost no effort to criticize it.

Thanks for reminding people of this.

By: Chris Schultz

Chris Schultz — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:23:22 +0000

@Jeff – it is all about perseverance. Although I got my MBA and concentrated in entrepreneurship, nothing has taught me more than doing. And failing. Just have to pick yourself up and keep on rockin’.

@Scott – thank you, I know you’re working hard and have a lot of wonderful ideas. Keep on rollin’ with it, and you are going to get there.