2118: [Part 2] Powerful Quotes For Entrepreneurs That Will Change Your Outlook On Life by Steve Chou

[00:00:00] This is Optimal Work Daily, Powerful Quotes For Entrepreneurs That Will Change Your Outlook On Life, Part 2 by Steve Chou of MyWifeQuitHerJob.com. By publishing a single post once a week on a set schedule, writing for my blog became a weekly routine, so much so that maintaining my blog no longer felt like a chore when I was writing five times a week. Time flew by, and after three years, I started making significant money with the blog.

[00:00:27] Here's the thing, when I wanted to make money fast, it was a struggle, and I was miserable. But when my mindset and time frame changed to three to five years, blogging became a hell of a lot easier. People often overestimate what they can accomplish in a short period of time, but they vastly underestimate what can be done in the long run. By making consistent progress over time, no matter how small, you will eventually succeed.

[00:00:52] Five, quote, progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything, end quote. As I grow older, I often find myself set in my ways and unwilling to try new things. For example, when my podcast editor introduced me to Snapchat and Instagram stories, I was like, Ugh, I don't understand this tool. Why would I want my messages to disappear after 24 hours? What's the appeal? Millennials are crazy.

[00:01:21] Anyway, I didn't realize it at the time, but I must have sounded like a grumpy old man complaining about the good old days of video cassettes and mixtapes. The reason why most businesses fail is because they fail to adapt to new technology and trends. Microsoft used to own personal computing and desktop software before the world transitioned to mobile. Similarly, the field of e-commerce is constantly changing. What worked five years ago no longer works today, and you have to keep up with technology in order to thrive.

[00:01:48] So today, I make an active effort to fight my crotchety old self by keeping an open mind and forcing myself to try new things. There's always a better way to do something. 6. Quote, If you put everything off until you're sure of it, then you'll never get anything done. End quote. I don't like to fail. And by nature, I'm an analytical person, which makes it difficult for me to start anything unless I know that I'll succeed.

[00:02:14] In fact, I never would have started my first business if my wife's pregnancy didn't force me to take action with imperfect information. But over the years, I've learned to trust my instincts and my abilities. You don't have to have everything figured out from the start because you can make changes along the way. When my wife and I launched our store in 2007, we changed our target market and product positioning several times before focusing on the wedding market. I launched my online store course with no content at all, which forced me to figure out the curriculum on the fly.

[00:02:44] In my limited entrepreneurial experience, I've come to believe that any action is better than no action at all. And it's sometimes better to turn off your brain completely. Business is unpredictable. And the only way to know the outcome is to make a small, calculated bet. Seven. Quote. The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same. End quote. Bad stuff happens in business all the time.

[00:03:14] In fact, just last week, we had a few employees bail on us due to various circumstances beyond our control. For my blog, someone in Russia decided to spam all of my email forms with fake email addresses, which annoyed me to no end. When shit happens, you have two choices. You can focus on the bad and make yourself miserable. Or you can actively find a solution to your problem and improve your circumstances. The amount of energy to do both is the same. Controlling your emotions takes a lot of practice, and I'm still not the best at it.

[00:03:44] But it's important to shrug off the bad and keep your head in the game. Living your life and running your business is going to have its ups and downs. You just have to take it all in stride. And eight. Quote. Life is like a camera. Focus on what's important. Capture the good times. Develop from the negatives. And if things don't turn out, take another shot. End quote. This is probably one of my favorite quotes of all time.

[00:04:10] And whenever I'm at a crossroads in my life, I constantly refer back to this saying. Because of my personality, I often get carried away with new projects, and I sometimes lose track of what's important. For example, last year I considered going back to work and getting a full-time job because I wanted to work on a large team-based project again. I also considered starting a new software company with a few friends in my area. But when I sat down and talked it over with my wife, I realized that pursuing either one of these ventures would consume almost all of my time.

[00:04:40] I was reminded that we started all of our businesses for one main reason. To spend more time with family. So right now, my focus is with my kids, and I'm really enjoying my time with them. In fact, I'm coaching my daughter's basketball team again next season, and possibly volleyball as well. And I want to take advantage of this age when they actually want to hang out with me. I've also learned to be more grateful for what I have. Whenever something bad happens, I remind myself how lucky I am to have my family and a lifestyle that allows me to spend time with them.

[00:05:10] But probably the biggest lesson that I've gained from this quote is that it's never too late to reinvent yourself. For over 20 years, I was an electrical engineer, and I never would have dreamed that I'd end up as a blogger and podcaster. For the longest time, I didn't think that I could do anything else, and that I was going to design hardware for the rest of my life. But I've discovered that there's plenty of time to start all over again. So go out and try something new. Enjoy the process of learning and the journey.

[00:05:37] Behave like a camera, and all will be well in business and life. You just listened to part two of the post titled, Powerful Quotes for Entrepreneurs That Will Change Your Outlook on Life, by Steve Chou of MyWifeQuitHerJob.com. Oh, Chibo. Oh, fühlt sich das nach Sommer an. Die neue Sommerwäsche von Chibo begeistert mit leuchtenden Farben und fröhlichen Trints.

[00:06:07] Feine Spitze, leichte Mikrofaser und sommerliche Schnitte sorgen für pures Wohlgefühl, selbst an heißen Tagen. Entdecke jetzt die neue Wäschekollektion von Chivo und finde deine Lieblingsstücke für den Sommer. Das gibt es nur bei G. Denk an den 31. Juli. Wieso? Last call für deine Steuer. Oh no, ich weiß gar nicht, wo ich anfangen soll. Bei Wieso Steuer. Das ist wie Steuererklärung, nur ohne Stress. Ist das einfach?

[00:06:37] Klar, macht fast alles automatisch. Dauert das lange? Nö, einfach per App. Na dann. Hol dir jetzt dein Geld zurück. Mit Wieso Steuer. Bis zum 31. Juli abgeben. Und thanks again to Steve. And I just wanted to add in one thing that I didn't mention yesterday, which is that he also started his own podcast, which was briefly mentioned in this post. It's called the My Wife Quit Her Job Podcast with Steve Chou, and it is all about entrepreneurs who quit their jobs to start successful online businesses.

[00:07:04] Through a series of personal interviews, Steve uncovers the exact strategies that led to their success. So again, that's called the My Wife Quit Her Job Podcast with Steve Chou, and you can find that wherever you get your audio. So with that, I wish you a great rest of your day and weekend if you're listening in real time. And I'll be back here tomorrow with the Monday edition. And that is where your optimal life awaits.