Biggest fuck up?

I have made a lot of mistakes, but I think the biggest mistake of my career initially was finishing University and then thinking that I was owed something. Something that I wasn’t aware of at the time, but I guess I had the idea that I was entitled. So, I think my biggest mistake was getting sucked into the social media world, thinking that you simply build a budget website, put a few products together, and money is just going to flow into your bank account. This led me to start a gentleman’s fashion line, and I completely underestimated the sheer hard work and graft that entrepreneurs put in behind the scenes in order to position themselves where they rightfully are (again, entitlement).

I sold what I could cut my losses, swallowed my pride and learned from the situation.

At first, it was a swift kick in the balls, but over time I’ve learned to be cool with it. I must add before point two, I’m not some rich kid, I come from a working-class background, and my parents just did everything and anything they could for me.

Lightbulb moment

This leads me to my lightbulb moment. Well, two moments, but the first one is the most important

1. The thought that you are entitled or the term entitlement is nothing but a complete weakness. The day you realise this is not the case is a lightbulb moment for anyone! Failure taught me that I’m not “the man” and that no one, including me, is entitled to anything! To succeed at anything takes extreme graft and hard work. Like super hard work!

2. My second lightbulb moment was to play to your strengths and work with what you enjoy doing and what you are good at. The industry I’m in now, I actually know what I’m talking about! And If there’s something I can’t do, I bring someone on board who can. I used to think that was a weakness, but it is the complete opposite. To call in help is a strength.

Useful advice

My tip for tomorrow is, be you.

What I mean by this is I listen to podcasts every day. 99.9% of entrepreneurs are like, “I wake at 4 am. meditate for half an hour, then get in the zone”.

My tip is to be who you are. For me, I’m not a morning person, I have never been. I’m a night owl. So that’s when I’m in the zone and work at my best. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily mean it works for you. If I was to meditate at 4 am, I’d fall back asleep at 4 am! Learn what you do best, and repeat!

Another important tip; If you’re 17/18 years old and reading this, have a real think about Uni and if you are going to go. Are you going to go to Uni because you want to? Or are you going to Uni because someone else wants you to? Ask yourself that question before you make a decision.

A book I highly recommend is a book called ” The Subtle Art of not giving a fuck” by Mark Manson. It’s a fun read, and it really helps put into perspective the things in life that actually matter. It’s not directly business orientated, but the book is open to interpreting however you want.

My final tips are;

• Who cares if you fail?
• Stay humble.