The best way to face adversity is to willingly choose it.

Consider two scenarios…

Imagine you’re walking around your house when, suddenly, a 135-pound weight appears across your shoulders.

It came from out of nowhere. You stagger. Every muscle in your body fires in a desperate struggle to keep you upright. Your mind goes blank. Your heart races.

It’s an intense, potentially dangerous situation that you had no control over. It’s terrifying.

But now imagine you’re in a gym. You’ve been working out consistently for months, and it’s time to test your limits.

You place 135 pounds on your shoulders. You squat down, then start pushing. Every muscle fires. Your mind goes blank. Your heart races.

It’s an intense, potentially dangerous situation. But it’s thrilling. You celebrate when you’re done.

Both scenarios are almost identical, with one critical difference.

In the first scenario, you didn’t choose the challenge. In the second scenario, you did.

That’s the difference between terror and triumph.

So if you want to be an entrepreneur, make a habit of facing challenges head-on, rather than waiting for problems to drop in your lap. See if you start having more triumphant days than terrifying ones.

It’s simple—successful entrepreneurs don’t multitask. At least, not in the traditional sense.

But we all know entrepreneurs wear many, many hats. At times, they’ll juggle acting as CEO, the marketing department, sales, support, HR, and accounting. Even thinking about that level of multitasking makes many peoples’ brains shut off!

But the science is clear—multitasking doesn’t work. Hopping back and forth from task to task takes a massive toll on your brain’s efficiency. One study showed it lowers IQ 15 points, putting most people in the intelligence range of the average 8 year old.¹

Trying to successfully multitask is one of the greatest barriers to becoming an entrepreneur.

So entrepreneurs, being the problem solvers they are, have developed a simple solution—don’t multitask. Period.

Instead, they’ve learned two workarounds…

Leveraging flow. That means turning off the phone, going on do-not-disturb mode, and giving their entire attention to the task at hand. They work on one priority at a time for a sustained period to maximize their focus and efficiency. Then, they move on to the next task.

Delegating the small stuff. Remember, the super power of entrepreneurs is their team. Once they can hire employees, this frees up their time to focus on the important tasks that require their full attention.

So if you’re afraid of starting a business because you don’t think you can handle all the multitasking, don’t be. Just remember to focus on one task at a time, and delegate the rest.

As other doors close, the one to entrepreneurship remains wide open.

It’s no secret that there’s an uprising among employees. It’s called the Great Resignation. The cause? The fact that workers…

-Want to earn more money

-Feel burned out and unsupported

-Lack leadership and mentorship¹

And so they’ve quit in the millions.

Can you relate to that? Do you feel like your boss doesn’t really care about your well-being or career? Is your gut telling you that your talents could be earning you more?

Perhaps you’ve worked hard for a raise, only to get passed over in favor of someone less qualified.

Or maybe you’ve explored new opportunities, only to find employers are requiring outrageous qualifications for little pay.

Plan A was getting a promotion. Plan B was getting a new job. And now, both seem impossible.

So what’s next? “Plan E”, the path to entrepreneurship.

Your Plan E leads to the entrepreneur lifestyle—owning your day, working when you want, collaborating with whomever you like.

It’s your escape plan for making a smooth transition from where you are now to the business and lifestyle you want. This plan gives you an easier way by lowering risks and removing obstacles. And most importantly, your ‘Plan E’ can put you in the helping hands of experienced mentors who can guide you on your journey.

Make no mistake—there will always be stumbling blocks along the road to building a business.

But a solid plan can keep you moving forward in spite of those hiccups so you’re not forced to retreat back to employment. It’s the difference between hitting a dead end or hitting the mark.

Any successful “Plan E” must assess…

The Risks that can end an entrepreneur’s dreams

The Reality that the most rewarding success will also be the most painful to earn

The Mindset that you’re either growing or dying

The Answers about which industry and market you’ll serve—and how.

The People you go into business with who are critical to success

The Options of going into business spare-time, part-time, or full-time

The “E-Factor” of becoming a digitally-enabled entrepreneur

You don’t need permission. Once you’ve made your “Plan E”, you’re free to begin your mission. You’re ready to make the move.

If you have any questions about entrepreneurship, let me know. As part of the e2E movement, it’d be my privilege to help guide you from employee to entrepreneur.

There are two ways to think about failure. One leads to unrealized potential. The other leads to overcoming obstacles.

But they don’t start where you might think. They’re actually both rooted in how you think about your ability.

The first mindset thinks ability is inherent. When you accomplish something, you’re proving that you have innate talent, and maybe even superiority over your peers.

The second mindset thinks ability can be developed. They see accomplishment as the result of problem-solving, practice, and effort.

See where this is going?

Adopt the first mindset, and you’ll see failure as an indicator that you are not enough. You failed because, on a fundamental level, you don’t have what it takes.

And those thoughts are the enemy of success. Why put in the effort if you believe you’ll fail just because of who you are?

Adopt the second mindset, and you’ll see failure as an indicator that you’re not quite there yet. Tweak this and hone that, and you’ll overcome your obstacles in now time.

That’s the mindset of success. Once you see your effort transform failure into triumph, you may find yourself almost addicted to developing your skills.

Which mindset have you adopted?

The research seems to show that yes, entrepreneurs are born.

This excellent article from Entrepreneur breaks down the data. And both a survey of twins and exploration of data suggest that entrepreneurial tendencies are inheritable.

In other words, some people are just born entrepreneurs.

But there’s an important caveat that the article wisely includes.

Having entrepreneurial tendencies doesn’t guarantee you’ll be successful.

That’s because success is determined by experience. Research shows that age and industry knowledge play a crucial role in determining entrepreneur success.¹

Think of it like this…

That urge you have to create and accomplish and seize opportunities? You’re born with that.

Converting that drive into a successful business? That’s made.

Entrepreneurs are born. Successful entrepreneurs are made.

So if you’re driven to own your own business, what steps have you taken to become a successful entrepreneur?

Have you started a side hustle? Have you found a support network of aspiring entrepreneurs? What about a mentor who’s started a successful business?

Find those, and you might be on the path towards turning your entrepreneurial potential into successful business reality.

There is no single path to entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurs come from every country, background, skillset, and career you can think of.

They’re an assortment of dropouts, dreamers, stay-at-home moms, restless executives, blue collar workers, the young, the old, and everyone in between.

What they all have in common is boldness—they see an opportunity, and they seize it.

Will they become successful entrepreneurs? That depends. If they find the right opportunity, the right business plan, and the right support, it becomes far more likely.

That’s the entire purpose of e2E—it’s a movement of entrepreneurs dedicated to mentoring anyone seeking to make the move from employee to entrepreneur.

So if you have the ambition to start a business, but feel overwhelmed by the prospect of entrepreneurship, let’s talk. We can discover what it would look like for you to transform your path into a path towards entrepreneurship.

It’s simple—the things you actually want are painful to earn. The things you settle for don’t.

That doesn’t mean settling is easy. There’s a price for apathy. It just comes further down the road. And often, it’s unbearable.

The alternative? Striving for the things that are worthwhile.

If you’re reading this article, that likely means taking the plunge and starting a business.

Why? Because it’s the only way you’ll create the freedom you actually want. No other path gives absolute responsibility over your destiny.

And yeah, it’ll be hard.

Your business often comes before family.

Your comfort zone becomes a thing of the past.

Fun gets indefinitely paused.

It will be worth it—if you endure it.

And the only way you’ll endure it is if you embrace reality from the start. Recognize that the most rewarding success will be the most painful to earn right now. Own it. Then, start building your future.

Considering entrepreneurship? Answer these two questions…

Who are the people you pour your money and time into the most?

And…

What is the accomplishment, pursuit, lifestyle, or dream that drives you?

Your answers to these questions are what inspires you.

They’re your two whys.

And when things get tough, they’ll be what keeps you going.

So, what are your two whys?