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Paying the Price: What Everyone Gets Wrong
Good ideas don't make you money.
I’m also on Medium - check that out if you prefer 🙂 also free for you!
This one is about reframing uncertainty and anxiety as indicators that you're on the right path. If that doesn't interest you, I'll see you next week - there, just saved you 5 minutes.
I remember the night I decided to dive into entrepreneurship. It was the same night I found a job after 8 months of searching.
For literally a decade, I told myself I would start my own business when I found a job, and was no longer under my parents' influence. Now that day had come. I was fresh out of excuses.
I was about to take a leap into the unknown, driven by nothing more than the desire for something more out of my life. Little did I know that this moment of fear and excitement was just the beginning of a journey that would demand everything of me, and give everything in return.
We've all heard the stories—the college dropout who builds a tech empire from his garage. The dropshipper who made millions flipping fidget spinners. These tales of instant success are intoxicating, but they're also dangerously misleading. They gloss over the sleepless nights, the failed prototypes, and the moments of crippling self-doubt that are the true hallmarks of the entrepreneurial journey.
The reality is far less glamorous, but infinitely more rewarding. It's a labyrinth of challenges, each turn offering a new lesson, each dead-end an opportunity for growth. And at the heart of this labyrinth lies a truth that many aspiring entrepreneurs overlook: the real price of success isn't just hard work—it's the willingness to face uncertainty head-on.
59% of adults report that fear of failure holds them back from starting a business. I was part of that statistic for years, letting the fear of the unknown keep me tethered to the safety of college, internships, then a 9-5.
But here's what I've learned: uncertainty isn't just an obstacle—it's a prerequisite for innovation. Every great entrepreneur I've met or studied has one thing in common: they've learned to dance with uncertainty, to use it as a signal that they're pushing boundaries and exploring uncharted territory.
The key isn't to eliminate uncertainty—it's to build the resilience to move within it. This is where many aspiring founders stumble. They wait for the perfect moment, the foolproof plan, the guaranteed success. But in doing so, they miss the very essence of entrepreneurship: the ability to act decisively in the face of the unknown.
If uncertainty is the ocean we must navigate, resilience is the ship that carries us through the storm. It's not just about bouncing back from failure—it's about using each setback as a stepping stone to greater heights.
Research from the International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research shows a significant positive correlation between resilience and business success, including growth, profitability, and even happiness. But how do we build resilience?
For me, it started with reframing my relationship with failure. Each misstep became a data point, a valuable lesson that brought me closer to success. I remember the crushing disappointment of my first sales call. But instead of retreating, I watched and rewatched the recording, despite feeling like I was going to throw up from the awkwardness.
This resilience isn't built overnight. It's forged in the challenges, tempered by persistence, and strengthened by an unwavering desire for the outcome. I find that resourcefulness, bone-headed determination, and optimism are still my most valuable assets.
If you're on the edge of entrepreneurship, I say this: embrace the uncertainty. Build your resilience not by avoiding challenges, but by facing them head-on. Seek out discomfort as a sign of growth, and surround yourself with a support system that understands your vision.
Remember, the price of entrepreneurial success isn't just hard work—it's the willingness to embrace transformation. It's about becoming the kind of person who can navigate the maze, learn from every wrong turn, and emerge not just as a successful founder, but as a visionary leader ready to shape the future.
So, are you ready to pay the price? The maze awaits, and with it, the opportunity to discover your true potential. The journey won't be easy, but I promise you this: it will be worth it.
WordRobin Update
We finally have a version of the copilot that will take you from an idea to finished article.
It’s exciting to me because for the first time, I feel like WordRobin actually writes better than I can.

Expensive Writing
I’m confident that I’ve built the most expensive writing AI to run 😄
I’m sparing nothing to get that last 10% of performance from our models.
Each piece of writing takes on average 26 separate steps to complete.
What’s next?
I still have some kinks to iron out, but these new features should ship soon! 🙂
This is exciting!
with love, Ben
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