The Measure of Success or Failure

My last blog referring to David Mulling’s (Co-founder Real Vibez Media) Facebook note got a tremendous response! Many persons were inspired by his revelation. When my article was featured on the front page of Fast Company.com (coupled with David’s PR dexterity), I was contacted by the author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, Mike Michalowicz . Talk about the law of attraction!

I was sent an autographed copy of this great book (thanks Scott Bradley!) and I look forward to reading it and doing the juicy book review. I have already started on the preface, and I am cracking up. Mike uses humor throughout and his ‘tell-it-like-it-is’ quality has me looking forward to every chapter!

Anyway… that is just a teaser of what is to come. The book is for entrepreneurs with no clue, little resources and no experience…a.k.a… This was written for PAULA YEE SING-EDWARDS! But I am sure you can find some stuff that speaks to you too, after all, Mike printed enough copies for you too…

“The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur’s “get real”; actionable approach to business is a much-needed swift kick in the pants.”

I love it!!!

What I actually wanted to talk about today is… the measure of success or failure. I was speaking to my husband last night about my life experiences years ago and comparing them to my life today. In high school and university I was faced with much financial obstacles… no money for food, books…uniform… it was hard, BUT I persevered and achieved all my academic goals that I set. I earned a scholarship, awards, and even the ‘Student of the Year’ award for the University. Today, while developing my business and have faced so many roadblocks, I started feeling like a failure (I hate using that word to describe me- but I must be honest). I am continuously told that I am hard on myself… I can’t help it, I set high goals. This caused me to wonder about the other side…people who do NOT set goals. Do they suffer feelings of disappointment and failure? Or are they calm, cool and happy? If so…who is better off? The astute goal setter who is hard on herself or the calm individual who doesn’t suffer sadness due to obstacles?

If two individuals are in college, one works around the clock striving to do well while the other has no goal or interest in getting good grades, and at the end of the day they BOTH get Cs…. Did one fail and the other succeed? Did the hardworker fail in his efforts? Or did the carefree one succeed in spite of lack of effort?

Are success and failure relative? I NEVER thought of them being relative to individuals and circumstance. Of course I have thought about a successful person who makes tens of thousands as opposed to a successful person making millions, but both, in my mind were successful. But what if that “thousandaire” was striving for millions? Did he fail? If he tried a business venture and it went under, did he fail? If a counterpart had a business without any serious interest in its growth and development, and it went under….did he fail?

Are failure and success directly proportional to goals and efforts? Or are they standard entities that exist regardless… if both persons’ businesses go under, are they BOTH failures? The “Thousandaire” and the Millionaire…are they BOTH successful regardless of the set goals?

What are your thoughts? How do you measure your success?

The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur- Building Business Block by Block

Stock Photo

I read a Facebook note this morning that simply blew me away in its empirical simplicity and reality. It was by David Mullings, entrepreneur and co-founder of Random Media LLC which in turn owns and operates Real Vibez Media. Real Vibez is fast becoming a brand synonymous with quality media marketing and delivery; pioneering ways individuals access and enjoy Caribbean Culture and Entertainment.

David recently endorsed the book “The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur”, which I am eager to read and review (see his testimony on the back of the book). He is in great company with the likes of Donny Deutsch, Host of CNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch & Chairman, Deutsch Inc. and Bill Bartmann, self-made billionaire & National Entrepreneur of the Year (twice) by USA Today, Inc., and E&Y & Founder of Billionaire Business Systems.

The note, titled “David’s Most Recent MBA vs. TPE Moment” (TPE=Toilet Paper Entrepreneur), was about David’s recent “Eureka!!” moment about building his business.

He received a mind-blowing tip from an advisor, “B” which simply stated:

“… prioritize the top 5 things and knock them down one by one. Build Rome brick by brick.”

David’s MBA thought process was to seek funding to pay a company to build the whole “house” at once but “my TPE brain says to start laying bricks right now instead of waiting on the loan approval to buy the house.”

How many of us still think that way? We have great ideas, but await the ‘big money’ before we can make progress.

STOP IT! Stop it now!

Hahaha! Sorry for the harsh reprimand. But in this day and age of entrepreneurship in the current economy, it seems the best solution may be the ONLY solutions… build Rome, build YOUR Empire… brick by brick. I am by no means an economist, nor do I consider myself an entrepreneurial expert. But I am a GREAT TPE student and apply things I learn daily to the development of my own businesses.

I have registered a cleaning and concierge company in New Jersey and am taking my time (and little resources) to buy my Vacuum cleaners, solutions etc one by one. And you know what… the company will become operational much faster than awaiting the big loans or the big check. Similarly, my soon to be launched entertainment magazine, YaadNoyz Magazine has enormous potential to be a heavy player in the Entertainment Media industry, but I am building it slowly and carefully, using the resources available now while seeking more and progressing forward at all times.

Apply David’s “Eureka!!” moment to your own life and business development strategy. Instead of being stagnant because of lack of money and resources, use what you already have to build from the bottom up… of course, without compromising quality and your own standards. You will be in great company with EBay, You Tube, Yahoo and PayPal which all used this building-block strategy (The TPE way).

Thanks for this early morning inspiration David (I read it at 5:30AM). Anyway, I am out… have blocks to build!