Moral Support for the “Wicked”

I always get edgy when the accidental “expert/consultant” starts dropping quotes my way.  It makes me wonder why they can’t come up with their own brilliance.  It’s especially irritating when you are actually paying for the advice – as you can imagine.  Nonetheless, I’d like to share two quotes with you – mind you, at no cost.  Because, I have found both these statements to be very helpful to persevere during my entrepreneurial career.  They just might come in handy in yours too.

The first quote I would describe as help in maintaining your courage under fire – read it whenever you go meet a prospective investor.  It’s from Walter Bagehot, and it goes a little something like this:

“One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.  It makes you think that after all, your favourite notions may be wrong, your firmest beliefs ill-founded.  Naturally, therefore, common men hate a new idea, and are disposed more or less to ill-treat the original man who brings it.”

The second one, I would describe as help in maintaining your entrepreneurial “genome” (and pride) – use it word-for-word whenever you’re asked how it is to be an entrepreneur.  It’s from Niccolò Machiavelli, and he’s no longer around to claim the royalties.

“Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.”

Well, I could not have come up with better statements, no brilliance of my own here.  Furthermore, may I suggest that for all other matters of life you regularly listen to Baz Luhreman’s Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen).

Take care.