Taking the first step in any new journey is never easy. Those feelings of uncertainty when you are leaving the familiar shores of your comfort zone and the aching feeling of fear of failure or disappointment are your constant companions.
But what happens when you just know that the timing is right to spread your wings and just do it?
Something Was Missing
I’ve heard this phrase countless times from other entrepreneurs I worked with. Like them, I’ve reached a certain point in my life where I just knew that something is missing and I craved for more.
I had a great career ahead of me as a senior marketing and business development manager in a cozy 9-5 day job, but there was one small problem that just kept nagging inside my head and pounding my brain, first with a small pick and then later they have transformed into bursts of blows with a war hammer:
“I felt that I am making other people rich, and by working for others I could never accomplish my dream of financial freedom for me and my family.”
Sounds from my frustration and ego
You see, I’ve been doing business in the digital marketing echo system for over 10 years. I’ve helped companies to make over 30,000,000 USD in sales revenue for some of the top-notch clients in the industry, including Advertisers, SaaS companies, Publishers, Affiliates, Banks, Fintech companies and many others.
Related post about my experience in sales: How To Overshoot Your Sales Goals and Bring $5.5M In Just One Year!
Now please don’t get me wrong here. I highly appreciate and I am grateful for all the career opportunities that those companies have offered me. By working for them and by working with some of the smartest people in the industry, I was able to learn so much. I was also fortunate to gain experience and expertise in the fields that matter to me the most.
But I kept on asking myself, and trust me, I couldn’t help it: O.K. and then what? What’s next?
What Happened Then?
The last startup I used to work for had to close one of their main activities and cut short on over 75% of their manpower. I was one of those people they had to let go of. It’s just the way it is and nothing personal.
By working in a super dynamic industry that is surrounded by a red-ocean competition, you must be able to thrive or dive. There was no bad blood, grudge or anything like that. Those were just poor market circumstances together with fierce competition and up to this day, I keep telling very good things about that company and I am in a very good relationship with my ex-boss.
Regardless of that fact, I was still jobless, and I had responsibilities towards my family (back then, my wife just gave birth to our beautiful baby girl and the expenses kept on rising).
Since someone else has decided that for me, I had 2 options on the table: Either apply for another job in my industry and go back to my 9-5 career and not leaving my comfort zone (And boy, let me tell you that the first thing my brain wanted to do instantaneously was to apply for my next job :-)) Or to look at my life and ask myself what do I want to achieve? Who do I want to become and what makes me happy?
The Answer Was Easy For Me
Just like a small seed of hope, nurturing and waiting for the right moment. Now is the time. I am ready.
Just like Seneca said:
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Luckily, I was ready; I had a plan, and I was well prepared.
So much happened since I’ve started my company. I am a blogger, a keynote speaker, I invest in building digital assets and I help companies and startups to drive more leads and sales by high scale business development. I feel that I am helping other organizations and companies by creating value in terms of revenue and connections.
The best part of this? I keep doing what I love most with only one exception; I now work for myself, and it means the world for me.
Oh, and I still have doubts. Being an entrepreneur is never easy, and you have to adjust all the time. Remember? Thrive or Dive? But I feel more confident, and I was lucky to meet with other great people who wanted to help me and trusted me with unbelievable opportunities to grow and discover what I can achieve.
I now work for myself, and it means the world for me.
Alex L.
I now work harder than ever, but I also create opportunities that I could never dream of when I was working for others. Looking forward to 2020 and meeting with new and inspiring people.
Alex Lyhovez (MBA).
