From time to time my mind circles back to a frustrating question to which there truly is no answer: What is the smallest thing in the universe made up of? Because if something exists, it can be divided into something smaller and so on ad infinitum (if you have a few extra minutes, this demonstration on the size of the universe will blow your mind). Hang on to that thought for just a second while I tell you where I’m going with all of this.
Throughout my (relatively short ) life so far I’ve learned one very important rule that applies to just about anything. It’s motivated me through the darkest times and helped me maintain perspective through the best. It’s so simple, yet so powerful and it’s just three words: there’s always more.
Just like my question about what makes up the smallest particles in the universe, there is always more to just about anything in life if you stay in pursuit. In terms of being an entrepreneur or business person, there’s always going to be another chance to succeed or fail (therefore, one can have hope after disappointment and caution after hitting a high-point). In life, there will always be another death around the corner as well as another birth.
So what’s the takeaway from all of this? What does this have to do with motivation? Since there will always be more X to come, the key is to always be prepared to carry on. The future doesn’t have to be a mystery. While you can’t know exactly what will happen, especially at any given time, you can generically understand that there will always be more fluctuation in the economy (during a downturn is an excellent time to start a new business), more competition, more opportunity, more rain, more sunshine, more to learn, more to… you get the point.
Whatever you are facing, whether good or bad, just tell yourself: there’s always more. It will motivate you to not give up.
To summarize: never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER, give up. Build the company of your dreams, face your fears, speak in public, fail, start over, shine. There’s always more.
