Image — Cinematic Orchestra Concert Visuals, The Light Surgeons
Soundtrack — Bass head Jazz, Cee-Lo Green
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The definition of “Emerging” has been treated somewhat as an elusive entity, or an enigma if you will. Shifting from a default title to a marker of an achievement, then a mentality or preparedness and most recently and ideology at its most advanced.
In a recent article titled ‘Perhaps you should give up’ by Dan Norris (Entrepreneur, Author & International speaker) he stated:-
’What I found, after I had some success in business is that business success is not about hard work at all. Entrepreneurs are not athletes. Successes in business often come down to a tiny moment in time where a decision is made for some reason that drastically impacts the trajectory of the business. And from that point forward, momentum kicks in and success comes far easier. The irony is that quite often that decision is to stop working hard. To stop persisting. To give up.’
It should be no surprise that the thought of giving up has come up more than once. In fact, if it hasn’t I would question whether you have been pushing hard enough thus far. This can be brought on by fatigue, negative comments from your nearest and dearest and/or persistent failures and barriers. This is the norm and should be expected.
Norris continues stating ‘When I was running my agency for 7 years earning minimum wage, I worked my arse off. I never took a holiday, worked 12 hour days most days, never ever switched off, I had hosting customers calling me at 5am on my weekends regularly! I’d never worked harder, but the business was a dud. I was working hard and persisting with a shit business.’
This is where I disagree, failure in his previous ventures are not a testament to the quality of his ideas or businesses, but an indication that his business models were potentially inappropriate or unsustainable for the idea. There are three pillars to a successful business; first establishing the business, second sustaining or maintaining it and thirdly growing the company. Notice finances have not been mentioned at this juncture. A successful business is not defined by its profits but its growing demand. Once these pillars are secured, enters the possibility of monetising the company also known as the fourth pillar. A good example of this is the genesis of Facebook.
It’s important to clarify that this is not a counterargument to Norris’s article but a raised flag, as a warning to those who are beginning to define success through generalised markers. In context to creative emergence” publications such as Dazed, Fader, It’s Nice That, Creative Review and countless others use criterions to justify who can be labelled as “emerging”. That criteria may not be relevant to you. Allow me to explain, I’ve continually asked myself; Why does the definition of emerging continue to change? What are we as creative actually chasing? Why is the achievement of reaching key markers of success so anticlimactic?
To which I respond, What is actually of value, the accomplishment or the process? This is what distinguishes the world into two categories, One those who seek markers to mark their achievements to justify their end. Two, individuals groups who are seduced by the process, and fail to acknowledge their ascension and wish those markers of success meant more. As a result, they maintain a desire to continually grow and emerge to new levels. This is what separates the many from the few.
To conclude, Gallup Chairman Jim Clifton offers a description of entrepreneurial talent.
‘This is what to look for in an entrepreneur: somebody with an idea that totally consumes him — an idea that becomes the way he thinks, a way of life, and an obsession. That obsession fuels unstoppable optimism and determination. All businesses have terrible problems, but highly talented entrepreneurs enjoy the problems, even welcome them. Untalented entrepreneurs are destroyed by these problems. That’s why just wanting to be an entrepreneur isn’t enough. Encouraging people to be entrepreneurs the usual way — just take a class, get a loan, and then you’re ready — is setting them up to fail.’ — This Man Turned Three Bad Ideas Into Fortune 500 Companies,
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Follow @iam_clq for daily updates on his “emerging” journey.
In partnership w/ Shades of Noirr
