Steak and egg sandwichEarly bright moonUnder the covers with a mooseBudding photographerBuilding a snow wallHe upgraded to a bigger shirt stuffed with more stuff Serious smashing going on#sumo kidsThrough the car window into the rain


Freedom

Guy on chair in field

A very wise man once told me (OK, it was recently):

There’s a certain freedom in being completely fucked.

He was quite right. Just to be clear: He was speaking in the context of running a startup. A lot of startups get very close to crashing directly into the wall and exploding. A lot more startups get to that point than you realize (you just don’t get to hear all the stories.) When you get right to the wall and things have nearly completely fallen apart, you can either collapse and give up, or put your head down, crash through the wall and hope that your brains don’t explode out your ears as a result.

Getting to the stage of being completely fucked can be liberating. And the minute you’re free, you have an opportunity to get re-energized, re-inspired and re-focused. You can throw all your plans in the garbage, take the hard lessons learned and apply them and your talents in new ways that you hadn’t previously given yourself the chance to think about.

Crashing into the wall (unless that means you actually go bankrupt and you’re out of business) can free you. It gives you that chance. And as an entrepreneur it’s those moments that you need to seize and own. Otherwise you wither away and disappear.

Thank you wise man.

image courtesy of shutterstock.

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December 17, 2009 Posted in Startups by

  • davidsakamoto

    The next time I find myself in this situation, I will remember this blog. I love it.

    What a great way to look at one of those death imminent situations.

  • http://www.business901.com Joseph T. Dager

    Very nicely said Ben! I was reminded of this in a conversation tonight with someone getting ready to go into business for themselves. I tried to explain the feeling of driving home on a Wednesday(this was many years ago) and wondering just how in the hell I was going to make payroll for 15 people on Friday! There is a certain feeling that does come over you.

    P. S. I was lucky, someone gave me an order the next day and transferred money.

  • roypaeth

    Well put. That crashing through the wall can lead to that big breakthru.

    Roy Paeth
    Chicago First Time Home Buyer

  • http://ILIAA.org/ Nick Perry

    This is absolutely, positively, unquestionably my favorite blog post EVER. I've felt that several times and have never put it into words quite so well. GREAT post!

  • http://trendtradesystems.com/ trend trade systems

    Good point. When you really get squeezed and you're up against it and you have no way out seemingly, what's on the inside comes out. I've learned probably more than any time.. watching others and myself as well go through all sorts of tradedy from death to bankruptcy.

  • http://www.arcurs.com/download-free-vectors Royalty Free

    I am impressed with the content of the article. I have been trying this method and I have seen some real improvements. This method is very useful.

  • http://autoinsurance.ucoz.com/ carinsurer

    Useful method. He helps us to contest with our fears.
    Fears are main reason of failures of personality.

  • Garryhopkins

    When I read the heading I wondered 'why' ! what the need for such a heading?
    Went through this and I do confirm this as a part of my story as well ! I really got f—ed up and frankly that was the thing which liberated me and made me get on to that thing once again till I was convinced that the kill has been made :)

  • http://www.kolomdiagnosa.com/ Joe

    whooaa..becoming entrepreneurship is great thing! i always want to be…i'm indonesian blogger here.nice to read your article.

  • http://Bigbearcabinsinfo.com/ Big Bear Mountain Cabins

    Having been in that position I completely agree with the wise man's words. I think it all comes down to the character of the individual facing the situation. Strong folks who embrace the reality of their situation and bear down, while weak people will throw their hands in the air, determine it was never meant to be, and just give up. While the title of the article is a bit unorthodox, who wise man spot on.

  • canonxtidigital

    Fantastic post! No one really succeeds unless they fail and the ones who fail the most succeed the most! I printed this and posted it in my office as a reminder!

  • http://www.gobid.com/ Lea

    I love your post! Have a break, loosen up! You have the right to be just you. No one wold do it but you yourself.

  • http://www.sacekimi-ankara.com/ saç ekimi

    very useful article i have found it with googling. You seems like number one of this subject ;)

    Regards

  • http://www.fidelitylocksmith.com/ Beverly Hills Locksmith

    It has hit the nail at the right time. It is just the great blog post ever. You have put in such a painful and dreadful experience in such simple words that it help to get you a break-through.

  • barsandnightclubsaustralia

    I'd rather be F#@$%D and working for myself then getting F%#$@&D by someone else thats for sure…!

  • traidnt

    rhanks for this blog

  • http://freemicrosoftpoints.net/ Microsoft Points

    That is quite true. When you find yourself in an unappealing circumstance that may seem unsurmountable, it sometimes can be a great feeling to just move off of it and be free for a while, then come back to it, and when everything is said and done and the aftermath has played, you can build yourself back up. As I like to think, the builders know the building better than the architect.

  • http://www.all-auto.ro/asigurari-auto asigurari auto

    freedom is the essence of democracy. We have lived 50 years in communism and we know how it

  • http://www.caricowater.com/ Carico

    I get most of my work done and do some of the best worked when I am at my darkest hour. Some people sink and I always find a way to swim so I really enjoyed your article and couldn't agree more! There is a sort of freedom that comes with it.

  • http://www.spartanmoving.com/ dan

    Very true! dont most small business are subject to failure anyway?

  • http://wwwancalalot.com/ Ancala Lot for Sale

    Very well said! :) I'll bookmark this page!

  • http://www.alajeeb.co.cc/ alajeeb

    Thank you wise man.

  • dlauder

    This is sooo true. I started my own business over a year ago – and even though it was the heart of the recession, and tough at times (I came to know that wall very well).
    But a year later – the amount I've learned from the experience can't have a price placed on it. Not to mention, for now anyway, that wall is in the rear view mirror.

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Benjamin Yoskovitz

    Duncan – Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I'm glad to hear the wall is well behind you.

  • http://www.marketingpracticality.com Duncan

    You're welcome. Not the first time I've stopped by, but the first time I actually posted a comment to your content (which is very good).
    I guess the real lesson is balancing risk and reward, because, to some degree, it's hard to fully understand this post's message without going through it. Sure I would have conceptualized it before, but not really understood it. But if it works, the trade off is extremely rewarding.
    At any rate – keep the great posts coming. Your website is a great resource.

  • Pingback: My Focus for 2010: Freedom

  • pls46ne

    Very good article !! great work !!

  • charicesmith

    Yes! This blog is really great! Thanks for posting such a nice blog!

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  • http://miamilocksmith.info paula Locksmith miami

    I thing that optimistic people and pessimists die the same, so live your life in a positive way

About Ben Yoskovitz
I recently joined GoInstant as VP Product. GoInstant changes how we use the web, making it shareable like never before.

I'm also a Founding Partner at Year One Labs, an early stage accelerator in Montreal. Previously I founded Standout Jobs (and sold it). I'm a hands-on startup guy, helping companies grow successfully from the idea forward. You can reach me at byosko at gmail dot com.

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