Secrets to STARTUP SUCCESS

AND NOW, A WORD FROM THE UNIVERSE

Students of religion, philosophy, or self-help will note that the mo­tivational atmosphere around entrepreneurship has a familiar ring. It mostly parallels historical traditions that encourage self-discovery and self-improvement. Celebrated U. S. mythologist and writerJoseph Campbell reminded us that the powerful theme “Follow Your Bliss” resonates through ancient stories and myths of all cultures.10 Like­wise, adherents of The Law of Attraction, a positive thinking concept popularized in 2007 in the movie and book The Secret—and one that proliferated quickly through the you-can-do-it blogosphere—dates back to the world’s earliest societies.

One of the most well-known passages ever written on the topic of commitment was attributed to the nineteenth-century German writer Goethe, who wrote “Whatever you can do or dream, you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”111 was influenced by this passage during the 1990s, as I prepared to quit my salaried position (as a husband and a father of a six-month - old girl) to start an independent consulting practice. And I’ve shared similar materials with my clients from time to time, bringing relevant historical wisdom to the challenges of today.

The point here is that optimism travels well, and it has done so across the ages. It’s as if some god of startups has been active all along, century after century, provoking fervent belief and bold action among merchants, traders, dreamers, and adventurers of all stripes. If you are looking to find encouragement and further stoke your passion for your new venture, material is readily available from all directions, all cen­turies, day or night.