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If you listened to my last podcast you know I arranged for an informal get together at a local cafe in my neighbourhood called The Three Monkeys (someone sooo should build an official Three Monkeys website!) with some of my entrepreneur friends. I organised this meet-up so my business-owner-entrepreneur friends could all meet each other. Sure it was part business networking but in my mind the best benefit from an event like this is the chance to chat to people working in a similar manner. The business-owner-entrepreneur life path is quite different and finding similar people is not easy. I was glad to bring together a few of my mates to just chill out and talk shop.

The night was long and we covered quite a few interesting topics that I may address in a podcast later, and by the end of the night my mind was buzzing with business. Unfortunately the buzzing carried on well into the next morning and I woke up way too early for my liking and could not get back to sleep. I just couldn’t switch the business thoughts off. I gave up trying to sleep and picked up my copy of Tuesdays with Morrie which I was halfway through reading for the second time. I finished the remainder of the book by 9 AM and all thoughts of business were gone. It was a cleansing experience.

Forgive me if I get schmaltzy but there is a message in this book that every business person, in fact every human being, must take note of. Tuesdays with Morrie is THE SADDEST book I have ever read. I’m not afraid to admit that I cried reading this book, both times I read it and not once, multiple times at different passages in the book. It’s a sad story about a sad event but without this context the message would not be as powerful as it is. What makes it even more impactful is that it’s true, Morrie really lived and died as the events of the book detail.

Tuesdays with Morrie is the real life tale of Morrie Schwartz during his final days succumbing to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Mitch Albom (the author), Morrie’s one time student from earlier university days meets with Morrie on Tuesdays and they discuss many aspects of life. Morrie has a unique perspective on life and what it is to be human and through this book his final thesis is presented. Morrie’s thesis is a guide to what is important in life and if you ever need a slap in the face reminder to bring you back down to earth, this is the book to read.

This book is up there in my top 5 all time favourite books. It’s had more impact on me than anything I’ve ever read in business and more impact than anything I have ever accomplished as a business owner. It’s important for me to read these books every now and then because in the end while I enjoy business, it’s such a small part of life that doesn’t always deserve the energy I put into it (both in mind and body). Afterall, every one of us has the same countdown timer on our head that Morrie had, we just don’t know exactly how much time we have.

I’m not alone in my opinion. A whopping 1804 reader reviews were left on Amazon.com for Tuesdays with Morrie. Here is a sample:

This book has had more impact on my life than anything else I’ve ever read, by far. It’s a reminder to appreciate the simple, little things in life. It’s a reminder that when you’re dead, the things you’ve accumulated and the things you’ve done will disappear. What will remain is the ways that you’ve affected or touched other people.

Call me sentimental, but I like a little schmaltz in my life now and then. I recommend you read this book.

After finishing the book this morning I felt sad and reflective but as usual, life goes on and there were emails to reply to and jobs to process. I didn’t feel too much like doing much business for the rest of the day so once the necessities were out of the way I spent the remaining time away from the computer. This gave me more time to contemplate my life and in particular what I am doing with my businesses. (That is certainly a perk of running your own business - when you are not in the mood to work, you don’t.)

I have a feeling that a lot of people reading my blog are highly motivated to succeed. I consider myself to be that way too. At one point today I stopped and asked myself when I would allow myself to be content with my achievements. I feel as if I am constantly chasing more, and half the time I’m not even sure what that more is. More sales? A bigger business, more money so I can buy more things? But when would it stop. I pictured Yaro down the road, hopefully with greater success and wealth, but would this desire for more still exist? When does it stop? Looking at the wealthiest people in the world it seems like it never stops, but that could be because we idolise and promote those that are rich and powerful and are striving to be even more rich and more powerful.

I’m sure there are many comfortable happy people out there that found contentment in their current situation. I’ve read the books, studied the philosophies - to be happy you simply choose to be happy. It doesn’t come from breaking the $100,000 a year sales target. Most business successes are momentary highs. A quick rush often inversely related to the depression of the bad times when sales are lagging or times are tough. Up and down, constantly chasing more. That doesn’t seem right, it’s misguided, self defeating and breeds unfullfillment.

I’ve talked in the past about business, creating and running business, as a creative process. I went as far as comparing it the arts, like music or painting or drawing. What separates business from these activities is the capitalist mindset. While not being true 100% of the time, most business are built to turn a profit. Artists don’t paint to make money, they do it because it’s their passion. True they must earn a living to survive in society, and their passion hopefully will also provide funds, but if you took away the monetary element they would still paint or draw or compose.

I realise a lot of you out there might be building a business to make a difference to society, to improve human life, and that is honourable. But I ask you, if your business does not turn a profit, does it continue to exist? Will you strive just as passionately if there wasn’t some sort of monetary windfall?

My passion is business. Today I asked myself, what if I took away the capitalist aspect, the money element…would I still be interested in business? It is a hard question to answer. Profits and revenue are so closely linked to business because they are the main evaluation tools. The fuel that flames business passion is often the resultant monetary success. Even in not-for-profits, the impact made is often measured in dollars, so it’s near impossible to remove this aspect from business.

I used to get depressed when I went down this anti-materialistic driven lifestyle thought process because I was stuck. I enjoyed business but because it was so closely tied in to materialistic goals I couldn’t make it work philosophically, I didn’t know what to do. Lately though I’ve realised more and more it’s not wrong to want run business and make money and I know that running business, or at least being creative AND making profit as a result, is acceptable, but your goals and aspirations must be passion based, not money based.

I run a successful business. It’s at the point now that I used to be so worried that I would never make it to. I’m financially independent. I am not “rich” by any traditional monetary valuations but I am making a living running my own business. As I was told recently, this is no little achievement, many people would love to be where I am now, making a living on their own terms. The thing is I could do a lot more to hopefully make a lot more and everything in today’s society is telling me to chase the more as hard as I can. Every article I read tells me how to “create more profits” and “improve results and make more money”. The battle for more seems to never end.

As a result of all these thoughts and reading Tuesdays with Morrie again I’ve re-adjusted my motivations. What’s important to me now is indulging in the aspects of business that I love, regardless of whether that is the path to maximise my return. Some may call me stupid for not actively chasing opportunities as hard as I could. I may look back and curse my choices because I did not end up being the next young millionaire. I have a feeling that first million dollars might end up making me want another million and then another, and I’m tired of chasing unfulfilling dreams. I’d prefer to be happy today.

Yaro Starak
Human Being

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I’ve created a new category for spirituality because I believe this aspect of life, especially to entrepreneurs, is very important. While business may be the focal point for an entrepreneur’s life, it’s your outlook on life that shapes what kind of person you are. Having a strong sense of self can benefit your business in many ways. The down periods and business ‘tragedies’ are not soo bad for the entrepreneur that is spiritually centred. Don’t take life too seriously is a phrase that every entrepreneur should take to heart and remember during the ups and downs of business.

I just finished reading Michael Simmons blog post about meditation. Michael is meditating, and he’s doing it a lot, which I find quite admirable. If he isn’t careful he might give up business all together and follow the path of the monk searching for enlightenment…which may not be such a bad thing and perhaps even more rewarding than business ever could be.

I’ve attempted meditation for many reasons but more often as a method to deal with tough times in my life. I realise the need for meditation and spirituality during all times of life but as I’m sure many of you can identify with me when I don’t look for help when times are great, I’m too busy revelling in the excitement. To be honest though I’m not good at meditation and I don’t put much time into it (which is why I’m not too good at it!). I find for me, swimming is the best meditative exercise I do that helps to centre and relax me.

As an entrepreneur I consider myself quite a creative person. I’m not gifted in art or music but certainly as a writer and business creator/manager I feel that I am definitely more bohemian than most. I think most entrepreneurs feel the same because we are not following the same path a lot of other people take when they work a normal job. Often the thought of a ‘job’ is not appealing and the prospect of working 9-5 for a salary is daunting. We take a risk by being different and expose ourselves to the often adverse opinions of those that believe we are making a mistake by not seeking a standard career. It takes a person of strong character and personal convictions to stand up to what can be a barrage of negative feedback from your peers and family.

I’m also more sensitive to my environment and the people around me. I live a controlled life and make sure that I eat well, sleep plenty and by choice I don’t drink any alcohol. I have nothing against drinking (in moderation), it’s just a choice I’ve made mainly because I haven’t found a drink that appeals to me more than water, juices and milks. I don’t party hard on weekends, again by choice because I prefer to get a good nights sleep so I feel good during the day. Because of this I don’t get sick too often (touch wood) and I feel at the top of my game everyday. I’m not saying do what I do, it’s possible to party and drink and have a good time and be a very successful entrepreneur, just remember moderation and balance and your health should always be your primary concern.

A spiritually fulfilling life can be very rewarding. It provides a strong personal framework that offers stability during tough times and allows you to keep perspective when business is booming. I feel hypocritical writing this - while I have a strong belief in the benefits of spiritualty, I don’t necessarily practice what I preach. It’s not easy to be disciplined but as usual, for those that put the effort in the rewards are there.

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