Hard Corps #2

I am in the process of finishing a book on self-management for the startup entrepreneur called ‘hard corps’. The following is a second article I wrote on the subject last year.

Being ‘hard corps’ is about trying to be a Type 1 person and not the bumbler. However, none of us is born to it and if we do not dedicate considerable attention to ‘owning our life’; falling into the Type 3 is inevitable. Then only a catastrophic event seems to move us out of our delusional stupor.

That is the context of hard corps’ second element – “to grant others the same latitude as you demand – we are all in a constant struggle with the human condition.” Much like the life experience required to sing the blues or to understand my very dark business poetry, “Are We Stupid?” it is about the nakedness of entrepreneurship. There is no place to hide, no shield that covers us from the scrutiny of life’s spectators. Our fellow warriors get it and their company brings some solace from the sniping of the sheepeople. The sheepeople don't have the guts for it, do not live it, they have never experienced the working ending end of a double barrel shotgun. If they had they would know no one is coming to the rescue, that you cannot finesse your way out of an impossible situation – this time you will pay the full price for failure.

How much have you lost? How much treasure have you given up to pursue a dream? How many relationships have you blown up in its pursuit? Bumble, Bumble, Bumble. I HAVE BEEN HERE!

I remind myself of this reality every time I see a homeless person standing on the median willing to work for food. Foreclosed with nothing left except a great business plan in need of three hots and a flop – a real virtual company.

Never loose your humanity or your compassion for the turmoil just bubbling below the everyone's surface. Being ‘hard corps’ is not only about being tough in managing yourself, it is also about retaining your humanity while surviving the life when your humanity is all you have left. Now this is tough.

Just keep saying to yourself: “Perhaps this startup is the one.”