Want Fortune? Focus on Fundamentals, Not Fame.
Despite the obvious, some entrepreneurial cats are continuing down their stubborn ego-driven path of trying to seek fame in the game but got no skills that impress. You would think after the Facebook IPO fiasco people realize hype does not open up roads to riches. Even in the hip-hop game, Maino said it best about the tragedy of getting famous before getting rich. We got to stop the fronting and start focusing on the fundamentals if we want to get ours.
When you chase fame and you ain’t got fortune, you set yourself up for all kind of bad news. The first thing you do is make yourself a target to those who are truly superior to you. The Art of War teaches that you do not reveal yourself until you develop an unstoppable momentum. The second thing is fame is expensive as it costs to be the boss. The worst thing that can happen to an aspiring entrepreneur is they get some “recognition” and now everybody all on them, calling them out, stressing them out, dissing them before they can even be at the level to put out their product or service.
When you focus on the fundamentals, you are laying down your foundation to your fortune. You get the skills, the material, the craft, the connects and you roll up your sleeves, hit the table and make it work. Business is about transactions and the only thing matter in transactions is you have something that someone wants to buy – not how many people know or recognize who you are. Once you got the fundamentals on getting paid, no one can really f*ck with you except the government.
But here is the thing, your fundamentals is what makes you famous faster than chasing fame. Once cats see you doing good business and you handle smooth transactions and give good service, word of mouth is going to grow. And cats can’t say a damn thing about you because you already doing it. All they can do is side hate but your customers already love you and will take your side and laugh at your haters and defend you with their money going into your bank account.
So with that said, when you see these cornballs featured in articles and media coverage but got nothing but a cute inspirational story to tell, just remember the difference between fame and fundamentals. Remember that Facebook was trying to IPO off fame and hype and you saw how far that got them in the IPO. Remember that Warren Buffet operates off fundamentals and you see the empire he built. A lot of you cats are on some fanboy or fangirl running around in this business game but don’t know a damn thing about fundamentals.
I’m straight telling you from experience and every other successful person will tell you the same thing. Keep your head down in your hustle, focus on what makes money and perfect until you are making that money. Trying to get your business profitable will be real work, don’t get distracted trying to be famous because fame cost money to maintain once you get it. But here is the most important part – once you get your fundamentals down, once you start stacking paper the last thing in the world you want to be is famous – that’s the part these fame chasing cats in the business game haven’t figured out yet.
This past weekend I was at a get together and everybody was like so I heard you doing so and so. We are soooo happy for you. You are my new best friend blah blah blah. I was sitting there in shock because the only people who knew were those on a need to know basis. I put on my best face smiled and quietly said my thank you’s …….but damn. Sadly, I admit that telling folks about your hustle is the fastest way for them to go run their mouth and in your face they want to get in your business and congratulate you but secretly they are hatin and waitin for you to fail. I can also say that folks don’t have to say a word cause thier expressions and their interaction with you says it all. And I am not going to lie. That mess can get to you when you already walked out on faith that you can do it but things are moving slowly and you pray surely. I have never been here before so the only thing I can do is keep on going to see what the end looks like.
Having these people speak to me about what I am doing before I have even got off the ground feels out of order. Not that I want them to say anything because I actually prefer not.
I don’t get it Tiara: they said they were happy for you and congratulated you. What more do you want? Are we all so important that people conspire against us in secret?
Sometimes an “I’m happy for you” is just an “I’m happy for you”.
That ego-driven, here today-gone tomorrow, flossin mind set is pervasive within the black community. People have no concept of “Mastery” and that is all about fundamental knowledge and execution in any chosen area. There are fundamentals that every entrepreneur/business owner is required to master in order to maintain and build upon any enterprise.
Thats why you see Jay-Z and Russell Simmons ridin’ Warren Buffet’s and Donald Trump’s coat tails. They’re being coached in fundamentals.
Also, I don’t know about other urban areas, but Philly cats be hatin and settin folks up all day. You better not be flossin and puttin your s*&t out there, cause somebody is gonna be talkin “Home Invasion.”
My suggestion is to get yours and help someone else get there’s. Then stay out out of the lime light if you can avoid it and live your life.
I seen what was going to happen to faceboook coming a million miles away. Does everyone remember myspace. Its basically the same thing. And they may have taken over the leading spot from myspace but they are doing alot of things that will make them fail just like myspace.
Theres always something new thats coming out social networking sites remind me of clothing line. When something new comes out the old one goes away or few cats wear them still.
I thought the same thing too, but there were some real differences between the two. Businessweek did an interesting article on this last year on why myspace failed: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_27/b4235053917570.htm
Ayo, Caged Lion, good to see you weighing in again, bruh. Howz that overseas venture progressing for you? About 2 years ago, i recall Ed posting a piece wishing you well on an endeavor you had decided to embark on in Asia or Africa?! I was encouraged by that piece, and the moxie you’d shown in taking that leap. I suspect you’ll unearth the key to that cage any minute now–if you hadn’t already done so!! Much more success to you, bruh..
Good look, Ed. “Fortune B4 Fame”–Insightful, my brutha…insightful!!
What’s interesting about the Myspace article is that they claim that currently, black people are what is keeping myspace alive. We are the core users.
We are still over there, active in 3 countries (Kenya, South Sudan, and Botswana). Currently, our biggest concern is cash, so we are actively courting angels and institutional investors. We’re at the point where going forward will require at least $30M, so we have the business plans out, suits on, and are campaigning hard for seed money.
I’m also still working in Beijing. I love my work and my colleagues here. Filing taxes are a pain, though.
@CagedLion I apologize for my delayed response. I haven’t been online in a few days. There is a history with these folks that I did not mention. They are full of crap. I am definitely a humble person and do not think I am better than anyone. Sometimes I feel I am too humble and too nice and I just neet to work on that.