Entrepreneurship is not a lifestyle

“Entrepreneurship is not a lifestyle, it’s a true calling for action.” Sounds familiar? This is the sentence I remember vividly from the interview of Bryan Loo, CEO of Loob Holding. It resonates so much with me and it strikes me so hard to reconsider about Entrepreneurship.

I like to imagine we human are part of the organism living on the earth. After all, we are just an animal living on a small planet in the big universe. In order for the animal to survive and descend their heirs and genetic, the animal need to compete and show their dominance to the opponent. The winner gets to enjoy the victory and the loser will be forgotten in the world.

If you think closely about the animal behavior, there is so much resemblance with the human. Us. Because we like to show achievement to the world and we need the praise, we only can feel our existence and we only feel the happiness because of valued and loved.

But due to the world population increased rapidly. Simultaneously, the abundance of the internet. We can be able to show our achievement anywhere. Show our luxury lifestyle, expensive car, wonderful retreat, expensive clothes, and dining experience. All of this vanities but shallow achievement. Why? Because we crave for the ‘Like’ button in social media to prove people how good is our life. We want people to notice us, to think highly of us. Becuase the world pay attention to the rich and famous people, not necessary to wise and virtues people.

For Adam Smith, the father of the modern economic, moral philosopher. The pursuit of money, fame, or power was all because of the temptation. It is the attention paid that motivates people to seek wealth and entrepreneurship.

“The rich man glories in his riches, because he feels that they naturally draw upon him the attention of the world and that mankind is disposed to go along with him in all those agreeable emotions with which the advantages of his situation so readily inspire him.”

Is achieving fame, success and rich is a blessing or curse in our life? Yet, people don’t realize the probability of success as an entrepreneur is merely 10% of the population. But why people still gravitate towards the rich and famous? Because we think rich and famous people lives are perfect and we idealize the greatness and happiness of being valued by the people surrounding us.

My friend once says: ” The path of entrepreneurship is a commitment, always come with dedication and constraint, which we have to balance both of it to reach the goal.” It’s dedication, not an overnight success. Instead of that. Adam Smith advocate people should take the road of wisdom and virtue. We will also be loved, respect, but by the most “studious and careful observer”. The cheering will be much quieter and the crowd is smaller.

We should seek for wisdom, virtue, humbleness to build our character. Not fame and fortune to prove how worthy we are. It’s our duty to be a good human being. If we can do what we love, do what we respect and be content. If that feeds our family. The life will be so much happier.

Inspired by ” How Adam Smith can change your life: An unexpected guide to human nature and happiness by Ross Roberts”