Archive for January 27th, 2008
Are you really ready?
As I always say, opportunities are always abundant. Especially in this highly dynamic world, there is always something very exciting, very innovative or very valuable things are going around. And you always want to be a part of it.
For example, you always want to attend conferences like Word Economic Forus – Davos, Demo, The Crunchies, etc.
For early stage startups, you always want to compete in competitions like Y Combinator or TechStars or Android Developer Challenge.
There are always various networking events those are happening in Silicon Valley. There are always experienced entrepreneurs or senior professionals are ready to guide budding entrepreneurs. There is always a new technology invention or innovative idea that you want to start.
There is always something you want to do, and probably you can do.
But the real question in all these scenarios is not if you can or want to do all these things or not. The real question is – if you are really ready to do all these things or not.
I think, if you are not ready with appropriate objectives, then attending networking events or conferences will not make positive differences. You will rather waste your time if you are not sure what you want to achieve from any event or conference.
Similarly, if you are not very clear about what exactly you want to ask help for, then you will waste both of your advisor’s and your time.
If you are not going to continue working on a project that you won in the competition, then it might be waste of your time. Sure, you learned many things, but there might be other important things from your plate that you could have completed and learned as well. Just because there is a competition, and just because you can compete, do you really want to compete?
Sure, you also want to start a startup. But are you really ready to jump in? Are you sure about your financial debt situation? How about your family obligations? And how about your legal immigration issues? Are you really ready to sacrifice your comfort zone and slog day and night?
In all these examples, I’m just trying to discuss one point – if you are really not ready to do what you want to do, then do not jump to start just because you can do. It might be worthwhile to postpone your action and focus on some other important issue. But if you think you are ready, then just go for it. With full throttle speed!
