The Story of My Dream

Currently, I’m on a gap year before my final year at University, and am running on savings after quitting an internship I did not enjoy.

Part of why I quit was something my colleague and I used to work on - a mobile app called Reta. It helps people track their food so they know what they have in their fridge.

We’ve since decided to move on since we realized from user feedback that it won’t catch on with the masses. I spent over £2,000 in the course of 3–4 months for it to be built. That’s the most money I’ve ever spent on anything in my entire life.

In the end, we didn’t even use the version we paid for when we launched the final product. That taught me a lot about business. It’s not the amount of input that’s important, but the quality of the output produced.

You could say we failed. If you did you would be right by all means. I think I failed too — I failed at selling it, at marketing it, but more importantly — at predicting its value to the world. But I do not regret the choices I’ve made. Everyone fails at something — especially at the beginning. All mistakes are crystal clear… in hindsight.

Right now I am learning how to market my book. I’ve also started stealing. Knowledge. I spend hours of my day reading articles, building information, learning new things, and making mistakes along the way. Mistakes that, when I look back I think “How am I to achieve my dream if I'm not competent enough to handle that properly?”.

That gets me down sometimes. But I know it’s all part of the learning process. However hard it gets,

it’s not over until I win.

Simple and powerful phrase by Les Brown. It keeps me going through the tough days.

The Joys That Matter

I believe there is balance in life. I also think that a happy life is one lived in moderation. I should definitely work hard towards my goal, but I shouldn't do that at the expense of my health or sanity.

Because of that, I have learned to appreciate the little things that make me feel happy every day. I pay special attention to those things and so amplify their positive effect on my mind.

I enjoy the early morning breakfasts of delicious oats and rice milk, with raisins, honey, and coconut shavings. I am motivated by brilliant speakers while I wash the dishes. I'm reinvigorated by the music I listen to while at the gym. The Skype calls with my dad and grandma always put a smile on my face.

What’s the point of this?

If you've stumbled upon my post and have reached this far — thank you for your time and attention.

I had a few reasons for writing it. First and foremost — it’s for myself. I want to revisit this article some day in the future and see how much I’ve progressed. I also want to make a statement to the world that this is my dream and I will not stop until I reach it.

Secondly, I want to motivate you, who may feel like you’re going through similar, or maybe harder times. I want to assure you that you’re not alone in this. There are many others that dare to take the plunge towards a better life, and are going through everything you are to have their desired lifestyle.

Finally, I want to warn all who may think that starting a business is all just excitement and fun. It’s also hard work, mundane tasks, sweat and tears, and a lot of constant fast learning, falling down, and getting back up again.

In the beginning you’ll be excited, motivated and ready to conquer the world. It only gets harder from there. Sometimes you get to the point of doubting why you even chose to go through this. I find it helps then to step back, and look at what you've reached so far, look at the potential that you and your team have.

You must then go back to the basics and look at your personal vision. You must trust that, while it may seem like you’re going through hell, there will be a time when everything will have been worth it. And the bad memories will become an inspiring story to tell to green budding entrepreneurs, racing on their personal journey to greatness.

I don’t have a dream job, I have a dream.

My dream is to add value to millions of people’s lives with the creations I push into this world and the relationships I cultivate with everyone around me.

What is your dream?