I saw a man dancing alone in the middle of an outdoor jazz concert on a beautiful summer evening.

As I got closer, I saw that he was dancing in the middle of hundreds of people listening to jazz music. People around him were spectating, but not dancing.

I have to admit I thought the man was crazy and took out my phone to capture a video of him, but as I watched more and saw a sign that read “Dancing Room Only”, I thought, “this is beautiful”.

A man, without inhibitions, freely letting his soul dance. He wasn’t paying attention to anyone around him. He was dancing for himself, dancing because he was happy and enjoying the music.

I could see it in his smile, eyes closed, and hands raised above him.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the man and being a dancer myself, I would’ve danced with him, but I decided to sit back and be captivated by his heartfelt movements.

As I watched him more, I thought…

Do people not have the courage to get up and dance?

Are people too afraid of what others think?

Do they not think they have the right to move their body regardless of skill?

Dancing is a sign of joy and after all, we were listening to jazz music which was created for the sake of dancing.

So, why was this man dancing alone?

As these thoughts swirled around in my head, I thought of how this very moment relates to the entrepreneurial journey.

So many people watch from outside the entrepreneur’s life from their place of safety and comfort. They’re pretty content, not willing to risk much, but deep down inside they wish they too could go out on their own, work for themselves, and simply be free of the corporate slavery they’re experiencing. They long to express themselves through their work and really do something for a purpose, but they rationalize these feelings by using the excuse of a nice paying salary and benefits.

Many of us humans don’t have the courage to step outside of the box society has drawn for us. We’re unwilling to step into the unpredictable because we need to be practical, we need to survive.

But, I ask you one question… is that living?

Is that what life is about? Getting up everyday at the same time to set out for a job that provides, but doesn’t satisfy?

Discounting your dreams because your expenses are more important than our passion.

For what? To just rinse and repeat all over again?

I know some people are happy with their corporate jobs and make great employees, but I’m referring to the ones that have something deep inside them that is dying to get out.

Suppressed talents and gifts that the world needs and makes them happy to share.

The people that want to live with a purpose, but find themselves watching the person dancing alone, without hesitation, living fully in the moment, and wishing they could do just that.

A lot of these people talk their way out of letting their minds wander into the possibilities of entrepreneurship and write it off as a daydream.

And when they see someone out there, working tirelessly to achieve their dreams, they think to themselves, “they must be a little crazy to do something like that, that’s not me”.

Reflecting on my experience at this lively jazz concert, watching the older man dance his heart out, a particular quote that I have been infatuated with came full circle to expose it’s true meaning in this situation -

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be crazy by those who could not hear the music” -Nietzsche

I smiled as I truly understood what Nietzsche was talking about.

Spectators that were far off and laughed at the man in the center of a crowd dancing, are much like the people that yearn for freedom from their corporate jobs and settle to watch entrepreneurs from a distance- totally entranced but unwilling to make a move.

I realized that the person dancing and the entrepreneur are both experiencing life in such a way that cannot be easily understood by passersby.

You see, the people in the crowd and the office employee can’t fully grasp what the dancer and entrepreneur are doing unless they can hear the music. The music of freedom and opportunity. The music of a different world that sings to your soul and allows it be completely free.

Music that is free of judgement, self-criticism, and worry.

Free to live.

And I ask you one question… are you letting yourself live today?