I Was Not An Entrepreneur — But I am Now
No one is born an entrepreneur. They’re self-made through motivation, passion, and belief.
I am the founder of a company that most people have never heard of, in a market so niche even the market itself does not see it has a blind spot. My company is Babette Travel and we provide the tools and resources for people to find internships in Dublin and London. It sounds a lot fancier than it is. Being called a ‘founder’ sounds a lot fancier than it is. I was not an entrepreneur, I just found a flaw.
I did not start this company because I’ve always thought of myself as a business owner or creator. Honestly, if it wasn’t for my own heartache with finding international internships I would probably still be searching for my perfect post-graduation job. If this company fails, there is a very real chance I will take my own experience and join someone else’s venture. I was not an entrepreneur, I was just passionate.
Some days the lows are so painful evening brushing my teeth in the morning seems like too much work.
I do not enjoy being the sole boss and making 100% of the decisions. I can be a leader but I also enjoy collaboration. Some days the highs are so exciting that I feel like my feet aren’t touching the ground. Some days the lows are so painful evening brushing my teeth in the morning seems like too much work. Any founder will tell you this; starting your own company is exciting but it’s also heartbreaking. You will be told no 1000x more than yes. You will wonder why anyone would use your product. You will also find yourself in awe of what you can achieve. I was not an entrepreneur, I was just motivated.
But when it feels like I am being pulled in 100 different directions and wanting to cry I look by at my original vision. Why I started this terrifying project that is way more likely to fail than it is to succeed. I believe — without a trace of doubt — in what we are doing. I believe what we are creating is important and has the opportunity to change the world. Or at least the world of a lot of people. I know if I don’t do it, no one will because why would you put yourself through this much heartache without a guarantee of return? I was not an entrepreneur, I was just a believer.
You don’t need to be an entrepreneur to become a passionate, motivated believer. Following your dreams is never cheesy, nor is it a waste of time. All we have is time and what is it worth if we don’t do things with passion? It is your job to find what makes all of your no’s worth it.
I was not an entrepreneur — but I am now.
This article was originally published here.
As a graduate of the University of Wisconsin- Madison with degrees in International Studies and Communication, becoming a tech entrepreneur was never in Olivia’s game plan. After several international internships, her goal of medicine was out and a new and much less definitive goal was in: traveling and helping others experience the world. Since graduation, she has founded and built my own company, Babette Travel, that provides the resources for interns to plan and find their own amazing international internship.
Follow Olivia: LinkedIn | Babette Travel
