Pushing against the brick wall

[sdiener]

So, I don't know if you all know me - my intro is up somewhere on these massive forums.

I just wanted to take a few seconds to vent and share the feelings I am having as I ride the entrepreneurial emotional rollercoaster. Hopefully some of you all successful entrepreneurs can relate...

The first thing I notice is the lack of time for social outings. As I have spent time developing my personal website, my brand, and contemplating different steps of my business, I have found that I have been spending less time with my friends, and doing other things I enjoy. While I enjoy this tremendously, I find that home at 10:00 PM on a Saturday night is quite the sad story. However, I am beginning to learn to find a balance. In the social scene, I have always found that my friends are always happy to get together - even if I haven't seen them for months. Dating - well, luckily I am pretty good there. I wonder, is it unhealthy to spend hours and hours a week working on developing your business at the sacrifice of old haunts? Or are you investing in yourself? I know what I think, but I am curious for the general consensus.

Worse though is making my way through a forest of unknown. I have always been the anxious sort, so previously, I did not deal well with this "unknown." I did become very good at pushing forward as I grew up. (I am only 24). But still there are a lot of questions that you face ---- "Will my product work," "How will I market," "Can I get financing," "I am so young, who would listen to me," "I don't really know anything compared to the experts in my field," "What if this doesn't work," "Am I going to spend all of my money and time for nothing." These all serve to eat at you as you muck through everything. Luckily, through my professional training, all I get is stress, so this is kind of the same - however now I am doubling up on it, as I work a full time job during the day.

And then there is the whole no experience thing. I have 90% of my research, I have access to a lot of the expertise I need, yet I have never done this before. I am looking to build a product that I know will change the world, could cost a MILLION dollars or more (that is a lot for a young guy), just to get to market. How am I going to get capital? Do I need a partner that has done this before.......

Ugh - so many questions, where do I go next, who do I ask for help, do I write a business plan,

Just FYI, I want to build a brand new lighting solution. I have some of the best authorities in the subject willing to advise me. I am looking for engineers now. No capital yet so working on a dream. I blog everything out on my site.

Love you guys,

Thanks for your insight....

[ACMAir]

Well, to begin, yes, I have also found that sometimes, there is less time for social outings. I for one, as a 16 year old, who is in some of his prime years for partying and socializing with other teens, stays home 29 out of 30 days a month. A part of that is because of my logo creating and graphic design firm.
However, in response to your second claim, I just try to put everything I have out on the table. I don't like to worry too much about "What if it doesn't work?" or "Is this right?", because you will learn from experience, even if it hurts.

[sdiener]

Thank you for that. It looks like you have a very bright future ahead of you. Keep at it, and good luck. Actually - what kind if design do you do? Pm me.