Comments on: Difficult things to admit… http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/ Erica Douglass, "temporarily retired" after selling a successful business at age 26, writes thought-provoking blog entries challenging you to change your life and daring you to become more successful. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christina http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/#comment-708 Christina Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:07:44 +0000 http://www.slashchick.com/?p=193#comment-708 Hi Erica! I'm so glad you realized that fear does paralyze things. I tell you this: 2 Timothy verse 1: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I like your article, you are sooo honest and upfront and believe me, we ALL need to see the human side to CEO's. I have an online business, was in the IT field for 15 years, my husband is still in the field and after 3 years the company opened, I just broke evenin 2008. It's only me and my husband that own the company, we travel around the world and import handcrafted items, design our clothing and then display it on the website that we built. In FEAR of not getting customers, I under priced this exquisite unique pieces. Now I'm stuck on how to get more customers. I got over the fear and signed up on the Count Me in.org. for the first time. Erica, I speak to fear, and make a decision not to act on it. It will show up, but just remember the verse I mentioned above. Just believe! I know you'll do well in your next endeavor!!! I always hear that when people start a second business, it's easier! Keep us informed. Much Blessing and Success to you and your family!!!!!! C. Hi Erica!

I’m so glad you realized that fear does paralyze things. I tell you this: 2 Timothy verse 1: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I like your article, you are sooo honest and upfront and believe me, we ALL need to see the human side to CEO’s. I have an online business, was in the IT field for 15 years, my husband is still in the field and after 3 years the company opened, I just broke evenin 2008. It’s only me and my husband that own the company, we travel around the world and import handcrafted items, design our clothing and then display it on the website that we built. In FEAR of not getting customers, I under priced this exquisite unique pieces. Now I’m stuck on how to get more customers. I got over the fear and signed up on the Count Me in.org. for the first time.
Erica, I speak to fear, and make a decision not to act on it. It will show up, but just remember the verse I mentioned above. Just believe!
I know you’ll do well in your next endeavor!!! I always hear that when people start a second business, it’s easier! Keep us informed.

Much Blessing and Success to you and your family!!!!!!

C.

]]> By: Eric Nakagawa http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/#comment-707 Eric Nakagawa Sat, 01 Sep 2007 21:56:30 +0000 http://www.slashchick.com/?p=193#comment-707 Fear of success held me back for years... :). I'm glad you've realized this and welcoming success into your life! EN Fear of success held me back for years… :) . I’m glad you’ve realized this and welcoming success into your life!

EN

]]> By: Jay K http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/#comment-706 Jay K Thu, 14 Dec 2006 17:29:32 +0000 http://www.slashchick.com/?p=193#comment-706 Hi Erica, Anonymous thought from the ether: Maybe you don't have to deserve happiness, you just have to want it. The next question is, "What makes you happy?" And how do you define success? Trite, yes. Sorry about that. But assuming you do want to be happy, screw deserving it. =) Hi Erica,

Anonymous thought from the ether: Maybe you don’t have to deserve happiness, you just have to want it.

The next question is, “What makes you happy?” And how do you define success? Trite, yes. Sorry about that. But assuming you do want to be happy, screw deserving it. =)

]]> By: Marc B. http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/#comment-705 Marc B. Sun, 10 Dec 2006 16:23:04 +0000 http://www.slashchick.com/?p=193#comment-705 hi Erica, your honesty is truly heartwarming. I especially relate to it as I am in somewhat similar position with my web design and development company (losing money and wondering what the heck to do about it). I would suggest to you (in the spirit of "take what you like and leave the rest") to look at whether running a big hosting company is really your passion. I know for myself that running a web design and development business is NOT my passion. Is it a wonder then that I have trouble attracting customers or charging fairly for my services? Of course not. MY truth is that I want out, that I was made to do something different, that God wants us all to have a good time and that how we know that we are really in tune with universal energy and living deeply is when we experience that joy. There would be nothing wrong if you decided to exit the business, surely there are people for whom running a hosting company WOULD be their passion. It would just have to done with integrity towards your customers and employees. I am currently working to figure this out and you are welcome to call me for support or encouragement.. Marc hi Erica,
your honesty is truly heartwarming. I especially relate to it as I am in somewhat similar position with my web design and development company (losing money and wondering what the heck to do about it). I would suggest to you (in the spirit of “take what you like and leave the rest”) to look at whether running a big hosting company is really your passion. I know for myself that running a web design and development business is NOT my passion. Is it a wonder then that I have trouble attracting customers or charging fairly for my services? Of course not. MY truth is that I want out, that I was made to do something different, that God wants us all to have a good time and that how we know that we are really in tune with universal energy and living deeply is when we experience that joy. There would be nothing wrong if you decided to exit the business, surely there are people for whom running a hosting company WOULD be their passion. It would just have to done with integrity towards your customers and employees. I am currently working to figure this out and you are welcome to call me for support or encouragement..
Marc

]]> By: Chris Yeh http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/#comment-704 Chris Yeh Sat, 02 Dec 2006 16:54:56 +0000 http://www.slashchick.com/?p=193#comment-704 By the way Erica, I love your thoughtfulness. If you're interested, the intellectual discussion society that Ben Casnocha and I started, the Silicon Valey Junto (http://bigben.blogs.com/junto/who.html), is having a lunch meeting on 12/14 in Palo Alto. We'll be talking about the importance of love in business and our lives. I think you'd enjoy it, and I'd be delighted to have you attend as our invited guest. By the way Erica, I love your thoughtfulness. If you’re interested, the intellectual discussion society that Ben Casnocha and I started, the Silicon Valey Junto (http://bigben.blogs.com/junto/who.html), is having a lunch meeting on 12/14 in Palo Alto.

We’ll be talking about the importance of love in business and our lives. I think you’d enjoy it, and I’d be delighted to have you attend as our invited guest.

]]> By: Chris Yeh http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/#comment-703 Chris Yeh Sat, 02 Dec 2006 16:47:07 +0000 http://www.slashchick.com/?p=193#comment-703 Erica, This is a fantastic post. I've always found (as you have) that the fear you try to deny is far more paralyzing than the fear you confront in the open. I admire your courage and candor, and wish you the best. I always tell people I know who bootstrapped their ventures how much I admire them--I've always been a "raise VC" kind of guy, and while that has a lot of issues, I guaratee you that it is an easier road to hoe. Erica,

This is a fantastic post. I’ve always found (as you have) that the fear you try to deny is far more paralyzing than the fear you confront in the open. I admire your courage and candor, and wish you the best.

I always tell people I know who bootstrapped their ventures how much I admire them–I’ve always been a “raise VC” kind of guy, and while that has a lot of issues, I guaratee you that it is an easier road to hoe.

]]> By: Ted Rheingold http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/#comment-702 Ted Rheingold Thu, 30 Nov 2006 01:49:18 +0000 http://www.slashchick.com/?p=193#comment-702 Not long after Dogster hit break even, I realized that while running a so-so business is easy, running a succesful business is hard. I had no idea how little pressure I felt when I was losing a little of my money each month ... I was supposed to be failing. Once we proved it really worked, the pressure was /huge/ in my mind to not fritter that. All decisions became much more important. I've very glad I've had two firm partners in this whole thing because that allows any one of us to freak out and lose faith, yet be caught and re-emboldended by the other two. You're already a giant success in our books. Go for it! Not long after Dogster hit break even, I realized that while running a so-so business is easy, running a succesful business is hard. I had no idea how little pressure I felt when I was losing a little of my money each month … I was supposed to be failing. Once we proved it really worked, the pressure was /huge/ in my mind to not fritter that. All decisions became much more important. I’ve very glad I’ve had two firm partners in this whole thing because that allows any one of us to freak out and lose faith, yet be caught and re-emboldended by the other two.

You’re already a giant success in our books. Go for it!

]]> By: Leigh http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/#comment-701 Leigh Wed, 29 Nov 2006 23:14:31 +0000 http://www.slashchick.com/?p=193#comment-701 I have a similiar fear. It's the reason I've been so angry with myself lately. There have been a lot of things that have happened outside of my control in the past 10 years (well, most of my life) but there have been a lot of things that were in my control that I was too afraid to grab the reigns and move forward with. It's one of the things I've been struggling to change in my life... it's the foundation of why I'm going to school... to prove to myself that I can do something... and succeed. I know that my life is mine and that I can do anything with it... it's just hard acting on that knowledge. You've managed to do a lot and I hope you can give yourself credit for that while acknowledging the weaknesses you've been brave enough to state publically. I have a similiar fear. It’s the reason I’ve been so angry with myself lately. There have been a lot of things that have happened outside of my control in the past 10 years (well, most of my life) but there have been a lot of things that were in my control that I was too afraid to grab the reigns and move forward with. It’s one of the things I’ve been struggling to change in my life… it’s the foundation of why I’m going to school… to prove to myself that I can do something… and succeed. I know that my life is mine and that I can do anything with it… it’s just hard acting on that knowledge.

You’ve managed to do a lot and I hope you can give yourself credit for that while acknowledging the weaknesses you’ve been brave enough to state publically.

]]> By: Philippe Mesritz http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/#comment-700 Philippe Mesritz Wed, 29 Nov 2006 23:07:22 +0000 http://www.slashchick.com/?p=193#comment-700 Erica -- you've done an excellent job thus far. There may be some areas of improvement, to be sure, but generally I've only heard positive comments. Continue your work. I'd love to speak with you as well, at some point, if you can find the time. You've got my cell in your system if you want to simply discuss. :) -- Philippe, ISU Erica — you’ve done an excellent job thus far. There may be some areas of improvement, to be sure, but generally I’ve only heard positive comments. Continue your work. I’d love to speak with you as well, at some point, if you can find the time. You’ve got my cell in your system if you want to simply discuss. :) — Philippe, ISU

]]> By: Steve P http://www.erica.biz/2006/difficult-things-to-admit/#comment-698 Steve P Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:24:24 +0000 http://www.slashchick.com/?p=193#comment-698 I'm considering starting a company, but if I wasn't scared, I would have started it a long time ago. ;-) You should be proud of your company, and everything you have done so far. I’m considering starting a company, but if I wasn’t scared, I would have started it a long time ago. ;-) You should be proud of your company, and everything you have done so far.

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