... desperate? Part 2
2009-09-11
When I started writing yesterday's post, “Does it help to be desperate?”, I was originally going to try to answer the question myself. I spent a few hours writing about it from different angles, hoping to come to some brilliant insight. Instead, in the end, I left it unanswered, asked for everyone's thoughts, and got some amazing responses.
The thoughts fell into four categories. Here are some highlights. Click their name to go to their original comment. Thanks everyone for all of your thoughts!
survivor bias
- “If it hadn't been for dumb luck we'd be using him as an example of what not to do.” - Chris Nelson
- “We don't hear about all the others who took the same approach and had to give their island back, right?” - Benjamin Doerr
- “This sounds like the ends justify the means to me.” - Gary McCallister
whatever inspires you to act
- “Desperation makes you move. How you move is determined by your logic.” - Peter Ncanywa
- “When you are down to the last dime in your pocket, that's when you will make things happen.” - Victor Pellerano
- “I doubt that he was ever desperate. Rather, he just forced himself into a situation where failure was not an option, forcing himself to succeed despite the fact that failure was all but a foregone conclusion.” - Butch Ross
- “Do something big, even if it's wrong. At least it's something.” - Brenden Mulligan
- “Are you able to be fully present with your back to the wall?” - Monique diMattina
- “I create my own sense of urgency (without going into debt) to keep motivated.” - Stuart Todd Whitworth
- “He became focused on something when it was about to flop. Focus was the key.” - Steve Adwell
stress sucks
- “A small amount of stress is healthy, but too much can cause health problems and even death.” - Ryan Chilcote
- “I would feel like a failure for putting myself in the situation to begin with.” - Sue
- “Being desperate is a death knell. Like attracts like, and if you've reached the point of being 'desperate' it's probably already too late.” - Butch Ross
- “This energy when positively channelled, births ambition, fuels motivation and desire and encourages creativity all of which can help change lives for good. But when negatively channelled, it invites fear, it impedes clarity of thoughts, hampers creativity and self worth, and encourages isolationism.” - Charles Nwabueze
- “It is almost suicide to make decisions on rush.” - Andrei SoulsilenS
desperation is not the issue
- “Most people are desperate because of unwise irresponsible decisions. A great business man is a great business man whether he is broke or worth millions. Pressure not desperation is the driving force for the wise.” - Tommy Lee Snyder
- “That's hungry, as opposed to desperate.” - Walter Santucci
- “I would call it extreme trust.” - Stephanie Gold
- “Being desperate implies having no choice.” - Mike Danilin
- “The key is not desperation, but commitment.” - Douglas Sjoquist
- “Remember that no matter how bad the situation, there are always other options.” - Jessa Young
- “It can't terrify you if you have truly accepted the possible outcome of loss. With the intense emotions out of the scenario you are much less likely to make bad decisions.” - Monique Rhodes
- “You have equated financial debt with risk. There's no such thing as debtor's prison in the US or UK, so you could argue that our financial debts are not very risky at all.” - Jonathan Byrd
So, there's no one answer, and I've got nothing special to add that wasn't already said better by others here.
Thanks again, everyone.
Ask Richard for the answer.
It really depends on the context. In seeking a girlfriend/boyfriend, desperation is a total turn-off. People can smell it a mile away, and it isn;t until the desperate person begins to not care anymore that good things happen.
In business, desperation can be a good thing, as it might force someone to make a decision or take a risk without complete information.
Maybe one way to think about it: desperation can be a good thing if action is required of yourself, but can be a bad thing if it requires actions, interest, or generosity from others.
Desperation + genius next idea/persistence = possible success
Desperation + more desperation/bad ideas/lack of persistence = probable failure
"they say you gotta stay hungry. hey baby, i'm just about starving tonight"
Hmmm..I've read these two articles with interest. Carrying a large debtload myself, I sometimes feel like it's a burden, but lately it's a means to an end. There's no desperation about it, no wishing it would go away, just an acceptance of it as part of my existence. That attitude change really made a difference in how I see debt. It became money - an outside thing, rather than something to measure my success or failure with. And let me tell you, that was a huge shift in thinking. After it's only money....
I've relied on the "Inspiration of Desperation" quite often creatively. After a particularly frenzied project years ago my drummer reminded my concerned spouse that "diamonds are formed under pressure".
That being said I cannot recommend being stupid about the whole thing, particularly on purpose. Too many health issues and the lousy feelings associated with surviving the experience. Too much at risk for the others in your life.
Pick your battles and make sure the cost of winning is worth it.
Stan
"To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time."
- Leonard Bernstein
http://www.leonardbernstein.com/
"Safety is the greatest risk of all because safety leaves no room for miracles; and miracles are the only sure thing in life."
- James McBride, The Miracle at Santa Anna
Comfort can cause complacency. I always say - "Do it like you've got no choice"
Derek...
I did not write a reply the first time.I read many of them. It was overwhelming and I got lost in all the great answers and mostly all the new questions. I lost my own thoughts in process. I guess one thing in conclusion is being able to define "desparate" or "desparation". So many agree that this word means many things. When you are swimming with your 10 year old child in the ocean and suddenly they are not there any more what happens instantly is a "desparate" sick feeling. You become physically ill and your brain races for answers. In this case you dive over and over into mirky water,feeling your way around and come up screaming and crying when you need to breathe. You do this over and over until a conclusion is reached. THAT is "desparation", not losing your Island or Record Company. Resolve, focus, determination....these are not desparate things. I guess this one could be debated forever! I'd like to thank you for THIS most interesting question and answer topic and also for everything you do for your fellow man. I know you a trying to bring out the best in everyone. I think you are succeeding. I am very glad to be on your mailing list and hope I get the chance to meet you one day.
Best Regards,
BRAD (aka "Mr.Doom and Gloom")
reminds me of the little frog that was caught in a rut. he tried and tried to jump out and save himself, but couldn't but when he looked down the road he saw a big truck comng in his path. what do you know ! the little frog jumped out of the rut quickly !! for some of us the truck is coming.
joanie jay
I'm glad you included all of the different perspectives.
I think that we are all motivatd to succeed in ways that are suited to our individual tollerences, issues, and styles.
Just becasue one person succeeds by putting himself in a "desperate" situation, does not mean that it is a good method for the rest of us.
What about Elizabeth Gilbert's "mule" approach to writing? That was obviously a good method for her.
"You’ll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have left."
Ok, Derek, so what kernal value do all of these 4 categories of perspective share in common? Are they 4 aspects of...?
What this is really about is/are time-constraints and clear and complete failure: in these Branson situations, you have a set period of time/money in which to get a certain amount of cash to flow back. Success and failure are clear and complete and will arrive at a specific point. But look at a music artist: we keep limping along for years with our small, often shifting fan-bases (particularly the alternative artists). So you're not making a living ... but maybe someone will license a track on the next record, or Imogen Heap will somehow hear and like you and take you on tour with her ... And so it goes on - and on.
But there's also another point of the Branson story: he did things BIG. For a music artist, maybe the equivalent would be, somehow, borrowing a TON of money and putting together a business team to work for you. Then, when the money has run out, you either go bankrupt or have a functioning career that is paying the loan.
For me, I went for broke when I cashed in an IRA and made my first record. I'm still glad I did, but you could argue that it would have been much better if I'd racked up $50,000 in credit cards in working that record with a team -- on other words, if I'd gone for bankrupt rather than just broke.
Desperation is only reserved for those on the edge of life. The sense of desperation, whether real or imaginary, may motivate one to action, but you can't correlate success with that resulting action. Branson was just driven, as some other commenters have said.
Richard Branson was not desperate. He appears to be a thrill-seeker. Some people need a high level of adrenaline coursing through their blood to feel good, even normal-good. Others fall apart with half that.
I, too, am frugal with money, and comfortable and have many choices, because of that. I may never become the billionaire that Branson became, nor the destitute homeless that other less cautious people become, but I am free to make music as Spirit moves me, or make other contributions to the world. I am not desperate for anything other than not to waste my life.
That said, I am glad we are all different and that there are thrillseekers to show what's possible and push the edge a little farther out.
Speaking for myself as a Christian I totally rely on the word of G-d, and I try to live my life according to the sermon on the mount. Jesus gave us assurance that G-d the Father knows everything we have need of and not worry about tomorrow, because we have no guarantee that we will even be here tomorrow. He gave the illustration of how He feeds the birds etc. and knows when a sparrow falls to ground and He knows how many hairs are on our head. Jesus said: if He cares that much about a sparrow, how much more does He care about us; His creation. I'm more concerned about what G-d thinks about me than what the world thinks about me.
Jerry Herrera
Miles Davis quoted.
"Lets play the music, and talk about it later"
I have always shines away from.
Over analesis,It is counter productive.
"Less talk, more action"
Timo Laine
Read the Drudge report every day
you`ll get the idea.
P.S. Sermon on the Mount
Reff:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5-7&version=NIV
Did we ever define "success?" If he's so successful, and therefore happy, why is he relentlessly pushing forward with his business? Why is absurd wealth and poverty success? Or is the success that he was able to create Virgin, to help Collins? Could he have done those things without desperation? Lots of other people have. Surely every star was not booked out of someone's desperation!
When I was down to my last dime,
I used it to diassemble a gumball machine...
..to fix it & get paid for that! Whatthe heck were you thinking?
I think it has more to do with being challenged and coming alive when you are pushed beyond your means.
It's like the Great Barrier Reef in Australia - on the Ocean side, the reef is vibrant, alive, full of color, and growing. The same reef, on the lagoon side, is dying. Same thing happens with humans...without a challenge, you die. Everyone seems to long for peace, simplicity, and not HAVING to do anything but I think everyone was built to use their gifts and be challenged to some degree.
Maybe Richard just does this to the extreme. I don't really mind getting injured - it means that I'm still taking risks....
Derek I will suggest what the first person commented (John).
Would it be possible to ask Richard this same question?
Thanks again.
All I can tell you is that if I become desperate I just do what I have to do period!
I lost my job one time when I was living in South Carlonia after I got out of the Army so I just started eating my meals at all those happy hours between like 5 and 6 pm at the Bars etc. where the bars would put out some free treats! lol
Like I say where there is a will there is a way! Just make it happen until you get it together!
Okay,,, now I'll try a little re-reading before submitting...."YOU KNOW,I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT BEING DESPERATE...it drives me to despair.
eileen in Ireland
First, for those 'desperate' for clarity, here's the six dictionary definitions:
1. overwhelmed with urgency and anxiety, to the point of losing hope
2. so drastic or reckless as to be suitable only for a last resort
3. extremely difficult, serious, or dangerous
4. wanting or needing something very much
5. so wicked as to allow no hope of redemption
6. extremely bad or deplorable
Interestingly enough, 1, 5, 6 are pretty much downers.
2, 3, 4 not so much.
In fact #4 can be motivational, if it's actually something positive.
For me personally, 'desperate' is not a simple polarity...there are degrees. I find tiny desperations in most activities, often for the perfect move in songwriting and arranging, for water to complement spicy food, and always, when it comes to finding a way to stop the systemic mowing down of civilians in war.
I also think virtually every human being is desperate regarding mortality; either trying to find bliss, or accomplishment, or the ultimate version of whatever they're into before the lights go out.
Some subconsciously encourage desperation, e.g., by smoking 5 packs a day until they know they have to quit to live.
It's a great topic, and I wish everyone survival through any scary desperation, and fulfillment as a result of momentary or momentous desperation.
Desperation and fears can motivate people to take great risks. Some of these actions result it great achievements, for example the artwork of Van Gogh or the poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge or in this case, the success of Virgin. Desperation can also result in bonehead moves like Hitler's Battle of the Bulge or even Napoleon's Waterloo.
I like how you've quoted your replyees in your blog and how it highlights the possible approaches to your question.
In my case recently I've expereinced that it's the opposite of desparation which has allowed great things to happen to me. Ever since I've stopped worrying it's been amazing how much good has come into my life without much effort. It's a little like watering my plants and then letting them grow - I'm no longer driving myself crazy trying to micromanage their growth. I water a little, the plant does the growing. I trust that there is enough; enough out there for everyone, enough for me, and enough for me to be generous with others. I concede that i cannot control the weater and I'm a much happier person.
Of course without a little desparation we might not have the desire to plant, or would we? Perhaps without the fear of need we would feel free to create. I think we as humans are born with basic animal needs which we are trying to master through all our strivings. We have the potential to transcend the futility of striving once we find our place in the world and share it with others. Besides, in the end we all die destined to leave our fortunes to someone else anyway. Hopefully we've used our lifetime to become richer souls.
Still, I forwarded your first blog to my friend who's chosen the do or die model and is now feeling the crunch-time. I figured he'd find it encouraging, and I do like the example you used of Richard Branson. Not many of us in life reach for our dream island.
Keep on writing Derek! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Oh and I forgot to mention how much easier my life has been now that I've finally bought a Mac!
When I think of "desperate" I think of a social awkward person trying to get a date (and "smelling" of desperation) or a sales person who's behind quota and doing "anything" to make a sale. It denotes hopelessness.
I think a better term is "having ones back up against a wall." That is a fighter's position. Its when an animal is at its most dangerous, at least according to the cliche - but probably a lot of truth to it.
Putting oneself in a "do or die" position (figuratively speaking) is - I think - a more hopeful and positive way to approach the question. And Mr Branson certainly seems to have mastered that. Many people, including me, feel that looming deadlines are the most creative time for us. I won't say its the most productive time, if I've got a lot of little things that need tidying up, its better at a time of non-pressure so that concentration isn't divided. But creative solutions seem clearest when you don't have time to question all the possible outcomes, but have to make a choice. Back up against a wall.
And yes, its a matter of semantics. Some people have different associations with both "desperation" and "back up against a wall."
If you don't know the difference between driven and desperate, and don't know how to create and sustain drive: desperate works. Or, you can always go comfortably back to sleep. Cheers.
What? Me Worry?
Alfred E Newman
You definitely do get one thinking Derek. I think the key is to not take ANYTHING for granted. What would seem like desperation, can suddenly transform into gratitude when seen differently.
I'm not convinced any of those situations, for Branson, were desperate. I don't know him to say that any of those situations were not frameworks perfect for his business-minded creativity to work. Then again perhaps it is degree of desperation.
Desperation is a part of the human condition though.
I wonder what you think of Sidney Rittenberg, "The Man Who Stayed Behind," who experienced mental and physical desperation while wrongfully imprisoned TWICE trying to help humanity in the evolution of modern China. Now he is probably a billionaire yet that could be arguably a biproduct of his life's work, not something he set out to achieve.
If you are truly following your heart, soul and intuition, it could lead you into situations - including desperation - that ultimtely expand your humanity. Or kill you. I believe this can happen without taking on crazy amounts of debt or any debt for that matter.
i guess every one has there own verstion of despration but, i guess if every person thought the there wouldnt be time for other thoughts right.
Deseration may cause you to make impulsive decisions. It forces you to act on your prime instincts. That gut feeling is quite often a good aggressive choice. Too much thinking can cloud your judgement.
Simply put my grandfather once told me "Study long. Study wrong."
Life in itself is a risk, so why not go for the gusto! I'm desperate for happiness so that's what I pursue!!
Does it help to be desperate? No. Life brings to all of us desparate moments. None of us need to seek it out or practice it
Vision, persistence,faith no matter what the outcome - but vision is the engine - the drive to create a thing seen at first only in the mind - that keeps us going - that makes us excited, focused, desperate,on pins and needles, euphoric, the whole gamut of emotions is experienced but vision pulls it all together into a cohesive force.
No two souls are alike. We are all different. What works for Mr Branson does not mean it will work for Mr J. Bloggs. Always imagine you are in a kitchen stocked with every conceivable ingredient. MAKE YOUR OWN SOUP. You are the one going to eat it.
A success story always looks great at the end. But while you're in it, doing it, it's pretty harsh, because you don't see the light at the end of the tunnel and you don't know whether you'll ever get there.
Donald Trump was bankrupt twice before he became the successful businessman he is today. I bet he was desperate!
Life unfolds itself and just simply happens. It's not good nor bad. And our free will is how we look at life and the things that happen.
Did Donald look at his failures as signs to stop doing what he was doing, or as signs to keep on going?
That's his free will. And we all got ours. We can't control what happens, only how we look at it and what we make of it.
Are you a JarJar Binks and say: "Mise give up, mise give up!"
Or are you a Klingon and say: "I'll die with honor doing what I believe in!"
Let me change the subject here. Getting your readers to interact like this was a good idea, using your readers as examples and really getting them involved, a great idea!
Now to go and start getting my fans more involved, thanks D$
Let me change the subject here. Getting your readers to interact like this was a good idea, using your readers as examples and really getting them involved, a great idea!
Now to go and start getting my fans more involved, thanks D$
Three words: Mazlow's Hierarchy of Needs. It's a pyramid diagram with the point at the top. It's made up of several divisions or strata. At the bottom is stuff like air, water, food. The second division up is shelter and security. Third from the bottom is love and family. The fourth is something like belonging to a group. At the top is "self actualization"--the place where we are totally on top of our game, in the zone, and achieving our best because we're not distracted by our lower needs. The thing is, if we're concerned about one of the lower divisions--like getting air, water and food--we can't concern ourselves with the next division up. So it's hard to achieve self-actualization until our lower strata's are satisfied. In this case, desperation was not literal, not life threatening. So as long as losing everything didn't mean losing EVERYTHING, it wasn't all that desperate, now was it? Still, he managed to ignore a lot of things that should have drug him down into the lower strata. "If it were easy, everyone would be doing it."
Alrighty then...I really had to use some self-control... and then lost out..
So...I guess Donald Trump was..."desperate" and not a risk taker. lol
I don't think there's anything wrong with desperation. The desperate state of mind is natural and can be used as a driving force if properly managed.
What I do think is bad is conveying a desperate image to customers, fans etc. It does more harm than good. I see it with so many unsigned bands, a kind of desperation to be noticed. Not good.
Keep the desperation behind closed doors.
I look at it as a passion for something ,rather than a desperation,thats when things happen,,,,k.sokol
Does it help what ?
In dark moments when the best layed plans have turned to shit I have occasioanlly had a sneaking suspicion that not taking the big risk that comes with a cataclysmic life-ruining downside is what might stand between myself and a professional victory of legendary proportions. The lap of honour where all life's little victories and dead ends resolve into a Mahlerian crescendo lit by the Northern Lights and staged by Cecil B DeMille. The one where all your foes and doubters turn to dust. We've all had a version of that day dream.
Some artists are criminally addicted to another fantasy - the idea of the White Knight who opens all the doors that have been, from their point of view, cruelly closed to them to be an uncaring industry staffed by crooks and musical ignoramuses. This is a fantasy that absolutely guarantees a creative and professional stasis that is conveniently always someone else's fault. This is the fantasy where success requires no risk whatseover. Or effort.
Of course this is all nonsense and a reflection of the addiction to the fairy-story fantasy that you pin-pointed in your Vonnegut piece. We only hear the stories where the risk taker ends up hero or heroine not the one where they are living alone in miserable penury. Or worse.
The music industry is as addicted to the fairy story paradgigm as professional sports or the movie industry: Rags to Riches. The Comeback Kid. Flaming Youth Cut Down In Prime. World Class Talent Wasted By Hopeless Addict etc etc.
In the end, whether as artist or functionary or entrepreneur, a consistent honest shift, a gentle manner, good humour, sheer perserverence and a commitment to original thinking will get you a decent living even in an allegedly declining industry in the very midst of a recession. The honest shift is the main thing but they don't seem to write fables about that ......
Of all the agonies of life, to know your heart's desire and do nothing about it.
Is it possible that he has an amazingly strong ability to visualize and truly believe that it will happen without any negative energy at all?
I think it boils down to what motivates each individual and helps them keep "thrumming" at the optimal vibration...as is evidenced by the wide range of responses here...
I see Branson as a thrill-seeker, and quite probably an "adrenaline junkie." Not someone you'd describe as "risk averse"!!! Using others as examples and motivation is always useful - but if you don't resonate with their methods, find what does resonate with you...
You can achieve most things in life if you are not attached to the outcome.
DON'T WE ALL GET A LITTLE DESPERATE SOMETIMEZ???
Hello Derek,
Think that approach may work for a businessman with a successful track record--but really only for himself.
I really liked and approved of your caring solid method when you had cdbaby. You built a good and well deserved sense of trust with me (and obviously many others) with your underpromise/overdeliver approach.
You were not desperate--and you were able to be a success and bring many others along with you.
If you had appeared desperate--you may have gotten some well healed backers in the music industry and been a success yourself--but you would have not been able to help so many other musicians in the process.
Please stay your usual calm and helpful self.
Let the high risk boys back the desperate.
Those of us that have no big money pals need you.
Thanks for all you do,
Mary Z. Cox
It seems his diligence, along with his creativity gave him his success. His time in history probably made a difference as for how things would or would not work...for him too. Clever people find ways around obsticles.
Rachel
if you have any guts, you can't just lay down and die even if you think you're about to fail miserably. get up and stand up. work and Think and seek out people you have something in common with, not those who are mismatched and don't care about anything, especially you. also you've got to like and respect what you do before anyone else will like and respect what you do. find something good and believe in it.
Branson's tale sounds very inspiring until you consider that it's the type of strategy that tends to make the FEW rich at the rest of the MANY.
People (the majority?) who take this strategy (using other people's money and getting in over their heads) wind up doing it repeatedy (and often filing multiple bankruptcies) before they finally "get it right" (if Richard never filed a bankruptcy, then I think he falls into the "dumb luck" category).
While this seems to be an effective strategy for creating personal wealth, consider the moral implications with respect to our society as a whole. People who do this build their fortunes on the backs of everybody else. When they people win, it's THEIR money, but when they lose, it always manages to be OPM (other people's money) You need look no further than the Wall Street Bailout which WE are ALL paying for now.
In the art of war Sun Tzu says that the job of a General its to put his people between a wall an the enemy, and their will become the better fighters.
Then again many will die.
When there are two outs in the bottom of the 9th, down by a run with a man on second, there is an involuntary chemical process that goes on inside the hitter's body.
To some people it's a sense of impending doom, which becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. To others it's exhilarating. The anticipation is the greatest feeling of excitement that they know. Their focus becomes laser sharp and all of the chemicals in their body conspire to put them at a heightened level of performance. They are positive that they are going to get a hit - and when they do, it's one of the greatest feelings they'll ever know.
If that was you, wouldn't you seek out those kinds of situations?
.... getting tired of imagining swinging mr branson around by his tail. defining "desperation" is a little academic. the real question is "what big risk do i need to take very soon?" and "how can i pull off something impossible in the next six months"?
Sun Tzu, "never let your enemy feel desperate, always let him believe there is a way out",a desperate enemy is a fierce enemy.
Who was it who burned his ships to cause his army to feel desperate? Thus won the battle?
Andrew Carnegie of the old steel baron days said "never despair"there is always a way out.
"an old or injured Tiger is still a Tiger"
I have no personal advice here for I am desperate,
I can only reflect on old wisdom's --I once had a drill instructor yell at a group of us on a force march "lean forward and lift your feet and you will make some progress".
But I know nothing for I am desperate.
I can only profess wisdom when I am comfortable.
It is interesting to see how you were able to put the overall responses into 4 categories. In fact, they remind me of the actual life of a product. When new products are introduced to the market, they go through 4 categories. The first one is the introduction phase, the second and third consist of how the product is performing in the market. Finally, the last phase is the end of the life of the product based on its’ performance from the second and third phase. This phase is called the laying dog because the product is seen as never performing well again unless there’s a miracle. Meaning, someone buys it, and somehow manages to get it off the floor again.
Funny how at times we’re able to pick ourselves back up again and sometimes we aren’t.
I suppose I could sum up my impressions by saying "Whatever works for YOU." We're all at least somewhat different personality-wise...so I suspect what works for one person won't necessarily work for someone else...
Probably you're original approach to the concept is what most people might do or recommend...others might thrive on the "rush" to force success. You might not hear about all the people who tried this approach and failed...or maybe we have...perhaps this was one of the reasons for the worldwide financial crisis that we now appear to be crawling out of little by little...I'm not sure I like or agree with that person's approach, but it also brings to mind the comments of one of my teachers years ago (with regards to pop music in general)...and that is "It's hard to argue with success." This approach worked for this individual, but it could be a total disaster for someone else...I guess as they say "whatever works for you."
Within this overture of unflinching confidence, desperation is but a minor side-note.
Do whatever doesn't kill you.
Desperation can be a recipe for making embarrassing mistakes!!! Think first!
A follow-up post by Derek on the question of the effectiveness of desperation as a potential plan of attack on the road to success.
Desperation conjures up images of fear for me. Scarcity....
For me, it might cause me to do negative things with my energy. Actually, becoming like a black hole instead of projecting good energy out onto the project.
http://neilstalnaker007-brainchow.blogspot.com
"Play for more than you can afford to lose and you will learn the game." Winston Churchill
WE move in cycles of nex's situations .They come they go.Look for the in-obvious , and you will see opportunitys .I seek spiritual help,otheres seek other methods. I am always blessed
Aleee
So it's a simple equation:
Great Idea + Action + Hunger + Necessity divided by Desperation x Risk Taking Attitude=Success
Or is it the reverse?
Around the fire they tell the stories about the knight that killed the dragon. They never tell the stories of the 97 knights that the dragon ate first. That doesn't mean it didn't happen.
I have always heard that to be desperate or hungry makes it much harder to sell anything. If your potential customer or fan catches a glimpse of desperation on your face or hears it in the tone of your voice, it is more likely to make them suspicious.
Hi,
The stories of a businessman narrowly averting defaulting on a loan is the exception to the rule; most risky investments aren't successful. Desperation tends to breed more desperation. Energetically what works is to be confident and calm even in the most desperate of times, attracting to yourself manifestations matching your energy.
How useful is desperation when looking for a woman? Not very. I expect it's about as useful when looking for success
Investments 101: "No reward without risk" (even a little)
As per my experience, desperation often pass on negative impression and often leads to unfavorable decision.
Okay, Sir Richard Branson was one example , what about the other hundreds of examples who failed in the name of desperate attempts.
Also, I think this example is more about showing confidence than being desperate.
Nevertheless, Intriguing post !
desperation.
I think it is a very important drive in live. But it is not important to be successfull. Successfull are not the 2 or 3 people you read a book about. Successfull (just thinking about money) are the people who constantly and silently improve their living standards, jobs, incomes, connections, maybe over many generations. When thinking about success I don't think of Google or Twitter. I think of banks. I think of Don Corleone. At least I think of Starbucks.
Of course when you have no patience to wait, you have to take a higher risk. But this higher risk grows over proportional with your expected income.
Sounds like relationships, right? You are probably not happy with that girl you met on friday and married on saturday, but likely with the girl who you know since many years and built a successfull, deep relationship with.
But this is not a proven experience. This is just the result of the ideas of a 24 years old, still beeing a student in university. But I already tried the startup way, taking big risks, trying to get the million in one or two years. It's really just gambling. I don't think I would really feel happy in that dream of hitting the one hit wonder. It would not feel earned and it would not be earned. And added to all that risks that I can not seriously consider taking.
Desperation, I've known it, I was raised on it and now I want to live a different way. It's no fun to be desperate. Although here I am again and it is that sense of desperation that is causing me to dig deep into the work I've already accomplished and find out what still has value and then and this is the important piece....run with it. 'Cause I got nothing to lose and everything to gain by pushing through (I pray) for the last time pushing through the fear that my work does not have value.