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"They often have a naive view of the future - not Pollyannaish, but one in which failure is just not a potential outcome ... Entrepreneurs have the audacity to believe that the odds do not apply to them, because they know they are going to win."

This sort of hubris has always bothered me about some entrepreneurial types. I understand "looking past limitations", "going against the odds", and "taking risks". But, I think: a) There are outside forces which you cannot control and which can drastically affect your business (even to the point of failure). To ignore them is foolish, IMO. b) I think failure is a key part of being an entrepreneur. It's how you learn and grow. Failure happens sometimes.

Also, I wish his points on humility were a little more thorough (and included points on failure). I'm not sure W. Churchhill and John Lennon even qualify as entrepreneurs.



"success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm"

But focusing on the possibility of failure doesn't work as well. One must be fearless, and fail fearlessly; then fail again and again.

You get more information from failure than trying to anticipate failure.




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