Building a Business from Ground Up: Insights and Updates
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Chapter 1: Returning to My Journey
After a four-month hiatus from Medium, I’m excited to share my updates once more. Contrary to what some might think, I haven't given up on my journey. In fact, I'm back and ready to release multiple installments of "From Scratch" each week until we're up to date. Welcome to this series, where I take you behind the scenes of my business-building process, sharing the weekly activities and lessons learned along the way.
Selflessness vs. Selfishness: A Deeper Look
I find it perplexing how society often vilifies selfishness. The conventional definition portrays it negatively, suggesting a lack of concern for others and a focus solely on personal gain. However, true selfishness simply means prioritizing your own needs, which doesn’t inherently mean disregarding others.
Consider combat sports athletes, for instance. The clients I work with often spend long stretches away from home, missing pivotal family moments. They pursue their dreams not just for personal glory but also to provide for their loved ones. While their journey may seem selfish, it’s also deeply rooted in care for their families.
To think they are solely motivated by familial support is naive; there are far simpler paths to financial security. In my view, achieving personal happiness necessitates a certain degree of self-interest. This topic tends to stir up strong feelings in conversations, with many feeling pressured to choose between being selfless or selfish. Most people, understandably, lean towards selflessness to maintain a favorable image.
Ironically, I often engage with those who aspire to make significant changes in the world but struggle to manage their own lives. How can one expect to make a profound impact on others if they are struggling internally?
Cultural Influences on Selflessness
In many Asian cultures, the emphasis on people-pleasing and selflessness is prevalent. While these ideals can sound virtuous, I’ve observed numerous negative outcomes stemming from them. As someone with Chinese and Korean heritage, I’ve seen individuals sacrifice their own opportunities for the sake of tradition, leading to resentment and regret.
Consider the popular saying about helping others to fulfill your own desires. Is that not a form of selfishness? If personal gain weren't a factor, would the help still be offered? I doubt it.
It's entirely natural to possess both selfless and selfish traits. Those who frequently lend a hand often derive personal satisfaction from it. If someone claims to help purely out of goodwill, I would challenge their assertion.
This newsletter, while potentially beneficial for readers, primarily serves as my own accountability tool. It embodies both selfless and selfish dimensions.
Motivations Behind Selflessness
Why raise this topic? Recently, I've interacted with individuals who feel compelled to act selflessly, often as a way to escape their own troubles. This fleeting sense of fulfillment may feel nice when acknowledged by others, but the effects are temporary.
Some people adopt the philosophy of giving without expecting anything in return. While I appreciate the sentiment, I remain skeptical of their sincerity. Even well-known figures like Gary Vee recognize that generosity can serve as a strategic investment.
Expecting good outcomes from altruism can be viewed as selfish, but there's nothing wrong with that. Embracing both selfishness and selflessness is perfectly acceptable. After all, you can enjoy the cake and eat it too.
Chapter 2: Weekly Business Updates
This week, I've had the privilege of meeting the athletes who will participate in the upcoming UFC fan event in July. The excitement is palpable, and the nerves are kicking in—many of these fighters are on my dream client list. It's time to step outside my comfort zone.
Several have asked how I’m managing without revenue from this business yet. The answer lies in my ongoing private consulting, which I had established prior to launching P4P. Fortunately, I’m focused on just one client at the moment, which benefits both of us.
I remain optimistic yet realistic about the timeline for this project. I anticipated it might take time to gain traction. My consulting efforts are evolving, aiming for less workload with greater potential returns.
On the P4P front, I’m still negotiating with a prospective agency partner and mentally preparing for the upcoming weeks. Visualization plays a key role in my preparation, helping me approach these athletes with confidence.
In terms of growth, I’m thrilled to report that our client base has expanded to 1,933 subscribers, just shy of the 2,000 mark!
That's a wrap for this week's update. As always, remember to trust and love the process.
Kevin