Random airport encounter and some advice to entrepreneurs.

A month or two back I was walking through the Detroit airport on my way back to Phoenix, AZ. I saw a young kid who had just returned from his service mission in Portugal. For those of you who don't know, I also spent a year and half in Brazil on a service mission. I decided to say hi to the kid as I remember that feeling of returning home. Funny enough, his name was Trevor. His full name was Trevor Freeman.

I asked him what he was going to do after his service mission. He told me he was considering starting his own business or going to business college. This made me happy. I picked his brain for a minute to see how he felt about the next steps in his life. I then decided to tell him who I was and that I would be happy to give him any advice he needed for his journey in life. I gave him my email and told him to follow up with me whenever he was ready.

I got an email from him today and I was excited to respond. I hope this helps those of you who are choosing to go down the same path as I did to become an entrepreneur or business owner. Since I am not able to answer letters for everyone, I thought I would let everyone see the answer I gave him.

" Trevor Milton, this is Trevor Freeman. You may not remember me but we met in Detroit just briefly, in the airport. I was catching a flight to Dallas on my way home from my mission in Portugal. I wanted to shoot you a quick email to say thank you for reaching out to me in the airport. It probably didn't seem like much in the moment, but it meant a lot to me what you did. I have just finished my first week at LDS Business College in the Professional Business Management Course and decided to compete in DECA competitions with a plan to be in the Marriott School of Business Program here in 2 years. 

It wasn't too long ago that I decide to switch gears and go the Business and Entrepreneur route but I took a leap of faith and went for it. And then crossing paths with you was what lit that spark. I did want to ask you, if you were to look back and put yourself in my shoes (a young business student being introduced to the world of business and entrepreneurship) what advice would you give yourself? As someone starting out like me.  

Again, just wanted to say thanks so much for your support and helping me light my flame.

 All the best, 

-Trevor Freeman"

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Here is my response;

"Trevor (Great name by the way),

I remember very well the day I met you in the airport. Happy to answer any questions you have. Here are some points that hopefully help you out in your journey to become the best version of yourself through entrepreneurship;

* Work harder than anyone around you. There is no such thing as work smarter. Knowledge comes from hard work and eventually it becomes easier to do. If you continually work harder than everyone around you, you will eventually become smarter than those around you. Put in 12 hour days for 10 years (that is what I tell people who want to achieve financial success), even then you are not guaranteed success. You are most likely going to fail because those are the odds of success, but it can be achieved. These points should help you have a better chance.

* You will fail. That is ok. I started 5 official businesses and 2 were failures and 3 turned out great. 50% average is great, even for the best of the best. Don't beat yourself up over failures. Learn from them and enjoy the ride even if it is painful.

* Do something you love and are passionate about. This is what gets me through all the tough times. Doing something you are passionate about naturally makes more talented than those around you. Those that have passion or love for something usually are better at it. 

* Start small, learn how to be profitable.

* Fail fast and recover fast. It is easier to mess something up when the consequences are small. As time goes on, you will become better suited for larger decisions.

* Solve a problem and do it like a champion. By solving problem after problem, you will become a natural problem solver. When the right time comes to venture out on the limb again, you will be that much more ready and able to see the solution before others. 

* Faith is not believing you can achieve something or praying for it. Most people don't know what the principle of faith really is. I believe faith has been taught incorrectly. Faith is fighting until your body gives out - then you have just begun. Faith turns situations into a miracle when you look back on it, but it does not come easy, it comes with scars. When you feel you have given everything your body / mind / spirit can give, you haven't even started. Get back up, look at it another way, try 50 more times, then faith will help you find a way through it with the best outcome. You will learn to use faith in every situation you encounter in life. If you are exhausted, that means you are starting to touch on what faith really is. Faith allows you find a way out that has a positive outcome, it does not mean you can find a solution or the answer. Even evil people have learned how to exercise faith, it is not a gift only given to those that are good people. It can be used for good or bad by good or bad people. The outcomes are incredible and can change the world.

* Money is usually not the answer in the first year or two of any business. Learn to make a profit or dial in your business model, then scale slowly. You need to learn when money is a problem, when it can solve a problem or when it can create a problem.

* It is ok to doubt yourself, but don't give up. Keep going until you believe you are the best person to make that decision every time. Once you get good enough to take a shot at the buzzer, do it. The fans / investors will love you when you win. Eventually, you will be the right guy taking the shots every time with enough experience - some you will make, some you will miss.

* Have compassion on others and try to make everyone smile around you. I believe that is a key to getting the universe on your side. It is intertwined with faith somehow. You will get more back than you give if you treat people with love even if they walk all over you. You will have employees take advantage of you, steal from you, lie to you and try to take your position or title. Don't let those things harden you or change how you treat people even if they try to destroy you.

* Learn to pivot. If you are fighting the current, pivot to find or flow with the current. The right current exists when you are on to something correct and it becomes easier to sell / make money. If you are fighting the current, you are probably trying to solve the wrong problem. Once you find the right solution or right problem, the current will push you to success.

* Learn to walk away from situations before it is too late. Don't be afraid to leave a bad situation / business deal. Don't let anyone take advantage of you continually. Once is a lesson, twice is a mistake. Find positive people and perpetuate positivity all around you. 

It will take you many years to apply these bullet points in your life. You will learn some great things from others in your journey and these points are only the beginning of lessons that will set you up for a shot at the buzzer. I hope you find what you are looking for,

Trevor