A time to act

Ever dream of achieving something great? Well, it's time to stop this bad habit.\nWhat I hear from people all the time is what they plan on doing. That's great, but if you're not taking any action toward that goal, the probability of achieving your goal is actually declining. It is my personal belief (no offense to Mr. Marx) that hope -- not religion -- is the opium of the masses. Hope alone has stolen the dreams of millions of people.\nAnd all this time you thought hope was a good thing. True, hope is what keeps many people from depression, but it also keeps people from achieving.\nImagine what would happen if everyone knew they had three years to live. The "hope" for the far future would fade and people would be required to act. Action, not dreams, is what will keep the world moving.\nThe best attitude I've maintained throughout life is that if I don't do it today, I won't do it tomorrow. I believe this mentality applies to every individual.\nThe fact that people become smarter as they grow up is a myth. People age and acquire wisdom through experience. True, older people generally have more experiences, but this is because most people live predictable lives. Dare to think differently and seek new experiences and your knowledge will grow accordingly. The age myth has been spread by young individuals who are afraid to take action and geezers who use age as a means of authority. It is time to take that power back.\nI would like to think I'm a genius -- but outsmarting people twice my age is not a phenomenon. It is merely the result of an obsessive pursuit of business knowledge and experience for the last eight years. It is rather the effect of taking complete responsibility for my future and not using age as a crutch.\nAt 15 years old, I was heartbroken by a long streak of unsuccessful businesses. I considered myself to be a failing businessman. I questioned what I thought to be a talent in business and whether I could cut it in the market. Not for a millisecond did I ever let the age factor come into play. It is this no-excuse mentality that you need to internalize if you hope to achieve great things, especially at a young age.\nMost people believe that not much can be done in college.\nFirst off, as I've pointed out before: It's important to note that the risk of starting a business will never be lower than in your college years. If you are lucky, all your expenses are covered. Either way, you don't have a spouse, kids and mortgage to pay. You don't have to take a big risk in quitting a job. Hands down, it is a much easier decision in college than at a later date.\nPerhaps you will start a business later on, but there is no reason not to develop your entrepreneurial skills in college. If you don't pay the price now, you will pay the price later, I guarantee it. Would you rather be a broke college kid or a broke 40-year-old? The "I'll do it later" mentality is cancerous. It is time to embrace all the opportunities that life has to offer.\nIf you do not, at age 40 you may say: "If only I didn't have all these obligations, I would take a risk and go out on my own." Shape your future today by taking complete responsibility for your present.\nI hope that this column really bothers you and makes you uneasy. It is time that someone pulled the rug from under you so you let go of any false hopes. It is time to take steps, it is time to act, it is time to achieve.