The organizing business is big now. One of those who made it to the top is Julie Morgenstern. What’s interesting to note is that most of her life was centered around grandiose theatre, television, and film ideas. It wasn’t until after a divorce and becoming a single mom of a three-year-old daughter that Julie faced an obstacle. This may initially seem like a good time to feel discouraged, but the obstacle is the way, according to Ryan Holiday in his book by the same title.
While sharing a plate of lasagna with her theatre friend Walt, Julie expressed her wishes and longing for a business to help her organize her life. She described a ‘rent-a-mom’ service and how that process would work. It turns out that Walt needed the same kind of help. Thus, a spark ignited the flame of great success. Not only did she solve a problem for herself and Walt, but Julie has gone on to help millions more.
Three years after launching her business, Task Masters, Julie held on to that old, broken dream. Most of her life had been circling the dream of theater, and dreams can be hard to let go of. “Half of me was still tied to the theater world I chose to leave several years before. By releasing those [theatre] production books, I sent a mental and physical signal to myself that my business was now my core focus, and it took off. The feeling of mobilization was palpable. This transition was one of the most difficult of her life.
But life’s problems sometimes turn out to be gifts. This was the case for a former employer of mine, Derek Weber of Colorado Camper Vans. He didn’t wake up one morning and decided to create a multi-million-dollar van company. Like so many other inspired entrepreneurs, he solved a personal problem. No camper van on the market met his needs to adventure in the wilderness of the Colorado mountain ranges like he envisioned it should.
At the core of every entrepreneur is what the IRS refers to as a ‘pass-through entity’ or, in other words- a human. (Most US businesses are not subject to income tax. Instead, their taxable income is passed through to the business owners, who are taxed on the individual income tax return. Hence, the term ‘pass-through entity) So, behind every small business is a natural person, unlike a corporation. Why does this matter? Because before you can launch a successful business or grow a stagnant one, you must stay active. You will need endurance and clarity to understand your world, spot opportunities and options, solve problems, create ideas, and make decisions.
