Jeb Corliss knows a thing or two about overcoming his fears and achieving breathtaking feats in the face of impossible odds.
The 39-year-old BASE jumper says the only way to fail is by giving up.
“There can be barriers set between you and where you want to go,” he says. “But if you never give up on it then you will figure out ways to burn through those barriers.”
Even dying does not mean failure, he says, because “there is no better way to die than in trying to turn your dreams in to reality”.
“There is no better way to go. I hope everyone is lucky enough to go out like that.”
Corliss should know: he was almost killed jumping through a ravine in China in a wingsuit. After crashing into a ridge he tumbled, but managed to right himself and parachute to the ground – injured but alive.
He later said it was the “gnarliest” thing he had ever done.
His advice is echoed by three experts in the field of entrepreneurship, who agree that when it comes to following your dreams the only crime is a lack of trying.
Naomi Simson, founding director of online gift experience retailer RedBalloon.com.au, says the most important quality in an entrepreneur is a thick skin.
“You have to have a sense of naiveté,” Simson says. “Being an entrepreneur is about risk; if you worry all the time you are never going to do anything, so if you don’t have a risk appetite don’t do it. And if you want a regular income don’t do it – because you’re not going to get one.
“You have to want to solve a challenge and be driven. You need to be courageous and you need to be prepared to stand out.”
Simson, who is also a panellist on the Channel 10 entrepreneur show Shark Tank, says the way Australians work is changing.
“People are seeking more flexibility in their lifestyle – more and more are going to become freelancers or contractors.”
And she says there has been a melding between entrepreneurship and a social conscience, which is good, but businesses still need to focus on being profitable entities.
“You need to invest every single dollar in growing your business – if you are giving half your money away you are never going to effect that social change you are seeking.
“You need a viable commercial enterprise then you will have the means to change the world.”
Simson is optimistic about the future.
“I am very enthused by the fact that entrepreneurship is not limited by age in any way. People as young as 12 or into their 70s are doing it. They can come from anywhere and are not limited by ethnicity, age or education. If they get good ‘team around theme’ anything is possible.”
The biggest mental shift people have to make is recognising their “non-strengths” – Simson does not use the word weakness.
Online giant Freelancer.com’s manager of events Cheryl Mack also says that possessing a thick skin is the most important trait an entrepreneur can have.
“Being an entrepreneur is tough, and a lot of people don’t realise the mental strain it takes,” Mack says. “You need to be thick-skinned but also take negative feedback well.
“You need to be determined. You need to think long-term vision and short-term milestones and be prepared to work alone when you need to. These are some of the mental struggles that entrepreneurs go through every day.”
She says that entrepreneurship is increasingly becoming mainstream.
“That’s not a bad thing. It means that people are more accepting and more supportive of start-ups - failure is no longer a taboo word.
“What this means is that in the future more people will find ways to work for themselves, more companies will adopt ‘intrapreneurial’ roles and structures - I think the title ‘intrapreneur’ will emerge as a common title in corporates in the near future - and entrepreneurialism will come out a very desired trait.”
She says as technology gets easier to use, entrepreneurship will become more accessible.
“These days you don’t need to know how to code - you barely even need to know how to use a computer. There are so many resources that have emerged in the last five years that facilitate entrepreneurialism.
“You can hire a freelancer, you can use a basic ‘freemium’ product to get started, there are so many tools that make it easy for someone to ‘build a company’ overnight. Technology has made that possible - it empowers the entrepreneurial mind.”
Of utmost importance is facing your fears, she says.
“Most people are generally afraid of things like failing, being mocked, being wrong, making tough decisions, losing security/stability.
“These are all things that are incredibly important to not only face but accept. Accept that they are scary and they will hurt but it’s not the end of the world and you move forward.”
And she says it’s never been a more exciting time to be an entrepreneur.
“If you happen to be an entrepreneur in the 21st century, that’s amazing, if you happen to be an entrepreneur in a First World country in the 21st century, you’re even more lucky. Because you have a world of resources at your fingertips - there has never been more support for start-ups than there is right now.
“You have VCs, angels, government grants, R&D credits, tax breaks, events, mentors, online classes, and so much more. The point is you have options and that’s crazy exciting – do you think Bill Gates had these kinds of things when he was starting? Imagine what you can do with all of this support.”
Her advice to young entrepreneurs just starting out: “Track everything. You never know what could be important - and look at the data, it could be the difference between average growth and hyper-growth.”
Head of AustraliaScan and social change commentator Imogen Randell says entrepreneurship is a natural evolution for Australians.
“There is not a job for life any more or consistency of employment so we have had to adapt, Randell says.
“You have to have the spirit to drive change and be adaptable and have a more circuitous route through your life. You don’t just get a degree, get a job and get married and have babies any more.
She says young people had been let down by people previous generations were able to count on.
“The churches, government and organisations have all let us down – so that has fostered an ability to go by yourself,” Randell says.
The next generation is better prepared mentally to strike out by themselves.
“They know that getting out of uni with a degree doesn’t guarantee you a job.
“So they have these traits of being creative, flexible, innovative and thinking laterally – these are things that serve you well in an entrepreneurial landscape: you have to take a risk.
She says that even though the cradle-to-grave jobs no longer exist people’s dreams have not changed.
“Even if you stick at a job, even if you get a job with an average salary you are not going to be able to have the lifestyle you grew up with.
“But dreams don’t change. People still want property, babies and those key life events. But they don’t come easily any more. You have to think laterally and adjust and adapt to that reality.”
She says the future is very exciting for young people.
“It is an exciting future if you can adapt and evolve and you have faith that you can do something. But you have to remember that you have nothing to lose because you are not risking so much.
“What are you risking – an $80,000 a year job that will have you in an apartment for the rest of your life? You may as well strike out for yourself.”
Her advice for young people?
“Simply do it. You won’t know if you don’t have a go and you won’t get what you want following a traditional pathway.
“You must back yourself. No one else will. And do it while you have no commitments. And don’t be afraid.”
