Desperation Is Not A Dirty Word
What’s wrong with desperation?
I think it’s a beautiful, glorious, magical, necessary and worthwhile thing. You hear so much stupid nonsense about it. Why are you sounding so desperate?
Don’t say that people will think you are desperate. He’s such a desperate person.
So what? Desperation is a necessity not a weakness. Desperation is a need and not a madness. Desperation helps people climb mountains, save lives, build companies, pull off the impossible, invent never before stuff, challenge all odds and even more importantly … survive!
Few people can afford to not be desperate. Maybe four actually, Bill Gates’ nephew, Kendall Jenner, Miss Chillar and Donald Trump’s barber. The rest of us … well we’re not so lucky.
Whenever I’m asked for my philosophy of how I built my company I say it’s a combination of three perspectives. Long-term vision. Mid-term planning. And immediate desperation.
For sure. I’m desperate at least seven days a month. Can I get enough funding to last to my next round? How the hell do I ensure that revenues keep going up? Where do I find a person to replace the one I have to let go? How on earth do I lose all this weight I am gaining?
Actually when I think of it, desperation is a function of targets, troubles and time. But mainly time. Because as that ticks away, the going becomes more difficult. We’re all supposed to hide our desperation. Say ‘no, it’s OK. Things are cool. No problem’.
Have you ever wondered why no one says, ‘I’m desperate but I’ll make it through’ or ‘Things are desperate but we’re figuring it out.’ They don’t say it because Desperation has been made into a dirty word. Like Depression, Damnation, Dastardly, Demeaning, Degrading and Doggone. While it should be listed along with Daring, Dynamic and Duty.
Because often it is your duty to be desperate. For yourself. For your family. For your friends. For your shareholders. For your family.
I feel the key is to take the desperation and use it as petrol. Don’t let it scatter you, instead let it add to your intensity and focus. Give all your force towards that goal. Reach deep and believe there is a power that will join you and make it happen.
Remember you are equal to your problems. Not less than. Not more than. But equal. Whatever the force of the problem you have the power to match it. But you have to push back in full. With a pure heart and all your might.
I remember a Sufi saint who said (something like) ‘Join us, a desperate band of believers who have staked our entire life on the belief that God exists.’ I feel it’s okay to be as desperate as you want. However promise me:
1) You won’t kill or seriously harm anyone
2) You won’t cheat, lie or steal (in any major way)
3) If you start imagining the worst, you’ll also imagine the best
4) And most importantly, don’t let your motivation be greed.
There is another truth that helps move mountains against all odds. It’s called ‘embracing your fear.’ I haven’t exactly figured that one out yet, but when I do, you’ll be the first to know. If you figure it out before, please let me know.
Meanwhile be proud of your Desperation.
