I look up to guys like you, James Hong, the Paypal dude, and others… How can I get myself to the professional level you guys are at right now? I’m 24, IT Manager for a small company and really want to make a mark financially and socially like you guys did.

Asked by mushimono, October 14, 2003.

Everyone, including you, has at least one $1 million idea every year. There are more than 7 million millionaires in the United States today.

Why isn’t everyone a millionaire? There are three common traits that every business-successful person I know shares (and I know both of the people you referenced). 1) They don’t give a fuck what anyone else says, they just do it. 2) They’re passionate about what they do. 3) They don’t let fear get in the way.

You probably have a problem with step 2 — you don’t know what your passion is, or you deny it. To help find your passion, think about all the stupid little things you like to do, then picture building an empire on those things and how fucking cool it would be.

Fear is the biggest obstacle for most entrepreneurs. It’s embarassing to launch and company and then have it fail. It’s scary to think you might start out making less money than you make today. Just remember that the potential rewards far outweigh the risks and go for it. -pud.com