Entrepreneurs: The Unknown Tale of The Average Superhero

All my life I searched and searched for an undergrad career thatcould define me under society standards.As an entrepreneurialspirit from the beginning, I was lost in the system; I actuallyswitched from 7 different undergrad programs,in 3differentuniversities,in two different countriesin a span of 7 years!in twodifferent countries.I remember my mom had given up on me. She spent all of her lifesavingsonpaying for a university career in Miami thatwasn’t ablewould do littleto give me the purpose I was so desperately seekingfor.When I finally graduated as an immigrant in the United States post9/11, there weren’t many jobs out there for somebody like me.Iwas lucky enough to get my first job as an intern at a startup andfell in love with the hustle and the environment.We were a teamof misfits, striving to surviveas well aswhilebuilding a companythat was trying to make society a better place.I was happy, I wasalive, I was part of something. I had finally found a purpose.Nowadays,I live between Miami and Bogota as I build and grow myVirtualAssistantEmilyServices “Giant”.I pay taxes in bothcountries, generate employment in Colombia, and help Americanentrepreneurs and executiveslive the Virtual CEO Life with the helpof Virtual Emily.grow their business and transform their lives through the power ofVirtual Assistants. (www.virtualceoexperience.com)However,Ihave realizedlatelyso many people have such an erroneousconception (just like I did) about what it truly means to be anentrepreneur that I feel compelled to share my experience with myreaders.I always thought being an entrepreneur was about these celebrityiconic heroes from Silicon Valley that have led us to believe in talesof overnight success.I actually believed it was going to be easyand that I was going to change the world with an app and becomea millionaire in the process.Maybe I will, Maybe I won’t,not

important anymore.HoweverBut, little did I know that life was goingto teach me a lot of humility and patience in the process.Nowadays,I would settle for a monthly paycheck to pay the billsand my team.Sometimes you miss that steady paycheck at theendof the month.You start to appreciate how good you had it as anemployee and you start to understand why your boss was sostressed all the time trying to make ends meet. This is the truthbehind most startups, hence the famous phrase: hustle and grind.Statistics show:STARTUP STATISTICS1.51 percent of owners of small businessesare50-88 years old,33 percent are 35-49 and only 16 percent are35 years old andunder.2.69 percent of U.S. entrepreneursstarttheir businesses athome.3.A bit more than 50 percent of small businessesfailin the firstfour years.So, why do we do it? Is it worth it? A friend of mine recently askedme that question.Good one,Mr. Warren. All I know is that I amdriven by a desire to create, to innovate, to serve andto be free inthe process as I take a leap of faith into the unknown every day.I have realized that to be an entrepreneur is a true act of heroism,not because of the riches and fame, but because we serve societyand those around us.We generate employment and enrich the livesof those who dare to take this ride with us; we pay taxes, as wellas strive to innovate and serve our clients better than thecompetition, while at the same time feeding our families.If that isnot the definition of a superhero, I don’t know what is.In the face of uncertainty, entrepreneurs are driven byaninexplicable desire to create something out of nothing.Even in thehardest of moments, we keep going, we keep moving, we keepcomposing, like artists.So, my answer to my friend’s question is yes, it is definitely worthit.My only piece of advice from my experience is that if you wantto do it only because of the money, stick with the

paycheck.However, should you have that burning desire to jump,to create and innovate, I dare you; for I go to work happy every day,serving my employees and clients,doing what I love as the VirtualCEO.That is the true definition of a super hero in my book.If you want it, go get it.Cheers,Joe#VirtualCEO