Out of My Comfort Zone

I have just read the first few pages of Steve Waugh's autobiography, 'Out of My Comfort Zone', and I already identify with it so much.
The self-doubts that the great man had when he started, the feeling of loneliness, the questions about do I belong here, whether I am good enough to do this, do I deserve this, bring him to a plane which makes one think that even these great men are human, and just like you and me.
I know now what he must have gone through at that time, when he started playing for his state and country, a new phase in life and new challenges, the apprehensions of going to do something that you have never done before but have always wanted to do, and have idolised people who have done it before. I am going through the same phase now, when I want to start my own venture, and I identify to the book so much. Gives a lot of comfort to know that even great men go through the same feelings just as we lesser mortals do.
Like he said in the book, one success and you are away, the confidence is there and you believe that you belong, and then everything else become easy.
Looking for that first milestone, and hoping that it comes soon.

Should I Burn My Ships

I have always been fascinated with the stories surrounding Alexander the Great. One such story which I read somewhere long back, was quite interesting.
On one of his attacks on an island kingdom (I do not remember the name now), his troops were very tired, bruised and injured from the numerous battles they had fought and were also a little anxious because the island kingdom they were now attacking had a strong army and had never been conquered before by any army. The army of the kingdom was also much larger than Alexander's troops. In short, the odds were highly against Alexander's army to win the battle.
What did Alexander do? Once his troops landed on the island, he ordered his men to burn all the ships that they had come on. So, there was no way for them to go back or to run away if they lost the war or if their position was weak. It meant only one thing. They would either have to win the war or die.
What happened was that Alexander's army fought hard and with everything they had. They knew they had no other option than to win, if they did not they would die. Everytime they were weak, they came back with renewed energy to fight. The thought of having everything at stake and no going back, filled them with strength they had never known before. Very soon, the smaller army of Alexander had conquered the island kingdom's large army.
The story is quite inspirational. It shows how when someone has everything at stake and no options to go back to, they will give their everything and come up victorious. I loved it when I read it.
Today, when I take a new road, I am reminded of this story. There are a lot of challenges on the way and lots of self doubt. So if I put everything at stake, risk everything so that I have no option of going back, will it mean that I will be more hungry and desperate for success? Will it motivate me to keep going when the chips are down and when the going gets too tough to bear? Will it give me no other option than to never give up as I would have nowhere to go back to if I give up the fight and lose the battle?
So, should I put all I have at stake knowingly, as Alexander did, or keep some exit options open? Should I be prudent and not put all my eggs in one basket but save some resources for the time that I may fail? Will that not make failure more acceptable? But not doing it would make it much more risky and life much more unstable.
I do not know what to do. Someone advice. HELP......

The Lamest Excuse for Business Failure - II

I just cannot get out of the mode of thinking of excuses of why my business initiative will fail.
Why do I want to give up a job and a stable career to get into the unknown? There have to be solid reasons for the same, is it not, to keep me motivated and egging me on to success. Some of the reasons I could think of and why they will not be applicable to me are:
1. I really want to make a difference to the world and help the poor and make a difference in their lives. Now, why this motivation will not work, is that I always think, can I not do it even by working for some other social institution? How will it be different if I am working for myself? Does it not mean that I was not as motivated when I was working in my previous jobs?
2. To do things the way I want to do them, without any interference from anyone else. Now, why this will not work is, I am not that smart. I need instructions for everything, or else I make a mess.
3. To boost my ego, to be the CEO, to be called 'sir' and 'boss' - I feel uncomfortable anytime someone calls me like this. I am always going to be called by my first name, so that is never going to be an incentive. As for the position of CEO, the kind of person I am, does not really matter to me what designation I hold, as long as I am doing something meaningful.
4. To be one day remembered as a a Great, someone who created a great institution - While I have my doubts (that is what the article is all about anyways) of how great the institution will become, even if it does, I will not like to become a Great. I am a simple person who wants to lead a simple life, and do not want greatness thrust upon me (sounds wonderful to me, am I not talking as if people are trying to load me with greatness and I am refusing it.......high hopes!!!). I just do not see myself as a person who can give speeches, cut ribbons, be on boards, go to high profile parties....naah, this is scary, not a motivation or incentive, I am fine with my daal roti life.
5. To make loads of money - Two things here. One is that, as I already said, I am a simple person. I have simple needs and simple demands. I do not need lots of money. What will I do with that. So, it is hardly an incentive. Also, my venture is a social business, working for the poor, it will not make much money anyway.

So, with nothing to motivate me, no incentives, I am sure my business is going to fail. Why I am still doing it??? Even I have no idea.

P.S. - Actually why I want to do it is for all the reasons mentioned above. But except for the first point, I cannot admit the others publically no, so had to write all that crap. Even for the first point, if someone actually asks me whether I could not do it working for others, I would have no answers, so by saying it myself, I am not giving anyone the chance to ask and embarrass me.