創業家之戰慄

There is an expression: "The moment of truth."

For an entrepreneur, the moment of truth arrives a handful of times. If one were to name the very first instance, it would undoubtedly be the opening day that signals the commencement of business. While it is naturally difficult to strike gold from the very first day of opening, it is from that exact moment that one can experience raw, unfiltered feedback and monitor all sorts of inconveniences they hadn't previously anticipated. Though you firmly believe you have prepared thoroughly, situations inevitably arise where you must scurry and handle matters in a frantic rush.

But what if unexpected accidents rarely occur, and everything unfolds so smoothly just as the entrepreneur envisioned, with the product beginning to sell? That is precisely the moment when a shiver of thrill—a pure frisson—surges through the spine.

The deep emotion of striving for and seizing something you have dreamt of for a long time carries a catharsis that cannot be compared to a victory cheaply won. It is akin to an Olympic athlete capturing a medal—the culmination wrought by four years of sweat. The moment you have proven your own effort and worth. The profound emotion it delivers will return in exact proportion to the drops of sweat shed for that medal.

In the same manner, the humiliations and tribulations endured while running a business are finally rewarded when the convictions held during its preparation are vindicated. The joy of that frisson is beyond description. For an entrepreneur, this moment is not a frequent occurrence in the course of conducting business. If one can experience this exhilaration, then from that moment onward, it marks the beginning of an entirely new life.