Advice to New Free Agents

13 Comments

Free Agents

As a new group of Free Agents huddled around, I gave them some of the best advice I’ve ever taken myself. Many months ago someone asked me about my backup plan. What would happen if my business didn’t take off the way I had imagined. After thinking for a while, I realized I didn’t have a plan.

Armando Montelongo’s company has grown at 3,214.5% over the past three years. Amazing, right? Here’s what he says:

“It’s my belief that if you have a dream, it should be your only action in life
to go after it without a backup plan.”

And that’s exactly what I did. There was no, “what if.”

This is why, when starting a business, it’s so important to be sure you’re doing the right thing. Are you chasing money or your dream?

What do you think? Is it irresponsible to go after your dream without a backup plan, or is it the only way?

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Photo by Kevin Miller

Posted on August 30, 2012

  • cheenbean

    i spent a week recently discouraged in my dream, which led to exploring backup plans (for me it’s going to grad school)  the more I explored the backup plan the more I realize I won’t be satisfied with anything less than the dream. i’m glad I didn’t have to actually pursue the back up plan to get disillusioned with it, i just wasted a week exploring it. Now I’m back on track – full speed ahead!

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    One week isn’t so bad. And I don’t think it was wasted. It helped you realize you won’t settle.

  • http://www.JeffDrummer.com/ Jeff Jones

    I think there are so many aspects of your business that you will never know about until you take the leap. The only way to prove it is to do it. Easier said than done though.

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    No kidding, Jeff. Sometimes someone needs to push you.

  • Jack Lynady

    Nice Post J. Reminds me of the time a doctor told me when I first started my practice, “The best thing for your practice is to get a Big Mortgage”. LOL. In other words, go all in!

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    That made me smile, Jack. Sounds like I need another house.

  • http://www.freeagentacademy.com Kevin Miller

    Amen! Bravo! Touche’! Argh! The topic will get lots of head nods, but few takers…unfortunately. Yet with most important things, we don’t have a backup plan, eh? Get a diagnosis of cancer and you make plans to eradicate it right away, full on…without jointly going ahead and securing a burial plot and coffin…

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    Why is it that we often don’t have a backup plan for important things? But when it comes to work, we’re not all in.

  • http://www.freeagentacademy.com Kevin Miller

    don’t want to risk anything that has to do with our money…eh?

  • http://www.roccocapra.com/ Rocco Capra

    It’s SCARY as hell!! I’m finishing up a few key things before I take that step, and I know when I do its going to be scary!!

  • http://www.achievesuccesscoaching.com/ Scott D. Speight

    Justin, you are spot on!  Without faith there is doubt and when there is doubt you aren’t playing full out.  Thanks for sharing!

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    Scary, but worth it, Rocco.

  • http://www.freeagentacademy.com Kevin Miller

    I understand…I really do. But in retrospect, what seems far more scary is NOT doing what I knew was best. ‘Staying put’ is scary. Depending on an employer is scary. Trying to be the fullness of who I’m meant to be while investing so much of myself in something that I don’t care about…is scary.