Crossing the Invisible Barrier.... Going From a Salary to Creating a Business....

Around 3 months ago my university contract ended, and I decided to do my best NOT to take salaried employment, at least for a substantial period of time.... I also resolved NOT to take any unemployment benefits.... I knew I had to give it a real chance....

My job ended. I had enough savings to live on for a while, a university payout, got some of my superannuation back, and I also had my stock market investments just in case I needed to sell them to survive....

But the biggest thing that's happened in the last few months is the change in my ATTITUDE. I see myself as a "business person" now.... And when I talk to other people now, there is also a change in their attitude towards me....

There's an "invisible barrier" between salaried employees and businesspeople.... The two are completely different ball-games....

I didn't even realize the barrier existed before. But now that I've crossed it, I've found many doors opening up....

People I just happen to meet (like the guy in the cafe I wrote about earlier) tell me about their business experiences.... It's an education you usually can't buy!

The "invisible barrier" is there, but it is crossable....

Why does it exist? I'm sure part of it was the change in my attitude....

By resolving NOT to take salaried employment, and NOT to get unemployment benefits, I crossed the line to the ATTITUDE of self-sufficiency....

It also could be because when you are a salaried employee, it is hard to understand the difficulties and the risks of business. The two are so incredibly different, especially regarding risk....

So, if a businessperson sees you as another salaried employee, they may be reluctant to tell you things, because they're not sure how you'll react.... Some people can be very judgemental....

There are people in the world who believe all business is "evil" -- believe it or not. It's crazy, since business essentially makes the world go round when you think about it.... All the products around you, almost all the services, and for most people, even your job, would not exist if it wasn't for entrepreneurs....

But, because such attitudes exist, they probably help to create an "invisible barrier"....

I don't think the biz-opp market would even exist if this "invisible barrier" wasn't there.... Or at least, it would be smaller, as information would flow more freely....

Just some food for thought....

How did you go from salaried employment to being in business? It's not an easy step to take.... I'd love to hear some stories on how people made the difficult transition....

- Dien

Can't, see me.

When you hear a sound, that you just can't place
Feel somethin' move, that you just can't trace
When something sits, on the end of your bed
Don't turn around, when you hear me tread

I'm the invisible man, I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can't, see me
I'm the invisible man, I'm the invisible man
I can, see right through you

Now I'm in your room, and I'm in your bed
And I'm in your life, and I'm in your head
Like the CIA or the FBI
You'll never get close, to know how I survive

I'm the invisible man, I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can't, see me
I'm the invisible man, I'm the invisible man
I can, see right through you

Now I'm on your track, and I'm in your mind
And I'm on your back, but don't look behind
I know your every thought, And your every fear
But I'll never get caught, you can't shake me shake me dear

I'm the invisible man, I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can't, see me
Watch me
I'm the invisible man, I'm the marketing man
I can, see right through you
Look at me look at me

Okay, so I changed the actual lyrics a bit. But Queen seems to have known a thing or two all right.

As soon as you cross over... become one of us... you have an edge. You're like the invisble man... no one can see you BUT you can see them. You know HOW they work, how they operate to get by, but they don't have a clue about you. You have sacred knowledge.

I believe Robert Kyosaki also mentions something along these lines. Your edge is knowing both sets of rules but playing by the set that most don't even know exists.

I'd like to quote another Queen song which sprang into my mind when I read your post...


When love breaks up
When the dawn light wakes up
A new life is born
Somehow I have to make this final breakthrough
NOW!

I wake up
Feel just fine
Your face
Fills my mind
I get religion quick
'Cos you're looking divine
Honey you're touching something, you're touching me
I'm under your thumb, under your spell, can't you see
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough - oh yeah

Breakthrough these barriers of pain
Breakthrough to the sunshine from the rain
Make my feelings known towards you
Turn my heart inside and out for you now
Somehow I have to make this final breakthrough

Now! - oh yeah.

Your smile speaks books to me
I break up
With each and every one of your looks at me
Honey you're starting something, deep inside of me
Honey you're sparking something, this fire in me
I'm outta control
I wanna rush headlong into this ecstacy
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough

If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
Oh yeah

Breakthrough, breakthrough

Break...

If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough

If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough

Breakthrough


And...

This is the only life for me
Surround myself around my own fantasy
You just gotta be strong and believe in yourself

Just believe - just keep passing the open windows


Anyway. Yeah, there is a barrier. An invisible and strong barrier. And once crossed you become a different person. Not that most people notice. But other's who've also crossed it do notice it. They pick up on it like a sixth sense. It's... It's...


It's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
A kind of magic
One dream one soul one prize one goal
One golden glance of what should be
It's a kind of magic
One shaft of light that shows the way
No employee can play this game


And, while some try to cross over... they never quite make it. They try to play in one playground by using the rules of the other playground. They end up with a business that's just a job. These people are the one who also don't want to discuss business with anyone. Share ideas? Mutually beneficial? These terms are not in their vocabulary.

And who can blame them? There's no school of entrepreneurialism.

But there doesn't need to be.

Think back. Way way back to when you were little. You had what it took. But years of schooling drilled it out of you.

You may have gone to a school which had "We help bring out the individual in your child" as part of its rhetoric. BUT, as soon as you tried to be individual you were "shown" the prefered way... the way of sameness.

Only those who've never had their free spirit truly enslaved have broken free from those binding shackles.

Of course, it also helps that the immutable law of "like attracts like" exist.

So how does someone cross the barrier now?

Same way they cross all self imposed barriers... by giving it a go. Maybe even building up to it bit by bit.

They may see someone they can relate to who's done it. They'll get them going. Then they'll look into it some more. Buy a book, audio, video, game, product rights, whatever. Each part adding to give them the confidence they'll use when they finally step out of the cave of darkness and into the light of entrepreneurialism.

They'll have an awakening. The planted seed will finally germinate.

Michael Ross.

Heheheh :)

EXCELLENT post, Michael!

Here are some more thoughts, which I've noticed in my own thinking....

I've read and heard about this before, and I've also learned this from you, Michael.... The whole attitude to money. My attitude to money has changed....

It really is kind of funny. Money is no longer the "stuff of life" it was to me any more. It really is more like a "score card"....

I used to be quite passionate about money, because I knew that I'd go hungry without it. But when you're really working at a business, money just starts to become the score....

Something like a Profit and Loss statement becomes the statistics on the scoreboard, like you'd find at any sports match....

In many ways, I'm still a toddler just learning to walk, but it's exciting.... It really is kind of fun seeing "both" sides of the "barrier," the business side, and the employee side.... And how the views really are quite different....

If someone is serious about business, if you can do so safely (eg. you have enough assets and savings to be able to do it), you might want to consider taking the plunge like I have....

Probably most business-people did that at one time or another.... It's the moment of truth!

And crossing the "invisible barrier" will become a very interesting experience.... :)

- Dien

P.S. It is a kind of "Breakthrough" (yeah, I loved that song too... :) And the following words from "We Are The Champions" fits business too....!

I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand
Kicked in my face
But I've come through
And I need to go on and on and on and on

(Now the chorus! Everyone sing!)

We are the champions - my friend
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
Of the world