Flush the Toilet: Young Entrepreneurs

Does a good portion of your life revolve around your computer? I won’t lie, a GREAT portion of my life is spent right here, on the computer. I love my computer. I LOVE the internet. I LOVE technology… and you know what… I’m proud to say that. Would many people categorize me as a GEEK… ahh… yeah… many people would! And you know what…? Cool ! I love being smart. I love learning new things. I love being an intelligent person who is working hard at changing the world… yes sir.

Being an internet entrepreneur, my life is surrounded around the net and the vast information, technology, and innovation that derives from this awesome medium. I am in the process of painting my masterpiece and the net is my canvass.

I am absolutely fascinated with the internet and what it has to offer. Heck, without the net my life wouldn’t be what it is today. I can say that without being embarrassed. I can confidently say that to a degree… I am addicted to the internet. Call me a geek, nerd, whatever… it doesn’t matter…. it really doesn’t.

The net is just my thing and I am sure that many other young entrepreneurs can relate.

I felt inspired to write this post after reading GEEKS by Jon Katz. Wow, what an amazing story of two young boys from Idaho that basically come from nothing except poverty, turmoil, despondency, and depression. Throughout their lives they have been outcasts of society as their lives solely focused around the internet and technology – the only things that brought them joy.

Initially, they looked upon their intelligence as a burden and weight on their shoulders, but in time they grew to accept who they were – two extremely smart, articulate, innovative, and creative kids who had an immense understanding of the internet.

In order for them to fight back against the people who harassed them for being “geeks,” they took the word and tuned it inside out by accepting it and proudly branding themselves as exactly that – Geeks.

Though I never really physically felt a separation from society as Jesse and Eric did in the book, I’ve always felt quite mentally separated from most of my peers. There have been many, many occasions when I’ve felt like an outcast because of the intelligence that I have brought to the table among people who weren’t readily accepting of “smart people” who have smart things to say.

So in that respect, I can totally understand and respect the isolation that many smart people face on a daily basis. Sometimes being smart can be a burden on many people, especially when they feel as though they need to take their intelligence down a few notches when around certain people, in fear that they will come off as sounding arrogant and pompous.

Well you know what I say to that? Fuck that! Arrogance, confidence, and extreme ambition are MUST needed qualities for people who want to really make a difference in this world. The only people who can change this world are they ones arrogant and confident enough to really think that they can!

Here is a fitting quote that a fellow entrepreneur shared with me:

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble makers. The round pegs in square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent .They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward. While some see them as the
crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

We must embrace our intelligence, not shun it. Many of us young entrepreneurs see the world in ways that most people can never even fathom. We have intuitive understandings of concepts that many people will never even think about in their entire lives. We are the ones who rule this world, and I say that with no ego.

It is our collective minds that are going to set the tempo of how this world is going to work and function for years and years to come. How can anyone be ashamed of that? How can anyone turn their backs from the knowledge that they have? Be proud of who you are and be proud of the capabilities that you possess.

If people don’t accept you for whom you are… FUCK them! Just keep learning, keep exploring, and keep creating! In the end, the intelligent person who uses their mind for positive change can never lose. Power to the GEEKS!