the hustle is real

An Imperative Lesson for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

I was recently having dinner with a group of friends and at different points in the night multiple people asked me this: “How long were you working at KK intl. before you started getting paid?” These individuals are starting a new business and were wanting to learn more about my experience founding a brand.

My response to their question… the hustle is real. I don’t talk about it often because people generally just want to hear about the successes. The reality is that for 2 years I was a full-time college student and 3 years after that I worked as a server at a restaurant 5 nights a week, while I was also working full-time to make this dream a reality. I didn’t get a day off and I didn’t get paid anything from the organization, none of us did.

Now, this won’t come as a surprise for any entrepreneurs out there, but it’s an imperative lesson for anyone interested in starting something. The timeline looks different for every person and every business, but the one constant is that it will test you to your furthest limits. That’s what you are signing up for.

Takeaway: There are no overnight success stories. As a result, you are going to have to be willing to sacrifice an awful lot (more than you are most likely thinking right now even) to get to the point of where you start to get paid to pursue your dream.

But don’t lose heart. It is possible.

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Written by Kohl Crecelius
Kohl Crecelius is a social entrepreneur, father, husband and life enthusiast. He is the CEO and Co-founder of KNOWN SUPPLY and Krochet Kids intl. -- working globally to celebrate makers and humanize the apparel industry. He is passionate about helping others realize the role they can play in changing the world using the skills and gifts they have.