Embrace The Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude.

 

How many of you know the meaning of this word?

 

It’s a fun word to look at, to read, and it’s probably an even more fun of a word to just simply say out loud.

 

Schadenfreude.

 

A word of German origin, schadenfreude is a mixture of both “damage” (schaden) and “joy” (freude). In a literal context, schadenfreude is the enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others.

 

Not everyone is for you. In fact, a very small amount of people will be for you… especially in business.

 

But like this fun little word, while there is damage within it, there is also always that silver lining of joy.

 

And from this, you can make two pretty decent principles to live by…

 

1. Ignore idiots and zealots. There are a lot of jealous people and naysayers in the world. Ignore them. These people will try to rain on your parade because they have no parade of their own. Avoid them at all costs.

 

2. Hang around the right people. Other successful people. Network where their best customers and prospects go. Join the right associations. Make the right friends. Stay away from poison people - the ones who can’t seem to get anywhere. Have a mentor or three. Who do you hang around with? That is who you are likely to become. How successful are the people you associate with? That is how you are likely to grow.

 

This lesson, I’ve found, is probably the single most important lesson that I’ve learned in all of my time studying and practicing entrepreneurship.

 

So, you see, like the German word made up of two words of the opposite meaning, there will always be two parts to every story, at two very opposite ends of the spectrum. Your success story just depends on which crowd you choose to listen to.

 

You can listen to all of the negits and believe what they say, eventually self-implode, and allow them to enjoy your failures...

 

Or you can just simply ignore them, and focus on the motivators and propellers in your life and business, and continue on the path of self-improvement.

 

But whatever you do, don’t allow yourself to play the victim when confronted with a little bit of schadenfreude. That is the worst thing you can do. As a victim, you can’t help anyone.

 

And if you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, the number one reason that you should be in business, is to help others.

 

To serve others.

 

Whether it’s through a product or a service or a combination of the two, that is what entrepreneurship is all about. If it’s not, then what are you even in business for?

 

If you’re only in it for the money, I can guarantee you that you will not last...

 

But if you’re in it for your customers or clients, and you have a strong passion for what you do, then you will be successful.

 

Embrace the schadenfreude.

 

That’s not a statement. It’s an axiom.

 

 

To embracing the schadenfreude,

Tyler