Mountain Ranges Versus Pyramids

I’ve long been a fan of Star Wars. Not the woke-garbage movies and shows that have been put out in the last couple years by Disney but the classics and the actual comic books that have followed the traditional lore. In a somewhat obscure series called Crimson Dawn, crime lord Qi’ra of Solo movie fame plots to bring down the evil Sith Lords at the top of the Galactic Empire. 

In a speech to her followers, she says: 

“This should be the structure of power in the galaxy. An endless mountain range—many peaks, none dramatically higher than the others. The people who live on them, free to climb as high as they can, and all those centers of power contending with and compromising with the others.” 

On the other hand there “is a pyramid. Everyone is climbing to the same place, pushing others down so they can ascend. And at its peak someone awaits, ready to destroy anyone who would dare approach. The only truly free person in the entire galaxy.” 

While most of us don’t have ambitions to rule the galaxy, these are pretty good analogies of entrepreneurial life, self employment versus working for someone else. Entrepreneurial life is a mountain range, you go as high as you can and compete with others but the upside is almost unlimited as is the downside. 

Working at a corporate or anyone else’s company you are working in a pyramid where your upside is capped and your only way to advance is up the hierarchy where there will always be someone in your way. Literally. A red ocean.

With this in mind, it makes me wish I started my entrepreneurial journey earlier in my life. Engaging my time and energy where the upside was not bounded. But alas due to my own risk aversion (aka cowardice), my ignorance and lack of consciousness I might have reached my personal goals faster. 

So for anyone paying attention, the earlier you take action on your dreams, the sooner you will reach them. And the best way is to focus on mountain peaks aka entrepreneurial life.