Someone recently told me a remarkable story.
A startup founder they knew had been working on an idea. Their startup got acquired. Ten days later, the acquiring company itself was bought – for billions. Overnight, this hopeful founder went from years of uncertainty to tens of millions in net worth.
Every so often, we hear these stories. They’re intoxicating. But, every time I hear them, I remind myself that they’re also the exception, not the rule.
For the rest of us, the path is far less glamorous. It’s long, often messy, and built the old-fashioned way – through thoughtful choices, strategic thinking, relentless hard work, and yes, the occasional dollop of luck.
The key, IMHO, is not to expect windfalls.
Expect the grind. Anything else is just a bonus.
