Mariana Silva-Buck |
Little Maven Lemonade founder
BecomIng an entrepreneur is akin to being a wide-eyed 10-year-old at an amusement park, and trust me, the parallels are uncanny. It’s a wild, exhilarating ride filled with thrills, chills and a few bumps and bruises. But the whole experience is undeniably fun, scary and fueled by an unshakable belief that you can conquer anything.
I had this desire to be my own boss and live life on my terms for as long as I can remember. Then, a fateful move to the United States in 2005 and finishing college during the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. It felt like I had to leap into entrepreneurship, and there was no turning back.
What I didn’t anticipate was the roller coaster journey that awaited. It’s a relentless mix of highs and lows, risk-taking and decision-making. Every day feels like stepping onto a new ride, with no guarantees of how it’ll go.
You must retain a sense of naivety from your 10-year-old self. It’s that wide-eyed wonder that fuels your belief in conquering the impossible. While being an adult demands logic, being an entrepreneur sometimes demands the same kind of childlike optimism. You’ve got to be audacious to chase the seemingly unattainable.
Entrepreneurship demands a unique balance of youthful enthusiasm and the wisdom of experience. It’s about embracing the unknown, taking well-thought-out risks and continually learning.
So, just like a 10-year-old exploring an amusement park, I navigate the thrilling, challenging and ultimately rewarding journey of entrepreneurship, striving to bring my dreams to life.
That, to me, is the definition of success.
