Benjamin VandenWymelenberg - 29 Apr

Life can be much broader when you realize one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use. Once you have learned that, you will never be the same.

Steve Jobs (American business magnate and investor)

Whether you know it or not, the fate of the world rests in your hands.

Climate change, global health crises, and many other social, political, and environmental issues continue to threaten our quality of life and the inhabitability of our planet. The good news, however, is that after reading this book, youre going to save the universe!

Wondering how youre going to rescue humanity from its current collision course with catastrophe? Its simple; all we need are your ideas.

Thats right; the world needs your f*cking ideas. Theyve probably been buried deep in your subconscious, wary of judgment from your peers and fearful of failure for many years. However, humanity needs you to rise to the occasion now more than ever.

Im certain we all have the ability to change the world, because I see it wherever I go. So many people have amazing ideas to start impact - capable businesses, but something stops them from putting those thoughts into action.

As a serial entrepreneur, Ive visited all seven continents and talked to many different people from all walks of life. During those conversations, Ive heard incredibly innovative ideas for almost every industry, from farming processes and water purification techniques to technological advances and everything in between. I dont care if your idea is as seemingly insignificant as building a better badminton racket. If playing better badminton helps people to live fuller and happier lives, then save the world from playing shitty badminton and make it happen!

After hearing about so many potentially amazing solutions to the growing list of worldwide problems over the years, I started thinking about why so few of them ever see the light of day. I came to the conclusion that one or more of three misguided concerns is almost always the root cause of such inactivity.

1. People think they need a business degree or background.

No degree? No problem. I was an architectural student with no idea of how to start or run a business. For most of my life, I had no intention of becoming an entrepreneur. Until my senior year in college, my career ambitions were to design sustainable homes with the best available technology in the beautiful state of Colorado.

2. People think they need money or investors.

I was a broke - ass farm boy when I started my business. The best resource I had going for me was an undeniably strong work ethic handed down by two of the hardest - working people Ive ever knownmy parents. From a young age, I learned to work hard for everything I wanted, which is why I had three jobs to put myself through college. If you can outwork everybody, like I did, money will never be an obstacle.

3. People dont know where to start.

This is likely a combination of procrastination and fear of failure. Do you want to live the rest of your life wondering, What if I had started a business with my idea? Regret is a horrible thing to live with and its even worse to die with. So, its time to get off your ass, stop worrying about what other people think, and just do it!

Despite popular opinion, failure is an option. Who cares if you fail? In that case, at least you can live the rest of your life knowing you did everything you could to make your idea work. Also, understand that theres no limit to the number of attempts you get at starting a business. My first attempt was a failure, but that didnt stop me. In reality, you can fail as often as it takes to get your idea off the ground. You can also start a business from anyplace and with practically nothing, just like I did.

My initial product launch was handmade wooden phone cases in the consumer electronics accessories market, which, in hindsight, wasnt a good choice. It turned out to be one of the worst markets I could have possibly attempted accessing, especially in the United States. At the time, I didnt understand that most electronics accessories were made in China for about ten cents apiece, then sold at the big - box electronics stores for a huge markup. It was almost impossible to compete in that space, especially if you wanted to keep jobs in the United States by making the product domestically, which I did. As a result, I failed miserably with my initial product launch.

Strangely enough, Im eternally grateful for that experience. If I had carefully analyzed all the data and waited for the perfect time to unleash my idea on the world, the chain of events that ultimately led to my success would have probably never happened. My entrepreneurial journey would have traveled a much different path, littered with hesitation, procrastination, and far less impact. My early experience is proof positive that sometimes you have to follow your instincts more than anything else, even if they lead you astray.

With that mistake under my belt, I worked on new ideas and never looked back.