⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

10 Harsh Realities No Entrepreneur Can Deny The marketplace is unforgiving and will kill the unprepared business person.

By Grant Cardone

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Peter Miranda | Stocksnap.io

We are a culture that wants to believe in fantasy and happy endings, like many of the classic fairly tales. In reality, life is tough and sometimes brutal. Most people are struggling to get by and just pay their bills. What you should be doing is changing your mindset so just getting by is no longer what you are reaching for.

It shocks me how many people are somehow surprised when they realize the harsh realities of life and business. Here is an important tip you should remember throughout the day every single day: You need to seek game-changing opportunities all the time. Most people don't have goals that are big enough, so they end up coming up short, feeling cheated and shocked by the unfairness of the world. While the world can be a rough place, you have probably been told that it's unfair. It is you, however, who is in charge of your destiny. You can write your own ending or final chapter.

To help prepare you, here are some brutal lessons that have helped me change the game throughout my life and keep me hustling every day.

Related: Shark Tank's 'Mr. Wonderful' on Teaching Kids About Money: 'Put Their Noses In It, Like You're Training a Puppy'

1. Success beyond basic needs requires hard work, dedication and commitment. You need more than just basic needs to succeed.

2. You need lots of money. That means more income, more savings and more investments.

3. Life isn't fair and neither is business. You can do all the right things and still not see a payoff. Life is good for a bunch, terrible for too many and great for a handful.

4. The world doesn't care if you succeed or fail. There are more people against you than there are pulling for you. Be prepared to be disappointed, let down and betrayed.

5. Bad things happen to good people and will happen to you. Everything you've worked for can disappear in an instant.

6. Despite all the troubles of competition, the economy, divorce, you are your biggest obstacle.

Related: The 6 Scary Truths About Becoming an Entrepreneur

7. You're not owed anything, entitled to anything and don't deserve anything you haven't earned.

8. You don't get to do what you want to do. You have to be willing to do things you don't want to do.

9. Learn how to sell, no matter how much you hate it. In life you don't get what you deserve, you get what you ask for, can make sense of and negotiate.

10. You will always work for someone. No matter your position, there is no such thing as simply working for yourself. You will have to please others whether it's your customers, employees or shareholders.

It's time to create freedom and quit settling for just basic needs. It's time to grow up and face the facts. The world is not a fairy tale -- its brutal, it's unfair and most are underestimating what it takes to take care of themselves and their families. Learn from these life lessons and never settle for average.

Be great.

Related: Never Turn Your Back on Reality

Grant Cardone

International Sales Expert & $1.78B Real Estate Fund Manager

Grant Cardone is an internationally-renowned speaker on sales, leadership, real-estate investing, entrepreneurship and finance whose five privately held companies have annual revenues exceeding $300 million.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.

Money & Finance

4 Promising Industries Investors Should Be Watching in 2024

Wondering whether your industry is on the decline or set to expand? Read on for these predictions on the best sectors for growth in 2024.