Letter to a Young Entrepreneur: 3 Things to Remember Important life and business lessons gleaned from an early 20th century poet.

By Lewis Howes

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Sometimes, inspiration comes from unlikely places.

Rainer Maria Rilke is a favorite well-known poet of the early 20th century. One of the great legacies he left behind is a volume entitled Letters to a Young Poet which was published posthumously by the young man whom he generously corresponded with for nearly five years.

Letters to A Young Poet is a volume of 10 letters written to a young man named Franz Kappus. Kappus was 19 years old, about to enter the German military, and he wrote Rilke looking for guidance and a critique of some of his poems. Rilke was himself only 27 when the first letter was written. The volume is a virtual owner's manual on what it is (and what is required) to be an artist and a person.

Related: Be Happy, Make Millions, Live the Dream

While reading his advice to his young artist friend, it occurred to me that these suggestions apply to young entrepreneurs as well, artists in their own right.

1. Live in the question.

"Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. ...live in the question." -- Rilke

When I was starting out as a young entrepreneur, living on my sister's couch, I had so many unanswered questions. I didn't know how I was going to continue my athletic career while I was recovering from the injury that took me out of professional football, but I was determined not to give up on my dream to be a pro athlete. I knew a few things for certain -- that I didn't want to work for anyone else and that I wanted to build a business that would allow me to have the lifestyle and freedom I desired.

Rather than trying to figure it all out at once or being stunted by "analysis paralysis," I put one foot in front of the other despite the questions and followed my strengths. The things that I built my business on were my passions then -- networking, sports management, and speaking. Things change as we follow those footsteps, so learn to understand it is the journey that counts, not the destination.

We live mostly in the questions anyway, not in the answers, so we need to relax into those questions, set our goals, and enjoy the ride.

Related: Simple Ways to Increase Confidence and Overcome Fear of Rejection

2. Maintain an attitude of gratitude.

"If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches; for to the creator there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place." -- Rilke

I was a pain in the ass most of my childhood, always mad at the things I didn't have. Things shifted drastically in my 20′s when I started putting an emphasis on gratitude. Once that happened, I saw abundance everywhere no matter what my circumstances.

Focus on the good in your life, not the things you lack. Each day we have the opportunity to learn something new, apologize for our mistakes, and reiterate our commitments.

3. Let your fear be your compass.

"Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage." -- Rilke

There are ways to handle situations and instances in your life, but worrying about them never does much. Feel your fear and do it anyway.

My friend and sports psychologist Dr. Jeff Spencer told me this once and it stuck with me. Elite athletes feel fear just like everyone else, but they channel that fear to fuel their spirit and passion for competition.

Generally, that thing we are most afraid of is exactly what we need to tackle to take our growth in business and life to the next level.

Related: How to Turn Haters Into Raving Customers

Wavy Line
Lewis Howes

New York Times Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur, Coach

Lewis Howes is a New York Times bestselling author of The School of Greatness and The Mask of Masculinity. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high performance business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport All-American, he is a current USA Men’s National Handball Team athlete. He hosts a top 100 iTunes ranked Apple podcast, The School of Greatness. Howes was recognized by the White House and President Obama as one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the country under 30. Details magazine called him one of “5 Internet Guru’s that can Make You Rich.”  Howes has been featured on Ellen, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The New York Times, People, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health and other major media outlets.

Editor's Pick

A Father Decided to Change When He Was in Prison on His Son's Birthday. Now His Nonprofit Helps Formerly Incarcerated Applicants Land 6-Figure Jobs.
Lock
A Teen Turned His Roblox Side Hustle Into a Multimillion-Dollar Company — Now He's Working With Karlie Kloss and Elton John
Lock
3 Mundane Tasks You Should Automate to Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff
Lock
The Next Time Someone Intimidates You, Here's What You Should Do
5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health and Regulate Your Nervous System for Sustainable Success

Related Topics

Business News

Uber Eats Deliveries Are Flooding a Los Angeles Neighborhood — Except No One Knows Who Placed the Orders

Residents of L.A.'s Highland Park neighborhood are once again the target of dozens of unsolicited Uber Eats orders. The "annoying and somewhat disturbing" mystery is gripping the city.

Growing a Business

The Human Side of Business Scaling — Why Employee Well-Being, Team Cohesion and Company Values Must Be Prioritized

Let's explore the potential pitfalls of neglecting employee well-being, team cohesion and company values as you scale — and a few strategies to prioritize each.

Business News

After Being Told They Could Work From Home Forever, Employees Made Major Life Changes. Then, a New CEO Ordered Them Back to the Office.

Farmers Group CEO Raul Vargas is facing backlash for the change, but he says being in the office brings more "collaboration" and "innovation."

Business News

'I've Got the Bug for Business': See All of Mark Wahlberg's Entrepreneurial Endeavors, From Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch to Wahlburgers

Mark Wahlberg owns businesses in several categories, including entertainment production, apparel, fitness, and nutrition.

Growing a Business

How to Grow Your Business With Social Media

Miriam Fried, owner of MF Strong, shares why a solid online presence, including social media and Yelp, is important for starting a business and achieving continued growth.

Business News

Gamestop Suddenly Fires CEO, New Chairman Posts Cryptic Tweet Hours Before Announcement

Shares of the electronics retailer plummeted up to 20% early Thursday.