Does curiosity truly kill the cat?

Originally sent exclusively to The Letter subscribers on February 17th. Want to be the first to get my personal newsletter in your inbox every Monday at 7am? Subscribe for free here.

Are ‘Isms’ the Entrepreneur’s Secret Sauce?

Are one or two, perhaps even three, 'isms' the key to cracking the code of success?

I believe they might be.

Do the personality quirks of a select few hold the essence of what gives successful individuals their edge?

I have an insatiable appetite for books and podcasts featuring those who have achieved greatness; these individuals often exhibit peculiarities.

Is it a coincidence? I think Not.

I recognise my own oddness and have embraced it. In fact, I take pride in being different and even aspire to be odder, as it seems to yield fruitful outcomes.

However, I have no desire to be so eccentric that I start enjoying specialty milks in my coffee. I never want to utter the words, “mine’s a soya latte with a shot of reduced sugar cinnamon,” but I do want to be odd enough to consider running a business for the rest of my life.

Before we delve deeper into the topic of ‘isms’ and this secret superpower that appears to envelop the successful, let’s first explore our needs as a human race.

Once we have security, food, water, clothing, sleep, shelter, and a sprinkle of love, one might think we would feel fulfilled.

However, once our basic needs are satisfied, we often find ourselves yearning for more.

This desire drives economies more than anything else I know - it's the allure of the “new” over the simply successful.

As a species, we are undeniably driven by this desire, akin to an insatiable addiction.

Consider your personal zeitgeist:

So and so has a new boyfriend, a new baby, a new iPhone, the latest fashion, or a trending Netflix series.

The list of new desires is virtually endless.

Ask any flourishing economy - you need only to glance at Dubai.

I see these writings I deliver weekly as akin to prayer for the religious amongst us.

Instead of churches and temples, we have notebooks, podcasts, YouTube, and seminars to derive meaning from it all.

We are part of a collective known as entrepreneurs.

Like a stand up comedian, I strive to illuminate the twists and turns we navigate in this amusing journey we call life.

If I can clarify for you, and for myself, why we do what we do, surely that is a positive endeavour.

If I were a bookshop - which, in this era of self identification, I realise is entirely plausible - I would be nestled in the section on success and personal development.

While I long to be in the comedy section, as they seem to enjoy more of a chuckle over there!

Returning to the theme of “new, new, new.”

Why do we feel compelled to acquire a new iPhone, a new house, or a new holiday destination?

It strikes me that the items we already possess were often successful choices made in the first place.

What fuels this obsession to continually reach for the new?

Does curiosity truly kill the cat?

Well, curiosity can indeed deplete your personal bank account and keep Tim Cook in a position of power as he churns out more of the same, filling Apple’s coffers.

I often reflect on my own fixation with newness.

Why do I feel the urge for a new location for my business or a new deal to pursue

I share this obsession with many who favour the new over the proven successful.

I want to prove something - I’m uncertain to whom and contend with the ever increasing burden of turnover taxes dished out, by our current government that punishes you at every turn, for having a go.

Plus, in business, if you’re not growing, you’re dying.

The real answer lies in our collective love for convenience.

This is why services like Deliveroo and Amazon thrive and why supermarkets have effectively dethroned the high street.

Innovate or evaporate - it really is that simple.

The market is propelled by an incessant need for greater convenience and diminished pain, 60 years ago we didn’t have fridges and freezers - pain from consumers - a conundrum solved by hungry entrepreneurs wanting to make a buck.

Consumers desire immediate access with minimal discomfort.

When I was a child, we had to wait a week to find out the cliff hanger of a TV series; now, one can binge watch an entire season overnight.

I’ve heard stories of people finishing Game of Thrones in a weekend!

The market’s ‘ism’ is to obtain what they want with debt, minimal effort, speed, and as little discomfort as possible.

Ozempic anyone?

Large televisions, scrolling feeds, and mortgages stretching into grandparenthood are now the norm.

It won’t be long before multi-generational debt becomes commonplace.

I am utterly convinced of this. Convenience often translates to having a bit more cash each month while pushing debt beyond the grave.

My first mortgage lasted 15 years, but nowadays, 40-year mortgages are as common as drive through cappuccinos - getting out of the car for coffee and walking from car parking space to the coffee shop door has become a chore, leading to the prevalence of drive-through services.

So, what’s our ‘ism’?

Our ‘ism’ involves swimming against the current.

We embrace good debt, spending years living frugally to achieve our goals.

We take on responsibility and find joyin embracing challenges as often as we enjoy a cup of tea.

We remain indifferent to others’ opinions, cherishing the path less travelled.

We engage in productive risk taking, employ strategic thinking, and find contentment in delayed gratification and prioritising others needs.

We confront the establishment, express our views candidly, and change our circumstances if they no longer suit us.

We detest excuses and negativity, striving to eliminate them from our lives like a bad smell.

When things go wrong, we hold ourselves accountable rather than attributing blame to external circumstances.

We see failure as feedback, not the final destination.

We drive innovation and create the new because we understand market demands.

Our ‘ism’ is about revealing and using difficulties to ease the burdens of others.

This cycle has persisted since the Romans sought baths and smoother chariots; rather than lamenting about challenges, they solved problems by building roads.

Most people shy away from difficulty.

However, if you can find joy in it, you possess an ‘ism’ of which you should be proud.

I assure you, if you leverage difficulty with a keen eye for personal development, a strong vision, and commercial awareness - understanding your numbers you will not fail in this game.

Embrace your ‘isms’; they can serve you exceptionally well.

Speaking of service, say what you will about waiters, but they truly bring a lot to the table.

To your continued success,

James

PS. I’m hosting an evening show at the Leicester Square Theatre in June, it would be great to se you there - Details here.