I recently came across a YouTube program called “Go Forth,” sponsored by GoDaddy, the internet domain registrar and web hosting company. It follows three entrepreneurs that desire to live life differently and follow their dreams. They also happen to be professional athletes. I found the series to be both interesting and entertaining because it combined things such as entrepreneurship, sport, and storytelling, all of which I find fascinating. A popular misconception is that all professional athletes are wealthy and have a sneaker contract. The truth is that most professional athletes struggle financially like the rest of us. They spend what little spare time they have trying to land sponsors and working part-time jobs to make ends meet. “Go Forth” explores what it’s like to pivot from professional athletics, which of course, is a very short career path into entrepreneurship. For those athletes with the foresight and aptitude, business can be even more profitable and exciting than sport.

The series debut also includes sage advice from Tony Hawk, a professional skateboarder, successful entrepreneur, and owner of the skateboard company Birdhouse. “As an entrepreneur, you have to have perseverance and determination because you are going to get a lot of rejection and endure a lot of failures. But, if you are willing to keep going, something is going to work,” says Hawk. He later goes on to add, “The first sign of someone that will be successful is that they will continue to challenge themselves no matter how far they get. Stay the course. Put in the work. Take baby steps, and they will get there.”

The series, produced by Go Daddy studios, gives the viewer a glimpse of the ups and downs of small businesses by following She Moves Mountains founder Lizzy VanPatten; ski-BASE jumper Matthias Giraud; and triathlete and Picky Bars founder Jesse Thomas. “I’ve never really been driven by money. Ultimately, for me, it’s about happiness,” says Thomas. This series follows their journey as each sets their sights on both an athletic challenge and a major business goal.

Starting a business is immensely difficult during the best of economic times. During a pandemic, however, the chances of succeeding are even slimmer. The narrator opens the first episode, titled “Blazing Your Own Trail,” by stating that 85% of us work at jobs that we hate, but there are daring individuals that break the mold to shape their own careers. For the everyday entrepreneur, taking the leap of faith to build a business based on things they love is only the beginning of an inspiring journey towards happiness.

This all begs the question, why are some small businesses successful while others fail? This is a complicated question and involves many variables. A successful small business offers something unique to its customers and puts them first. It is also continually looking for new ways to market the company and its products or services to new audiences. It also strives to keep the company brand in front of its existing audience. Another reason small businesses succeed is that they reach consumers first. The fastest companies to the market have the best access to customers. It’s much easier to dominate a market if your competitors are still catching up. Among the reasons businesses fail are lack of a clearly defined business plan, poor funding, and ineffective marketing.

Regarding work/life balance, Hawk comments, “As you get more successful, the best thing you can do is prioritize your time and only work on projects and goals that resonate the most. You need to make time for yourself and your family. That is the bottom line. What is worth your time? At some point, the only currency you have in your own time.”

One of the many things that makes this country great is the opportunity to obtain the American dream; however, you define it through hard work and determination. Certainly, a bit of luck is involved, but if someone truly wants success, there is nothing that can stand in their way. Despite what some people will have, you believe there is work to be done and jobs to be had in the United States. Saving, while sometimes difficult, is possible, and everyone has access to an education. The same cannot always be said in other parts of the world. So, I say, if you want to start a business, do your research, save your starter money and work hard. You will encounter setbacks, but true failure will only come when you give up. As an extreme athlete and BASE jumper, Matthias Giraud says, “All great things in life are intimidating.”