When Do You Sleep?

As an entrepreneur or budding entrepreneur, when do you sleep? Stop and really think about that question for a few minutes.

At nights, duh” may very well not be the ideal answer in this particular context. Here are a couple quotes to get you on my wavelength, “I’ve got a dream that’s worth more than my sleep”, “If you woke up broke, then you had no business going to sleep”, “Be a beast, grind while others sleep”

See where I’m going with this?

The above photo was taken in 2011 when I decided to join a group of coworkers at the time in taking a trek to the famous Blue Mountains of Jamaica. Being the adventurous bunch, we opted for the rustic route: be transported by motor vehicle to the bottom of Jacob’s Ladder and the foot it the rest of the journey. To say the journey was treacherous would be a gross understatement. Literal tears and near death experiences (more mental than physical) abounded. Thankfully our guides were experienced and able and our success hung on our listening to them and closely following their instructions.

After a full night’s journey through bush and insect bites and almost frost bite, we arrived at our cabins - rustic, wooden dormitories, accessorized by fitting out houses. Traumatized by our overnight ordeal, we were looking forward to some good sleep only to be told By our trusty guides to get a 2 hour nap in preparation for our continuation towards “The Peak”. I decided that a 2 hour nap would never do me any good as I would probably wake up groggy, cranky and possibly not willing to take the trip. So I skipped sleeping.

The time arrived. We were fed by our guides and we saddled up ourselves, packing the necessities for the journey. A little more pleasant and a little less treacherous, we enjoyed this segment of the trek. Finally, we reached! The Peak. A commendable accomplishment, if I may say so myself. So after a few minutes reveling in my achievement, I sat down to relieve my legs and naturally answered nature’s call - I slept.

After all, we had to make our return trip within another few minutes, not to mention the very steep downhill and down-ravine and through-valley back to meet our transportation home - which appeared to be much more refreshing, much less rigorous, to me (there were still real tears and cries for mommy among the crew)

Striking a comparison to the entrepreneurship journey, I see a fitting lesson: the journey will be hard, challenges will come, you will cry real tears and feel regret along the way. As long as you’re able, do not give up; there are others traversing a similar journey, cling to the formidable examples and partners. They will guide you along the way. And don’t relax until you have made some substantial accomplishment on your journey. Then and only then should you think about taking a vacation, or as we call it “sleeping”. Remember the journey is not over, refresh yourself for the next phase and keep going.

So, I ask you again, as an entrepreneur, when do you sleep?

Comments welcome.