You don't need that much money. Just enough to pay the rent, utilities and food.
My plan I created for myself post-uni when I was in 3rd year uni was to not get a job. Live very simply. Save my money.
The more money I saved, the bigger my runway to fail. And then work my hardest to build a company.
Bury the ego.
I was born into a poor family, and I never had any luxuries. So I trained myself from an early age not to care about what other people have or be affected by that.
You don't need all of life's little luxuries. If you live cheaply, you'll have the time, headspace and energy to create your dream company.
When viewed in that context, none of life's luxuries can hold a candle to being able to do the work you love.
Whatever anyone does, whatever anyone says, is aligned with how they see the world.
And so decisions people make are always perfect for them in the sense that all their education, learning, experiences and insights into the world lead them to that decision.
So when dealing with other people, it's important to understand that whatever they are doing makes perfect sense with how they see the world.
So start by understanding what's there for them, and deal with that.
There are no mistakes. Everything is perfect.
"Follow your passions."
"Dream bigger."
"Focus."
"You can get there with hard work."
"Do what you love because then you'll never have to work a day in your life."
etc.
etc.
Everyone dolls out the same advice, because it's true.
The difference between someone who lives their dreams, and someone who doesn't, is that the former actually lives their lives uncompromisingly by those principles.
Want to do something but you don't feel like it?
Want to start a company but you feel the first step is too high and too hard? Want to get fit but you feel too unmotivated to exercise? What to start your plans now but you feel like you can't because you feel too busy?
Well, the best way to feel like doing something, the best way to get motivated by starting a company, the best way to get motivated about getting fit and the best way to feel like you're going in the right direction, is to make the first move.
You'll feel motivated by your company when it starts achieving results. You'll feel motivated about your body when you see the outcomes of your exercising. You'll feel motivated, if you just take the action. Just take the first step, and try it.
Woody Allen once said that "eighty percent of success is showing up."
To me, that means, you go to the meeting about the project. You're there anyway. May as well participate. There's another way in which you can help out and use your skills. Ok, well then, you're there, may as well show up for that as well. And so the cycle continues.
Show up -> you're there anyway, may as well pitch in. You're pitching in, may as well do it well -> Show up...
Forbes named me a world's top 50 woman in tech & 30 Under 30. I founded Robogals and Aipoly and was Young Australian of the Year 2012. Currently working on robotics company Aubot. I'm the youngest Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and I give speeches around the world.
I tweet @maritacheng and I'm on Facebook.
Alberto and I gave a speech about Aipoly at TEDxMelbourne, where we showcased Aipoly Vision being used via glasses. Aipoly has now been downloaded...
"If you have too much on your plate, get a bigger plate." I first heard this when I was doing a leadership course in London in 2009. Everyone in the...
Hello! It's been ages since I blogged here. More recently, I've been blogging at the 2Mar Robotics Blog.
Woody Allen once said that "eighty percent of success is showing up." To me, that means, you go to the meeting about the project. You're there...
This AI named me the 29th most influential woman in engineering from 2000-2020! It looked up frequency of my name being mentioned alongside an...
Whatever anyone does, whatever anyone says, is aligned with how they see the world. And so decisions people make are always perfect for them in the...
When I was growing up, I read voraciously - for hours and hours a day. When I was in year 7, my mum even went to my parent-teacher interview and...
During my time at Robogals, towards the end of every year, I would lose focus. Why? All my major projects for the year would have been wound up. My...
Clear away some space and time for yourself. Without the pressure of someone bursting in and occupying your space. By giving yourself the time and...
For one of the projects I’ve been leading for over the past 2.5 years, I manage a team of 20 people remotely. I meet with all of my direct reports...