The investor and serial entrepreneur Ben Horowitz put it more bluntly: The hard thing isn't setting a big, hairy, audacious goal. The hard thing is laying people off when you miss the big goal.… The hard thing isn't dreaming big. The hard thing is waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat when the dream turns into a nightmare.
Ben Horowitz, an investor and entrepreneur, emphasizes that while setting ambitious goals may seem challenging, the real difficulty lies in dealing with the consequences of failing to achieve those ambitions. He points out that making tough decisions, such as layoffs, becomes a harsh reality when aspirations do not materialize. This perspective highlights the emotional toll that comes with pursuing lofty objectives.
In Ryan Holiday's book "Ego is the Enemy," this idea resonates deeply. The narrative stresses that the struggle is not merely about envisioning success, but about facing the harsh realities when those dreams threaten to turn into overwhelming challenges. The fear and anxiety that accompany high aspirations can be burdensome, illustrating that ambition demands not just a vision, but also resilience and accountability.
