The Fountainhead

I was reading a blog post of a web designer whose work I admire,  she has quoted a snippet from an incredible book, The Fountainhead.

“Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision. their goals differed, but they all had this in common: that the step was first, the road new, the vision unborrowed, and the response they received- hatred. the great creators- the thinkers, the artists, the scientists, the inventors- stood alone against the men of their time. every great new thought was opposed. every great new invention was denounced. the first motor was considered foolish. the airplane was considered impossible. the power loom was considered vicious. anesthesia was considered sinful. but the men of unborrowed vision went ahead. they fought, they suffered and they paid. but they won.” – Howard Roark / Ayn Rand

This passage is one I can relate to on multiple levels. Being an entrepreneur we battle on a daily basis, with our own inner doubts and doubts others have regarding what we are doing, we do however still carry on, as we must, on a path which seems to shift direction almost every week. We reach a point where going back is no longer an option and the only way to move, is forward.

The last line of the passage has the most relevance in my opinion. The ability to persevere, stay true to one’s own beliefs and visions is what separates the individuals who succeed from those who do not.

Tagged as: Business, confidence, Entrepreneurship, fountainhead, Inspiration, perserverance, will