The Epileptic Entrepreneur™

In business, as in life, no two paths ever look exactly the same. Some people move fast, others take their time. Some entrepreneurs swear by bold risks, while others prefer quiet, steady growth. One person might branch off into an unconventional idea, while another doubles down on the tried and tested. From the outside, it can sometimes look like people are moving in completely opposite directions. One goes left, the other goes right. But what if the truth is that neither one is going in the wrong direction? They are simply walking their own path — and if all goes to plan, those paths may cross again in the future.

The Illusion of the “Right Way”

In the business world, it’s easy to feel pressured to follow a single, universally “correct” blueprint for success. Books, podcasts, and countless online gurus often promise the formula that will guarantee results. This creates the illusion that there’s only one way to grow, scale, and achieve financial freedom. But reality is much messier and far more beautiful than that. The truth is, business is not a one-size-fits-all journey. What worked for one founder may fail for another. What looks like failure to an outsider may be the very foundation for someone’s long-term resilience.

When we believe there’s only one “right way,” we end up judging ourselves and others too harshly. If someone chooses to expand aggressively, we might label them reckless. If someone grows slowly and cautiously, we might think they lack ambition. But these judgments miss the bigger picture: both approaches can lead to success, just on different timelines and through different experiences.

Left or Right, It’s Still Forward

Going left in business might look like venturing into a niche, adopting an unconventional strategy, or pivoting completely when something doesn’t feel right. Going right might look like staying the course, leaning into traditional methods, or relying on well-established systems. At first glance, these choices might appear to be opposites. But if you zoom out, both paths are forward motion. Both represent a person’s best attempt to align with their strengths, values, and opportunities.

Consider two entrepreneurs who start at the same point. One decides to raise venture capital and chase rapid expansion, while the other stays bootstrapped and builds slowly. Their trajectories will look wildly different, and for years they might not even recognize themselves in each other’s journeys. But both are gaining experiences, building networks, and learning lessons that compound over time. Years later, their paths may cross again — perhaps in partnership, collaboration, or simply mutual respect for the different choices they made.

The Importance of Trusting Your Own Path

One of the hardest parts of entrepreneurship is trusting yourself when your path looks different from everyone else’s. It can feel lonely to choose left when the crowd goes right. Doubt creeps in, whispering that maybe you’re falling behind or making mistakes. But it’s in those moments that perspective is most important. The purpose of business isn’t to mirror someone else’s journey — it’s to create something meaningful on your own terms.

Your path might involve detours, setbacks, and experiments that don’t pan out. That doesn’t mean you’re “wrong.” In fact, some of the greatest breakthroughs in business come from people who dared to deviate from the mainstream. What matters is consistency, resilience, and the ability to keep moving forward even when the way isn’t clear. Success is not about taking the shortest route, but about staying committed to the journey until you arrive.

Meeting Again Down the Road

Here’s the beautiful part: even when people take different routes, their paths often intersect again in surprising ways. The business community is smaller than it seems. An old colleague who pursued a totally different business model may one day become a partner, investor, or collaborator. A competitor you once saw as going in the “wrong” direction may open a door that benefits you both. Sometimes the very divergence that once separated people becomes the strength that reunites them.

The point is not whether you go left or right — it’s that you stay true to yourself, keep learning, and keep moving forward. If you do, the road has a funny way of bringing like-minded people back together, often at exactly the right time.

Closing Thoughts

In business, there is no universal map, only individual compasses. Some go left, some go right, but as long as you’re moving with intention, you’re not going wrong. Trust your instincts. Respect the journeys of others. And remember that the future is wide open — with plenty of opportunities to meet again, collaborate, and celebrate the fact that different paths can still lead to the same destination: success.