'A Salary Is The Drug They Give You To Forget Your Dreams,' Says Kevin O'Leary – Encourages People To Embrace The Fear Of Failure

Most people dream of financial security, but Kevin O'Leary has a different take. He believes that a regular salary is sometimes the largest barrier to pursuing your full potential. As he puts it: "A salary is the drug they give you to forget your dreams." For O'Leary, comfort and stability are the enemies of ambition and breaking free from them is the first step toward achieving something extraordinary.

In his eyes, a steady paycheck can make it easy to put your aspirations on the back burner. "It's very easy to stay in that world where somebody is mitigating your risk," he says. However, O’Leary advises escaping that safety net and accepting entrepreneurship’s uncertainty for people with bigger dreams, such as launching a business of their own.

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Fear of Failure, The Ultimate Motivator?

For O'Leary, fear of failure is not just an obstacle – it's a driving force. He explains that when you leave the security of a salary and put your income at risk, you're stepping into a different journey. This fear of failure, he believes, can push people to work harder, innovate faster and pursue success with unparalleled tenacity.

But he quickly reminds aspiring entrepreneurs that the path isn't easy. It requires relentless effort – what he describes as "working 25 hours a day, eight days a week." O’Leary maintains that despite the path’s difficulties and dark moments, they help people develop their character and emotional fortitude. “It manifests itself in a certain amount of confidence over time.”

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Learning From Failure

Failure is inevitable in entrepreneurship, O'Leary says, but it's also essential. He encourages people to view failure as not a permanent setback but a learning opportunity. One of his key rules is to know when to call it quits. If a business isn't gaining traction within three years, O'Leary advises shutting it down and moving on. In his words, "Don't get romantic about your idea. If it's a dog, it's a dog."

Although his practical attitude may seem harsh, it is based on facts. Rapid loss reduction and learning from mistakes allow business owners to focus their efforts on more promising projects. “Embrace the fact that you have to take old yellow behind the barn and shoot it.”

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Why Freedom Matters More Than Money

While many people equate entrepreneurship with wealth, O'Leary stresses that money shouldn't be the ultimate goal. Instead, the real reward of building a successful business is freedom – the ability to control your time and make decisions on your terms.

"I don't need more money. I need more time," O'Leary explains. For him, wealth is a tool that allows him to choose where to be, what to do and how to spend his days. The real value of financial independence is that nobody can tell you what to do. You're in charge of your life.

O'Leary applies the same philosophy to his parenting. He provides for his children's education but cuts off financial support once they graduate. "The dead bird under the nest never learns how to fly," he says. By forcing his kids to go through life independently, O'Leary believes he's giving them the tools to succeed rather than fostering dependency.

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