Or, you can work to put the right people where you need them to be. I recall an interview, from long ago, with Peter Sellers, the actor who played Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series. I don't remember the exact words, but he said something to the effect that when he needed a job, he didn't go about finding one in the usual manner. Instead, he would manipulate events such that an opportunity would spring into existence, one which would be made just for him.
EDIT: I note that this is my first HN comment of the new year. I should take this as a sign, and maybe try to be more like Peter Sellers, at least in regard to what I said above.
EDIT: I also note that he has a website, even though he's been dead for more than three decades.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sellers
EDIT: "I feel ghostly unreal until I become someone else again on the screen."
This quote, from his website, makes me wonder if that's one of the things which is at the root of an entrepreneur, because it's almost as if many of the people who create startups do it partly for the purpose of becoming someone or something else, as an actor would in a new role, especially if, like Peter Sellers, they tailor the role to themselves, rather than stepping into one which is prêt-à-porter.
> if you need clients/customers, you have to find them before doing anything else. All the other stuff surrounding getting a product done is meaningless if you can't find someone to sell it to.
I can't see a society where this is true going somewhere - just my point of view.
You need to be able to build the product, AND have people to sell it to.
Having people to sell it to first helps you build the right product in the first place.
In the supermodel example, you might still need to go to the gym and buy a flashier car, but you won't know that until you actually start meeting supermodels and talking to them.
If you need to meet people, the first thing to do is make sure you can be where they are. Likewise, if you need clients/customers, you have to find them before doing anything else. All the other stuff surrounding getting a product done is meaningless if you can't find someone to sell it to.
I think his point is that you have to find out what's important and do that before anything else. If you want to date supermodels, figure out where to go to meet them before you worry about getting in shape/buying new clothes/any other peripheral activity.
Honestly, you'd be amazed how often simply being in the right place is all you need (at least here in the US).