"What do you do for a living?"
That's the inevitable Tinder and Bumble date question.
It's the one that ultimately judges whether or not you will get laid that night.
"Oh, I'm an entrepreneur!" one says, as if it's something that shows you are at the top of your game and the world is your oyster.
It's the one job title that says, "I do what I want, when I want. There is nothing out there that will stop me."
But what's in the word, "entrepreneur?"
Many of us think entrepreneurs have two-comma bank accounts, allowing them to steer clear of any work.
Instead, they direct their minions to do the hard work for them, from the comfort of a white sands beach with a Mai Tai in hand.
Many of us think entrepreneurs constantly spring for the table at the club, followed by jet-setting to Vegas or Dubai by the end of the night (or if things go right, the next morning after breakfast).
But the truth of the matter is, being an entrepreneur is hard as f*ck.
Not every entrepreneur is an Elon Musk or billionaire Snapchat cofounder, Evan Spiegel.
Instead, every entrepreneur is passionate to a fault.
An entrepreneur is so passionate, in fact, that it actually interferes with the typical Millennial life.
1. Our 80-hour weeks are normal.
True success doesn't just happen overnight. It happens over time.
For most entrepreneurs, striking the holy grail of business happens only after they have sweat out every last drop from their brows.
At 6 am, we wake up and work.
At 9 pm, we work and then hit the sack.
The next day, we start all over again.
Setting up a new and exciting business means laying the groundwork for every single employee you hire to do his or her job.
That means payroll, accounting, scheduling and invoicing, on top of the actual job.
Exhausting, right?
But that's what it takes.
2. Entrepreneurs rarely go out.
We've got sh*t to do.
If we're out all night drinking, that's less time we're able to put toward our passions.
In fact, it's precisely because we want to celebrate the right way later in life that true entrepreneurs choose to forego weekly outings at the club right now.
We'd rather delay gratification today, so we can truly celebrate "Great Gatsby"-style after all our hard work pays off.
3. Dating? What's that?
As if it wasn't hard enough to find time to go out, it's even harder to find someone to share that time with when you're pushing to follow your passions.
Being physically drained and emotionally unavailable aren't exactly the hallmarks of the best boyfriend or girlfriend.
Sometimes, all you want to do is go to bed.
To hell with relationships.
Even worse, it's also hard to find someone who can strike that fire and excitement in you when you're so committed to your own life.
"Sorry, I don't care who wore what or what your friend drama is all about."
We want conversations with substance.
We want conversations worth talking about, especially ones that actually focus on our truest passions.
"What's going on in the world, and what can we do to change it?"
Those are the dating lines entrepreneurs wish to receive.
But sadly, with such little time and a dating scene that's already broken, it's harder than ever.
4. People change the way they talk to you.
Once people find out you own your own company, watch out.
Immediately, it's assumed you must come from old money, or your new money will take care of these people.
I never even realized it at first, but when someone asks if you're "invested" in a company, he or she isn't just asking if you've put in your blood, sweat and tears, as I most naively assumed.
What this person is really asking is how much power through money you wield.
Yes, money does run the world to a degree.
But what actually runs the world is passion.
Unfortunately, many people view the opposite, and they will begin to talk to you through a different lens.
Suddenly, it's all about the Benjamins.
5. No entrepreneur is an island.
I will be the first to admit that behind every CEO who graces the cover of a magazine, there is a team of hardworking partners pushing the company forward as well.
I once thought (naively) that I could do it all myself.
But that changes quickly once you realize failure is a natural part of success.
It may seem like the leaders of great companies like Uber are doing it all by themselves.
But the truth is, there are teams of experts behind them.
Also, you'd better get some mentors quick.
Without them, you're going to learn about your every mistake the hard way.
All of this isn't to say being an entrepreneur is a dreadful and exhausting endeavor that should never be embarked upon.
On the contrary, it's actually one of the most rewarding adventures you'll ever undertake.
Following your passion is hands down the best decision a person can ever make in his or her lifetime.
But we must all be honest with ourselves.
Having it all comes with a cost, and it's hard as f*ck.
