Being a CEO sounds good, doesn’t it? Well, yes and no. It would be awesome if your company is a Fortune 500 or has a market cap of at least $4 million. But below that cap? It’s a whole different ball game.

One thing I learned from trading in the markets is that there’s no easy money ever. Even speculation is difficult. Another thing I learned is that when you finally make it, in speculation or making money, you realize that money’s not enough. You’re not creating anything. Money by itself is an empty, vapid luxury.

Besides self loathing, my adventures started when I realized I was plagued with ideas. Where once there was a problem, soon there were many solutions. Light bulbs shone everywhere – so many that I shot out the dim ones so I wouldn’t waste any effort.

I’ve also learned another thing. Don’t talk too much; just do it. Little is more upsetting than telling people about your plan and it doesn’t come through when you say it will. People raise their expectations of you when you’re starting, then think you’re full of it while you’re still working at it. At this point – between dealing with haters and all the difficult issues surrounding working on a start up – I am calloused, tough, and don’t give a rat’s ass about any haters. I’m here to get things done, and when the end product is ready it will speak volumes for itself.

People are protesting at Occupy, wanting to fix the broken system from the outside. I choose to fix the system from within. I’ll start fixing it with a start-up that creates jobs and I’ll go on from there. I don’t need to hold up signs, chant, or throw rocks. I’ll educate the people who’ve been screwed, know they’ve been screwed, but don’t know how they’ve been screwed. I know how – I’m in finance.

I am a restless and cynical person, but I don’t believe in the word “impossible.” In fact, I would argue that when someone says “impossible,” at that moment, an opportunity has exposed its own existence. Keep those moments in mind. Notice the day-to-day, small, and menial problems in life; potential solutions are all ideas that may have a hidden market.

Filter your ideas. If you’re not an expert in the market for your idea, ask experts what they think. Listen to them very carefully. Also, don’t worry about people stealing your idea. If it’s a good idea, stealing it won’t be easy. If you’re really scared, there’s non-disclosure agreements and non-compete agreements you can have them sign before opening your mouth.

The best part of this is that you can build a start-up too. UMB has its own start-up community that’s a vital part of Boston’s larger start-up community. All it takes is a marketable product or service, inspiration, creativity, and relentless determination. I can’t stress these qualities enough. If you have all of these, you have a chance. Join the Entrepreneurship Club, hit up Dan Phillips at the Venture Development Center, and go start something. And, if anyone tells you, “No, impossible, you can’t do it,” you tell them, “Think different.”