When you are a first-time entrepreneur, it’s tempting to give yourself a deadline for success. This self-imposed timeline can make you feel accountable, especially if you are relying on unemployment benefits, savings, or the support of loved ones.

However, as the deadline approaches, you might find yourself disappointed if your definition of success was vague. You might have taken shortcuts, abandoning your original vision in the rush to succeed.

Even if you think it’s a sprint, entrepreneurship is a marathon. The Tamil movie Soorarai Pottru tells the story of Maara, a former Indian Air Force captain who dreams of starting a low-cost airline. His wife, Bommi, is already an accomplished entrepreneur with her own bakery. She supports Maara financially during his struggles. His family and village also pitch in to help him. This "love money" becomes crucial when banks and venture capitalists turn him down.

If your goal is just to earn enough to continue, you give yourself the chance to stay in the game long enough to succeed. We love watching big success stories, but we forget that these two-and-a-half-hour movies condense years of struggle, experiments, and ventures. While quick success is alluring, it’s the long-term dedication and resilience that ultimately lead to meaningful achievements.