Starting a business is exciting and ambiguous – and that’s the fun. It’s a time of possibility, experimentation, imagination, and showing the world what you can do. But, it can also feel slow, frustrating, and full of traps and distractions, leaving potential entrepreneurs to question their self-worth and to wonder why they started in the first place. As a small business coach, I’ll help you cultivate an entrepreneur’s mindset, so you can start and grow your businesses with confidence and step boldly into the role of business owner. Subscribe to get access to weekly tips, small business interviews, and more.
🧪 How Do You Move Work Forward?
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We’re teaching our kids to ride their bikes. So far it’s… not going great (or it is going as expected?). There’s a lot of wobbling. A few dramatic and grumpy hops off the bike. Some long pauses where they just sit there with their feet planted on the ground, unwilling to push off again. Sometimes they get overly confident after a few successful pedals. They haven’t made consistent progress yet because the process is uncomfortable. They want to ride. They like the idea of riding. They just don’t love falling – and who does? It’s unpleasant, but falling is part of the process. Trying something new can feel awkward and scary, and so their natural instinct is to stop. Stopping might feel safe in the moment, but it doesn’t really help. Hesitation and overthinking delay learning, keeping important questions unanswered. No matter what you’re trying to do, progress requires action and persistence.
There’s a learning curve, but you can only move up that curve with action. Set something in motion and you’ll quickly learn what works, what doesn’t, and why. Without action, you stay stuck – overwhelmed and fixed on the illusion that you just need one more thing before you get started: Entrepreneurs test a minimum viable product (MVP) before fully committing their resources. Scientists run multiple controlled experiments knowing many won’t pan out, open minded about which one might. Designers prototype early, expecting to revise – it’s just part of the process. These moves don’t create certainty, they create learning. It might not work the first (or fiftieth) time. You might fall down. It might hurt. But, at some point, you have to get on the bike and start pedaling, knowing full well you might fall over a bunch of times. Plus, you might get a cool Spider-Man band-aid afterwards, right? 😉 ⭐ ICYMI: I’m developing a coaching framework and self-assessment designed to help people navigate ambiguity so they can create clarity, discipline, and momentum toward their goals. But, I need your help to test these ideas... I hope you’ll help with my experiment! Okay, now here are your usual activities: Until next time, Michael
Michael Schefman | 321 Liftoff Copyright © 2026 by 321 Liftoff LLC |
Michel Schefman, 321 Liftoff
Starting a business is exciting and ambiguous – and that’s the fun. It’s a time of possibility, experimentation, imagination, and showing the world what you can do. But, it can also feel slow, frustrating, and full of traps and distractions, leaving potential entrepreneurs to question their self-worth and to wonder why they started in the first place. As a small business coach, I’ll help you cultivate an entrepreneur’s mindset, so you can start and grow your businesses with confidence and step boldly into the role of business owner. Subscribe to get access to weekly tips, small business interviews, and more.
This week's newsletter comes with an ask for your help – but first... Tell me if this sounds familiar: An idea sparks, but you don’t know how to put it into action. A machine breaks or a customer gets angry – you freak out. A new opportunity pops up – you overthink and hesitate. A surprise shift (inflation, AI, you name it) changes the landscape overnight… again. Now what do I do? This isn’t what I planned. Am I missing something? This is Ambiguity – having no clear path forward; noise &...
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