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.
🌀 The Dip Is Coming (Prepare Now)
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Hi Reader, Trying something new? Great – just don't expect it to go perfectly. Not trying to be a downer. This is about mental preparation. Thomas Edison once said of inventing: “the first step is an intuition – and comes with a burst – then difficulties arise.” (Shoutout to my favorite book and regular re-read, The Obstacle Is The Way, for introducing me to this quote.) I've felt this too. New projects start with a natural inertia (and a dopamine spike in the brain as the reward system kicks in). Energized by a sense of possibility, I'm eager to return to the work, day after day. Oh, the joys of the honeymoon phase! Then, after a while (usually when I start to hit roadblocks), the novelty fades and my motivation dips. When things get harder or more complex, the brain makes an important shift to executive functions, like critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making, which consume a lot of energy. Suddenly, the project feels like a slog, leading me to (sometimes) resent the work, give up altogether, or put it on pause. (Shoutout to Slow Productivity for helping me understand that a strategic pause is a perfectly acceptable, and even advantageous, thing to do from time to time.) That is, unless I'm prepared to renew my motivation when it dips... I've learned (the hard way) that I need a few things to get me through the dip. Lately, I try to:
The motivation dip might be coming for your projects too. How might you get ahead of it? Until next time, Michael
Michael Schefman | 321 Liftoff Copyright © 2024 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.
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