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.
🏁 What does success look like this week?
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Ever feel a bit anxious on Sundays? The anticipation of the week ahead. The stress of a heavy to-do list. The worry that one of the many plates you’re spinning will fall. All of it casting a shadow over what is supposed to be precious time away from work. You want to be a person with a healthy work-life balance, a person with boundaries. But, sure enough, every Sunday those thoughts creep in, stealing your attention. For years, I felt the weight of the Sunday Night Blues (also called the Sunday Scaries). My brain was restless. In my experience, dodging these thoughts, running away from them, squishing them down as far as you can, actually gives them more power. I certainly wish I had the meditative abilities of Yoda or Master Oogway or any number of other warrior monks who can simply let go. But, I’m not wired that way. For me, those thoughts are present and noisy and need to be wrestled into submission or they just pile up and create a looming sense of dread. Eventually, I learned to set all of that angst aside – not by ignoring it, but by embracing it (strategically). Here are two rituals I’ve adopted to help me create mental freedom from work over the weekend: #1. On Friday afternoons I create a plan for the next week.I place five sticky notes in a horizontal row on my desk, labeling each for the day of the week ahead (Monday through Friday) and listing 1, 2, and 3 down the side of each sticky note. These represent placeholders for my top 3 priorities each day – the goal is to name what has to get done in advance. I take time to:
After all of that, I place each sticky note on the appropriate day of the next week in my planner. This has two benefits: (a) it means I go into each day next week with a plan, and (b) I can get it out of my head before the weekend, freeing my brain to relax. #2. On Sunday mornings, I reflect and revisit my plan.I grab my planner and journal on a few questions about the past week and the week ahead - for example:
With these reflections in mind, I revisit my sticky notes and make adjustments based on two more questions:
Completing the Sunday ritual has two benefits: (a) it helps me think about the flow of the week, and (b) it helps me see the work in perspective. These two rituals have been in place for several years now and I’ve been much, much happier and more relaxed going into Mondays. The stress you might feel is a clue to tune in, don’t let it linger, treat it as a solvable problem. You might not be ready for my very specific (crazy? 🤪) process as detailed above, but try these as a first step: 📫 If this sparked an idea, or if you’re feeling stuck, I’d love to hear from you. You can reply directly to this email to share what you’re working on, ask a question, or suggest topics you’d like me to cover in future newsletters. I read every response. 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.
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