The dirty little founder's secret…
As founders, we often intertwine our identity with our business; I know I have! (This is not the secret, that’s coming)...
After all, it's your brainchild, a reflection of your vision, determination and hard work. But here's the twist: when your self-worth is tied to your business's performance, every setback can feel like a personal failure. This can lead to a dangerous cycle where your identity becomes too dependent on the business's success.
Building a business is akin to pushing a boulder uphill, like Sisyphus in Greek mythology (destined to push a boulder up a hill that would roll down, and he would repeat, feeling like he was getting nowhere). Challenges such as market fit, funding, team dynamics, and competition are relentless. For a founder, it can feel like no matter how much you push, the summit remains out of reach.
Yet, the startup world glamorises long hours and "hustling," but this often leads to burnout. The truth is, building a business is a marathon, not a sprint. Or maybe a series of sprints that add up to a marathon. It's arduous and can drain your passion and energy, turning love into loathe.
Herein lies the secret: sometime, typically from year 3-7, as a founder you are quite likely to simply fall out of love with your creation. It’ll feel sad as you’re supposed to love your creation like a child: unconditionally.
But, like rekindling romance in your relationship with your significant other, it can be rediscovered.
If this sounds familiar, or is your current reality, here’s some ideas to move you ahead:
Remember your 'why': Reconnect with the reasons you started your business. This can reignite your passion and provide a fresh perspective.
Separate self from the startup: Work on detaching your self-worth from your business's performance. Your value as a person is not solely determined by your business's success or failure.
Reframe failure: Embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Every setback is a chance to refine your approach. Encourage a culture where it's safe to fail and learn.
Seek support: Engage with mentors, peers, or a coach. Having an external perspective can be invaluable in providing clarity and guidance.
Pivot (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) when necessary: Be open to change. Sometimes, the original idea might not work out, and that’s okay.
I love the bicycle analogy regarding balance; to retain balance we need to keep moving ahead. Keep pushing forward, but don't forget to pause and reflect when needed. Your health, both mental and physical, is as important as your business's health; retain these and you’re likely to keep the spark alive!
Josh
"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves."
– Sir Edmund Hillary
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Woo-woo alert…!
Othership is a breathwork app.
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