The feelings of creating a new business
Starting can be overwhelming with so many ideas swirling in your mind, waiting to be transformed into reality.
Unlike typical entrepreneurship resources, I want to delve into the emotional aspect of the journey.
Initially, self-doubt creeps in. We question if anyone would be interested in what we want to create. Fear holds us back from pursuing our dreams, and we consider giving up.
The urge to quit may last a few minutes, hours, or even days. Eventually, your idea resurfaces, and you can approach it with a clearer perspective, refining your plans.
Writing things down is crucial. When you document your plans:
A. You see the messiness and identify areas for improvement. This stage may take months.
B. You gain the confidence to move forward!
With a clear goal and newfound confidence, you believe in your ability to succeed. The next step is to break down the goal into actionable steps. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. We often procrastinate on tasks that we’re uncertain about or lack the necessary resources (money, skills, time) to tackle.
Do what you can, and your confidence will grow through progress, even if it deviates from the order you initially envisioned. Life doesn’t always follow a linear path, so why should a business plan?
It’s time to seek honest feedback from trusted friends. It’s a vulnerable moment, but remember to stay strong. Prepare a set of questions, with the most crucial one being, “Would you use/consume this product?” Consider the cost involved (free, more or less than a certain price). Brace yourself, as you may need to make both minor and major adjustments.
This feedback loop should continue indefinitely. Select the most constructive feedback and carry it with you—it becomes part of your brand. Engaging with clients not only benefits the founders but also allows them to be a part of an exciting journey.
Don’t forget to take breaks and engage in activities that bring you joy. Hobbies, quality time with family and friends—these moments are well-deserved rewards for your hard work.
Self-knowledge is crucial because there will be times when inspiration and motivation wane. Understanding yourself helps you identify the root causes behind these moments. It’s important to develop coping mechanisms to overcome such hurdles.
“The universe will reward you for taking risks on its behalf.”- Shakti Gawain.
“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” – Ella Fitzgerald.
Life designer
Living the life we want to live. The concept of Life Design empowers individuals to live the life they truly desire.
The concept was introduced by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans at Stanford University and elaborated upon in their book ‘Designing Your Life‘
Life Design incorporates design thinking methods and journaling to address significant questions and make important decisions regarding various aspects of one’s life, including education, career, and overall purpose.
Just like when using Google Maps, where you need to know both your desired destination and your current location, the same applies to designing your life.
The initial step involves assessing four crucial areas of your life: health, work, play, and love. Health encompasses emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Work encompasses both paid and volunteer engagements. Play refers to activities pursued purely for enjoyment, and love encompasses relationships with partners, children, friends, and pets.
The objective is to find a harmonious balance among these four areas, with the specific balance being unique to each individual. For example, a younger person may prioritize play, while an older individual may focus more on health.
The underlying belief is that everyone has the capacity to live the life they truly desire.
Leading with things we can’t control
“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius.
Micromanagement has detrimental effects on freedom, innovation, engagement, motivation. And the valuable element of uncertainty in our lives.
It is essential to recognize the aspects within our control and learn to let go of those that are not. Emotions are natural, but we should exercise control over the narratives we tell ourselves.
According to an article by Harvard Health, cognitive distortions are internal mental filters that contribute to our anxiety and negative self-perception. Our brains constantly process vast amounts of information, and to cope with this cognitive load, they seek shortcuts.
These cognitive distortions compel us to try to control and make sense of the information we receive. However, a lack of self-awareness makes us prone to blaming external factors and other individuals for the problems in our lives that we could address ourselves.
A beneficial exercise involves setting clear expectations and goals for both our personal and professional lives, and then allowing life to unfold naturally to the greatest extent possible. Embrace the flow of life.
Self-awareness plays a crucial role in discerning what we can and cannot control in our lives. By cultivating self-awareness, we gain the ability to navigate this distinction effectively.
Trust the process
Embracing resistance is the catalyst for progress. By achieving small victories every day, we propel ourselves toward our goals, surpassing even our own expectations.
Failure serves as a stepping stone to success. It fuels our determination and tenacity in pursuing our goals. Failure humbles us and compels us to learn when to delegate and when to change our course.
In my article time to quit, I highlight examples of companies that transformed their business models due to the lack of success of their products. We also witness numerous instances where ambitious ventures by established corporations fail, leading them to change directions.
Resistance can take various forms, such as the fear of failure, self-doubt, or procrastination. We can overcome resistance by continually refocusing on our dreams, dedicating ourselves to our craft, and acknowledging that facing resistance is a natural and necessary part of our journey.
In relationships, we often seek specific attributes and qualities in a partner. However, when we let go of these prerequisites, we open ourselves to living freely and allowing life to surprise us without unnecessary interference.
The purpose and overarching goal should remain steadfast, but being open to changing our course is also a vital aspect of the process. Trusting the process becomes essential.
Destiny
Small decisions taken everyday take you to your destiny. If you don’t plan where you are going, you will find yourself anywhere.
To plan the journey to our destination, first we need to understand and accept where we are now. We have very little control over things, but we can control our mindset.
1. Use your past to boost you, but don’t live in it.
2. Detach from unhealthy habits and relationships.
3. Have courage not fear. Get used to live outside of your comfort zone.
4. Dreaming big and small take the same amount of time. Think on the life you want to have. Write in details.
5. Be consistent, have one plan that you stick with it (not multiples), have discipline.
6. Be flexible and redesign the plan when needed. Create an entrepreneur mindset for your life.
7. Don’t over complicate. Things look complex, but it is part of our work to make it simpler.
8. Don’t take yourself too much seriously. Have fun 🙂
Belief
The power of believing something could happen involves a mix of values such as faith, confidence, trust, persistence, resilience and courage.
Bill Wilson is the co-founder of AA, he created a 12-step program for fellow alcoholics and the spotlight of the program is the belief in a higher power. Since then, Alcoholics Anonymous has helped an estimated 10 million people get sober.
Before founding AA, Wilson, an alcoholic of almost two decades, was told by a friend that God had been his ticket to sobriety. He laughed at first.
Many of AA’s participants are former non-believers or lack religion altogether. So why, exactly, does a program where 7 of its 12 steps require participants to belief in a higher power? The answer lies in how habits are changed.
One of the topics discussed in the book The Power of Habit from Charles Duhigg is how the program works and why some people succeed and others don’t.
The author describes the “Golden Rule of Habit Change”, you have to identify the 3 parts of the habit loop: 1. what triggers the behavior (cue), 2. the routine/behavior and 3. the reward. We must swap out the routine — while keeping the trigger and reward the same.
AA helps its members to create a list of triggers, and to discover what reward they get from drinking. To alter the habit, AA teaches members to rewire their routines so as to achieve the same reward without the unwanted behavior. For example, instead of drinking with a colleague at a bar when stressed, members are encouraged to meet with their sponsor. Often, the “reward” from drinking isn’t being drunk, it’s social interaction or relaxation.
Researchers had been perplexed that the former alcoholics they spoke with pointed God as the key to why they remained sober. But then they realized that God was just one way that people strengthened their cognitive ability to believe. Once alcoholics were able to believe in God, they were able to start believing in the change required for their new habits. AA hadn’t given people a religion, it had given the ability to believe in changes.
Faith is a key pillar to change.
Our Manifesto
We believe…
1. We can create and live the life we want.
2. Couriosity is a muscle.
3. The journey is the goal.
4. Love and courage are related.
5. In connections, energy and details.
6. In the power of minimalism.
7. Reading enlighten us
8. In the healing power of nature.
9. In Hygge.
10. Creativity saves us. We are all artists.
11. Scents boost wellbeing.
Just breathe.
People first
How to change the culture of a community?
I got to know more of Alan Mulally’s story on the Knowledge project podcast directed by Shane Parish. Alan is the former CEO of Boeing and Ford.
Alan was responsible for Ford turnaround story. He not only transformed the organizational culture but also orchestrated one of the most spectacular turnarounds in business history.
The goal to create a culture of openness, transparency, feedback, and accountability led to 10 pillars of the turnaround process:
1. People first
2. Everyone is included
3. Compelling vision
4. Clear performance goals
5. One plan
6. Facts and data
7. Propose a plan, “find-a-way” attitude
8. Respect, listen, help, and appreciate each other
9. Emotional resilience … trust the process
10. Have fun … enjoy the journey and each other
As a leader, if you had promised to do something, you’d better have a good reason if there was any deviation! Alan’s key ingredient for success was “tough love.” He held everyone accountable, and he started with himself.
Alan said that no individual, however brilliant, should not be allowed to create a toxic culture.
Alan turned Ford around working with the same 14 of the 16 board members, who had taken Ford to a $17 billion loss! That is the power of organizational culture change. It is not the people, but the culture!
Fun fact about Alan: he implemented a weekly family meeting that has an agenda and scheduled time. The idea is amazing and is very effective, I am now doing this 🙂