Relieving the Entrepreneurial Pressure: Four Ways to Lighten Your Load
Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with plenty of raw excitement and wide-ranging challenges for your personal and professional growth. Starting out in business, it's natural to have high expectations, but putting too much pressure on yourself can lead to burnout and kill your progress. In this article, we will explore four common ways entrepreneurs tend to burden themselves unnecessarily and how to alleviate this pressure for a more sustainable and fulfilling entrepreneurial experience.
1—Don't Expect Yourself to Be Perfect: Embrace Imperfection
One of the most common sources of pressure for entrepreneurs is the relentless pursuit of perfection. While it's essential to strive for excellence, expecting perfection from yourself can lead to paralysis and undeserved self-doubt.
When I was a new, budding entrepreneur, I put a lot of pressure on myself going into every new situation. Whether it was a meeting with a big prospective client or a new vendor, I assumed everyone else in business was a confident, seasoned veteran. I saw myself as a kid, playing in an adult’s world, and I played cautiously. Sometimes I would put so much pressure on myself, I would self-sabotage and not even show up to the meeting, telling myself, “I wouldn’t have said the right words anyway,” or “It would have been a waste of my time.” In this way, I would inevitably miss out on valuable opportunities.
Over time, I came to realize, most people in business are also figuring it out, you could even say “winging it,” day by day. You’ll ask a question, and they’ll say, “Let me check with my boss and get back to you.” Or you’ll ask for a discount and, instead of watching a measured negotiation play out, you’ll see their discomfort, they’ll visibly squirm in their chair and then awkwardly give in to your ask. While it is important to be prepared for important sales presentations or vendor meetings, I lived through enough of them that I learned that the most important thing you can do is to simply keep showing up.
Here are a few ways to embrace imperfection and lighten your load:
- Set realistic standards. Instead of aiming for perfection, set realistic and achievable standards for yourself and your business. Recognize that making mistakes and facing setbacks are part of the entrepreneurial adventure and are opportunities for growth. Most likely, your customers don’t expect perfection. All they expect is good communication if you mess things up. As long as you keep that communication flowing, they will forgive you for almost any mistake.
- Learn from failures. Accept failures and setbacks as valuable learning experiences. Every misstep brings lessons that can help you improve and refine your strategies. Don't view failure as a sign of personal inadequacy but rather as a stepping stone to success. But be sure to take some time to reflect on your failures and learn from them. What can you do differently next time to avoid the same mistake again?
- Seek feedback. Involve mentors, coaches, and peers in your journey and seek their feedback. They can provide valuable insights and help you see blind spots that you might miss. Surround yourself with individuals who have been through similar experiences and are willing to share their knowledge. You may think you’re the first person to live through every weird, “unique” problem in your business. You’d be surprised to find out, most leaders have dealt with almost every problem you’re living through because we’re all human, dealing with other flawed human beings in our businesses.
2—Don't Expect to Know Everything: Seek Guidance and Advice
Another common mistake entrepreneurs make is believing they need to know everything about their industry or business from the get-go. This mindset can be paralyzing and isolating. Instead, adopt a more open approach:
- Admit you're new. Recognize that it's perfectly acceptable to admit you're new to entrepreneurship or to a specific industry. In fact, acknowledging your inexperience can bring people's guard down and make them more willing to help you. Use this to your advantage. Being vulnerable and admitting you’re a new business owner will allow people to open up and give you much more information than you’d expect to receive.
- Ask questions. Don't hesitate to ask questions when you encounter challenges or uncertainties. Most people are willing to share their insights, and asking questions is a sign of curiosity and a willingness to learn.
- Continuously learn. Stay curious, stay open to new ideas, and be willing to grow as an entrepreneur. Recognize that knowledge evolves, and keeping up-to-date is essential. Attend conventions and expos and get out of your comfort zone. Instead of going into booths to prove you’re the expert, strike up conversations with people who you can learn from, people who live and work in a totally different side of your business.
3—Don't Try to Grow Too Fast: Start Slow and Steady
Our media is pumping out stories every day about the newest “get-rich-quick” story. The kid who started their business in their college dorm room and became a billionaire by age 25. This makes many entrepreneurs feel like they too must achieve rapid growth or immediate success. While ambition is admirable, trying to grow too fast can lead to financial instability and unnecessary stress. I had a friend and a misguided mentor who always told me, “You’ve gotta spend money to make money.” While this axiom is true some of the time, you cannot use it to make every spending decision in your business. Otherwise, you’ll constantly be playing catch-up with your bills, often red-lining your bank account and holding your breath each time you have to make payroll, hoping you don’t overdraft your account. This is no way to live. Here's how to take a more measured approach:
- Start slow. Begin your entrepreneurial journey with a focus on stability. Don’t rush into expansion or scaling until you have a solid foundation, a clear understanding of your local market, and a good handle on your finances. If you’re strong on sales, it may be tempting to open up new markets and expand quickly. Unfortunately, this is a good way to break your operations and create a slew of unhappy customers and unnecessary complaints.
- Practice financial prudence. Manage your finances wisely and avoid taking on excessive debt or spending recklessly. Building a healthy financial base will reduce financial stress and allow you to have a cushion to be able to make strategic decisions for your business. Now that you have some cash in the bank, can you afford to buy new leads or hire someone in an administrative role?
- Set realistic goals. Define achievable and realistic goals for your business growth. Break down your long-term vision into smaller, manageable milestones. Set your 90-day quarterly goals and track your weekly progress. Celebrate your achievements along the way, no matter how modest they may seem. Take your staff out bowling or to a round of Top Golf to show your appreciation.
4—Just Keep Showing Up: Consistency Is Key
One of the most powerful ways to alleviate pressure on yourself as an entrepreneur is to understand that consistent effort over time is the key to success. Many people expect quick results and become discouraged when they don't see immediate progress. “It’s been two years since I started my business and I’m not a millionaire yet, my life is falling apart!” It sounds ridiculous to read, but you’d be surprised how many hold this unhealthy mindset. Here's how to prioritize consistency:
- Maintain a routine. Establish a daily or weekly routine that keeps you focused and productive. Consistency in your work and personal habits can lead to significant long-term gains. No matter what is happening in your business, you know that on Tuesday mornings, it’s time to go on a run to clear your head. Every Wednesday morning, you’re going to have your weekly meeting with your management team and work out any lingering issues. On Friday nights, you’re going to take your spouse out to eat. Don’t neglect your personal and family responsibilities, just because you’ve had a tough week in your business.
- Set realistic expectations. Understand that success often requires an extended period of consistent effort. Avoid setting unrealistic, short-term goals that only lead to disappointment. Tony Robbins always says, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and grossly underestimate what they can achieve in a decade.”
- Learn patience. Patience is a vital trait for entrepreneurs. Enjoy the process of building your business, even when results are slow to materialize. Learn to find joy in solving problems and overcoming interesting challenges on a daily basis. You’ll wake up one day and surprise yourself: all of a sudden, you’re now the expert in your field.
- Adapt and persist. When faced with challenges or setbacks, adapt your strategies and keep moving forward. Persistence and resilience are essential qualities for long-term success. You could be in the depths of despair one week, and the next week, everything seems to click and go your way. Persist through the bad times, take a couple of losses with grace, with the understanding that a win is just around the corner.
Entrepreneurship is a rewarding but challenging path that can lead to immense personal satisfaction. By reframing your expectations and not putting too much pressure on yourself, you can enjoy a more sustainable and fulfilling entrepreneurial voyage. Embrace imperfection, seek guidance and advice, start slow and steady, and prioritize consistency over rapid growth. With the right approach, you can navigate the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Remember that success often comes to those who persevere. Those who keep showing up, day after day.
