The journey of building a venture is demanding not just on the physical resources you get to the table as founders, but also on the enormous number of decisions one needs to make without sacrificing on the relevant details. This makes the journey extremely taxing on the brain, and it is not uncommon to unwind in different ways to rejuvenate the mind.
You are also dealing with the uncertainty of the entrepreneurial process, in addition to the number of decisions. You are unsure about the outcomes of your actions in most cases, and in cases where there are some outcomes, you are not sure about the consistency of the outcome. For example, you may struggle to get to your first customer. If you are lucky enough to get one, you are not sure if this customer would be sticking with you for long. These experiences take a toll on the mind, and it is common to develop feelings of frustration and anger, get into bouts of depression, and be in a low mood.
The mind develops multiple mechanisms to cope with this. One observation of the behaviour in such a phase is that entrepreneurs spend a substantial amount of time watching motivational videos. These motivational videos help overcome the lows and fill them with the hope of making it despite these challenges.
It is in these times that one also feels the need for a cofounder and a team the most. Having a set of people to discuss and possibly cover for each other when they are working on the venture idea would be extremely valuable.
An alternate means of handling these challenges begins with acknowledging that these are part of the entrepreneurial journey, and it is not surprising that you are going through it. Speak with other entrepreneurs and find out how they cope with these lows. Mentors and other experienced entrepreneurs are a valuable source of information during these phases. Speak about the challenges, do not shy away from them.
Having run the cohort programs over the past few years, NSRCEL has also seen that these cohort-based programs are extremely effective in helping entrepreneurs keep their motivational levels high. The sight of so many aspiring minds, working dedicatedly, making different sorts of sacrifices for their ventures, acts as inspiration.
Know that you are not alone in the entrepreneurial journey. Choose your setting effectively to manage the lows of the journey. Outcomes are not under your control necessarily, but how can you develop a coping mechanism sure is.
Ask Yourself:
Do the challenges of entrepreneurial journey weigh heavily on me?
Would a change in the environment from a confined office space to a co-working space help? Who may be best able to help me understand the challenges I face?
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