Quick intro
What’s the problem?
Imagine you're on your entrepreneurial journey, facing your first business crisis. Customers are complaining about your product, nobody cares about your new marketing campaign or you're in an intense argument with a partner who wants you to pay him more money than agreed on. No one can assure you that everything will work out, or that every crisis leads to long-term startup growth. Ultimately, you're alone with your roadblocks and must figure out the next step. And more importantly: you have to make sure that you stay motivated and maintain the belief of success for your company. But how do you do this, especially in difficult times?
Own background
What’s my context/experience?
In the past, I experienced the power of strong belief. For instance, I envisioned myself working in the Google office in Berlin someday, even before I applied for a graduate’s program at Google in Dublin. The journey took one and a half years, but I visualized it every time I walked past the Berlin office. Eventually, my vision became a reality, fueled by a strong belief that I could achieve it. I also applied this approach while working on the music community project LIVRIA. Envisioning working with inspiring musicians and how it would feel to organize live music events in Berlin at packed venues led to those visions becoming reality.
However, while beliefs can be helpful when pursuing your visions, the opposite can occur if you lose connection to them. 2024 was a challenging year for LIVRIA. We tried to find product-market-fit by experimenting with several products and getting our first paying customers. Little played out as we expected, and we didn't gain the traction needed to validate our ideas. On top of that, we had an argument with a service provider that billed significantly more for his services than we agreed on. In the end, we agreed on an amount, but the week-long negotiations were intense.
At the end of 2024 I reflected on my emotions and feelings during work and my mindset regarding my entrepreneurial endeavors. I recognized that I had lost ownership of my vision. I became distracted by the obstacles along the way, which contributed to a diminished determination and belief in my mission statement. This realization was significant to me. I acknowledged that I took some wrong turns in my mindset about my work and what I want to create in the world. I realized that I had missed the opportunity to continue nurturing my beliefs. This experience has taught me that I should focus on making belief a foundation of my entrepreneurial journey.
My approach
How do I tackle it?
I've heard of founders whose belief in their company is so strong that their actions seem effortless. They go through the same challenges, but those do not affect their drive and alignment with their vision. I’m more the type of person who experiences times of doubt, but regains belief after zooming out and reflecting on the problems and challenges. Therefore, I try to quickly recognize the moments when doubt takes over and ensure I'm looking forward positively. Below I’m listing some of the techniques and approaches I leverage on a regular basis:
Meditation
The power of practicing meditation needs no introduction, but I also wanted to mention it here. Especially when it comes to identifying the stories you tell yourself every day, meditation can help you become more aware of your thoughts. For me it became an essential tool, not only to increase self-awareness, but also to cope with uncertainty and doubt as an entrepreneur.
AVP Technique
Recently I came across the AVP (Acknowledge Validate Permit) technique (heard in The Knowledge Project Podcast). It helps you to regulate your emotions - a crucial skill when it comes to decision making. The technique is as simple as it sounds. Every time you identify doubts or strong emotions, take two minutes to:
- Acknowledge the emotion: For example, by telling yourself: ‘Oh, I feel angry.’ or ‘That feels like I’m fearing uncertainty.’
- Validate the emotion: identify the root of the emotion. For example, ‘I feel this way because I received bad customer feedback,’ or ‘I feel this way because things didn't go as expected.’
- Permit yourself to feel the emotion. For example, ‘It makes sense that I feel this way or have doubts.’
Simply by acknowledging, validating and permitting your emotions can help you overcome doubt and help you regain energy.
Affirmations
Having sentences or beliefs that you regularly read or speak aloud can make a huge difference in overcoming doubts and staying consistent in your entrepreneurial journey (as bestselling author Napoleon Hill also points out in his bestselling books).
At the beginning of the year I take some time to write down my affirmations (based on my goals and values) that support and push me throughout the year. One business-related affirmation, for example, can be: ‘In the next 2 years I will have built up a lifestyle business with more than one million euros in yearly revenue by helping entrepreneurs grow their purpose-driven businesses’. After a few weeks you will notice how you are strengthening your belief in achieving your goals.
Reflection Talks with Friends, Partners or other Founders
As I’m often in ‘heads-down’ mode and trying to execute consistently, having close friends and business partners who m is critical to me. Sometimes, having an honest conversation with a friend who reflects on my work habits and priorities can be eye-opening. Simply asking questions like, ‘Do you feel I’m motivated when discussing my project?’ or ‘Based on my conversations about work, what do you perceive as my current focus?’ can offer a fresh perspective. In my experience, feedback from people who really know your values and vision can support you overcoming doubts and regain belief.
Personal Mission Statement (Ikigai)
In Japanese culture Ikigai is a concept that defines your reason for being by combining what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for. I would say that it can also be described as your personal entrepreneurial mission statement. By defining and being aware of your mission statement, you create a north star which you can follow. When having doubt or questioning the potential of my business I can check-in with my mission statement. It mostly won't provide me with the answers I need or the security I sometimes wish I had, but it will at least provide a double-check that I’m working in the right direction.
Inspiration I used for this article
Books, Podcasts, Articles, Quotes
- Jay Shetty on On Purpose Podcast sharing 4 Manifestation Hacks.
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill about the connection between belief and success in business.
- IKIGAI by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles on identifying your values, passion, skills and mission.
- Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal on the scientific evidence that belief marks the foundation for achievements.
- Dr. Becky Kennedy at The Knowledge Project about the AVP technique (timestamp: 48:05 min).
Community Space
Your comments, ideas, feedback
- How do you stay grounded and maintain belief during challenging times?
- Share a story about when belief in your vision led to success.
- How do you balance unwavering belief with the flexibility to adapt?
- Who inspires you to keep believing in your vision?
- What advice would you give to entrepreneurs struggling with doubt?
- ...
Join the discussion below. Or write me an email to fabiano@40hourentrepreneur.com