Comments on: What to do when you hit the “starting a business is too hard” wall

By: Steve Rothwell

Steve Rothwell — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:19:40 +0000

I would also like to take you back to your recommendation to read Steven Pressfield’s book, “The War of Art”. Based on your recommendation, I ordered the book which came yesterday and was consumed immediately. Probably the most valuable book I’ve read in a long time. In dealing with those moments when it all seems too hard, it helps to know that it’s only your Resistance trying to derail you.

Thanks for the recommendation

By: Alan Rimm-Kaufman

Alan Rimm-Kaufman — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 00:34:06 +0000

Break the undesirable task into tiny chunks. Do chunk one first thing in the morning, tomorrow, before anything else. Don’t stop until said tiny first chunk is complete. Then take a break and do something else that is fun, then launch into chunk two. The feeling of finishing something, even if it is just a little piece of something, is often enough to get me moving.

Very much enjoy your blog!

Alan

By: Tom Gimbel

Tom Gimbel — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 23:02:50 +0000

I would agree with #4. You have to remember why you started your business and refocus. Remember the day doesn’t start or end anymore…it lasts forever! I found that when I hit a rough patch and couldn’t finish tasks during the business hours, those were the weird times I found myself again. When I couldn’t sleep at night, rather than read or roll around in bed, I got up at 2:00 am and came to the office and created ideas that hadn’t been “popping” for some time. Same thing after dinner. Shaking up the routine helps you find yourself.

By: Rebecca Thorman

Rebecca Thorman — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:11:00 +0000

I like #2 and #5. When I had my idea, I started to write a business plan and got overwhelmed with the enormity of it all. I stepped away from it for about a month to evaluate if I wanted to do it. (Of course this wasn’t really a conscious decision, however.) After that time, I came back and realized I still thought about it all the time, and how was I going to get started?

That’s where #5 came in and how I decided to start my blog. It was the first step, and a clear goal. It feels good to be moving forward! Great advice, thank you.

By: Success Rocks!

Success Rocks! — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:59:07 +0000

I’m having one of those days…

…when I’ve got tons to do both in on my business but I feel like I’m getting nothing done and I’m flitting about between windows on my P.C. (well actually, J’s macbook) getting nothing useful done except the odd email,

By: Bobby Saini

Bobby Saini — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:47:29 +0000

I got this feeling a few days ago when working on a proposal. Generally what helps is just removing myself from the work environment and taking a nice long walk. Thanks for the great post.

By: Mary Greenwood

Mary Greenwood — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:40:18 +0000

I have been hitting the wall working on my second book. I have found that putting it away for awhile, but not too long, gives me some perspective.

The idea of doing one small thing each day has worked for me. If I don’t feel like writing, I might just do something like proofreading. Usually doing something gets the juices going. .

When I feel discouraged and want to give up the project, I give myself a pep talk and tell myself I can’t give up when I have already put so much work into it.

Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro and working on How To Mediate Like A Pro.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:51:33 +0000

Good list, I think that number 4 is probably the most important in my opinion. If you don’t keep reconnecting with what’s driving you then you can easily loose focus.

The other thing is to make sure you don’t have too expectations (at least at first)….lofty goals is a completely different matter

By: omodudu

omodudu — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:38:06 +0000

I think I missed it at #5. I will remember this for next time. I am a fan. Keep up the good work.

By: Brooke Castillo

Brooke Castillo — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:26:14 +0000

I just want to add one thing that has helped me immensely-Don’t expect to be really good at it in the beginning.

Starting a business is about doing so many things for the first time, and you can’t always do them well on the first shot. Although this can be very frustrating, I have learned to expect it and go with it.

My mantra when I was in the start up phase of my practice was:

“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” Martha Beck