The process of starting your own business often starts with a honeymoon period where your brain is buzzing with ideas and excitement around building something of your own and the opportunity to be your own boss and all the benefits that may bring.
Often times, this stage is then followed by one of overwhelm where you are now trying to take all of those ideas and enthusiasm and actually get started. What should I do first? Or even what should I do at all?
A “To Do” list a mile long containing all of your thoughts suddenly becomes a source of anxiety as you become completely overwhelmed with the task at hand. For the first time, you are on your own trying to navigate this unknown landscape with little support and feeling the strain of responsibility to get started. And you freeze.
I have heard this same scenario many times from my clients and it makes complete sense.
But what should you do?
Here are some steps you can take to get you started;
Understand that you are not alone and this is a completely normal reaction to your situation.
Reframe your thoughts. You are embarking on an incredible journey and this overwhelm simply reflects the magnitude of the opportunity before you.
Break it down into bitesize chunks and try and create a roadmap of what you need to do to get started.
Tap into your experience and wisdom. Not everything that you need to do will be new and unfamiliar. You will have overcome challenges before so use your experience to move you forwards.
Seek help - you do not have to do this alone - in fact you would be unwise to try and do so. Talk to those in your network who can help and advise you. Seek out others who have done something similar and can share their learnings with you.
Above all remember that overwhelm is a natural and normal part of the entrepreneurial journey. Learn to acknowledge and embrace it - you have the resources to cope and continue on this exciting path!
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