What do you do if your entrepreneurial journey feels overwhelming and you need support?

As Tom Ulbrich was one of the best mentors to me in my entrepreneurial journey, I felt that it was important to mention the importance of finding a great mentor. There are times when we are too close to what we do as business owners, when our judgement is clouded and we struggle with important decisions. It is so critical to have access to people who are experts in their respective fields who will will share their experiences, challenges and failures with you. And most importantly, to listen! I spent many hours in Tom's office at the UB Gateway building talking while Tom listened and provided guidance and advice.

Feeling overwhelmed during an entrepreneurial journey is common. Here are a few steps you can use to overcome this: -Seek support from mentors, peers, or support groups. They can offer advice, encouragement, and perspective to help navigate challenges. -Break complex tasks into multiple manageable tasks that can be easily achieved, and celebrate small victories to keep you motivated. -Consider delegating tasks or seeking professional assistance in areas where you feel out of your depth. -Prioritize self-care, and try to be organized. When needed, take breaks and organize your thoughts. This will help you progress incrementally. Always remember, it's okay to feel overwhelmed and ask for help!

The entrepreneurial journey is truly a winding road with lots of twists and turns. It is also a road that few in life travel. Because of that, many of the people around you will not understand the unique challenges entrepreneurs face. Without the right support you may feel alone, on "entrepreneur's island". Just remember, you aren't alone, you just have to find your peers. One of the best things you can do is to surround yourself with others that are similarly on their own entrepreneurial journey. There are many groups both formal and informal. Join one and you will find others that can provide support and guidance.

We all get overwhelmed as Entrepreneurs. No worries, join a Peer Advisory Board, a community of other business owners, facilitated by a Certified Business Coach. The results speak for themselves.

I had first analysed my business and where it is. Check back on my vision and the path I am going if they align, and then I will create a new path to help me address my problem. I will outline the kind of help I need from a peer or partner. What part they will play in my business, their reward, their skill set, and everything they will be bringing into the business. Then, I will reach out to that person or people to see how best we can work together for mutual benefits across the board.

Les mentors sont un pilier fondamental dans ma croissance en tant que cheffe d'entreprise. Leur recul et leur expérience peuvent nous aider à prendre de la hauteur sur les problèmes. J'ai déjà été confrontée à un problème qui semblait énorme et sans solution, et un mentor, avec son regard avisé, m'a aidée à démêler les vraies causes. Il est crucial de souligner que le ressenti joue un r?le primordial ! Il est préférable de discuter du mentorat autour d'une table au restaurant, sans forcément aborder immédiatement les sujets liés aux affaires. Si le feeling est bon, peut-être que le mentor l'est aussi :)

Mentors, board members, coaches … yes . ??Amen to that. … And, … What I often see happen is not hiring team members soon enough … considering team does not need to be full time right out of the gate … nor employees right out of the gate … There are many ways to secure actual people who will do the work with you (not just advice )… including interns, fellows, shared-time pros, firms who will allow employees to contribute to you pro bono … etc etc … platforms such as “we make change” for instance … but many others exist … I usually find a lack of resourcefulness… not of resources . For instance grants exist can help cover specific expenses (eg google ads … etc ) or other forms of funding : prizes, awards $ … ??????

The entrepreneurial journey isn't easy and educating yourself on the challenges you can expect is a good way to prepare yourself. Also, using overwhelm as a signal to pause and re-asses your top work-related priorities is essential. Some things to look out for: - are you making things priority that can wait? - are there things you can pass on to someone but afraid to? - have you included actions that help you refuel yourself so everything on your list isn't just draining your batteries? - what are the top draining tasks you must do? what can you do to make these less draining?