The Entrepreneurial Spirit: 5 Ways to Build Emotional Resilience and Sustain Your Energy

I vividly remember the day I decided that I wanted to be an entrepreneur. To become my own boss and gain freedom in terms of my time and lifestyle. For me, becoming an entrepreneur meant freedom, more energy, and more of a life that I love. And I think that is the ultimate dream for many of us, entrepreneur or not.

It is to...

Live a higher quality of life where we have more energy.

Have more energy to spend with our loved ones.

Have more energy for activities that make us feel fulfilled.

Have more energy to live life while we are alive, and more energy to navigate and overcome the challenges on our journey.

The other day, I came across another enlightening video moment with a statement that was spot on. The man shared that if we have a goal or a dream, often we see our destination. We know where we want to go and what that should look like. But we hardly know the path that takes us there, the twists and turns, the failures and embarrassments, and the moments spent in isolation trying to figure out how to get back on our feet. And there is a purpose for that.

Because imagine if you knew how your journey, filled with obstacles and challenges, would look towards your destination, would you still walk the path? Probably not.

For me, I am sure I would have been discouraged. Had I known everything I had to go through, and am still going through, I would not have dared to take that bold step. And I realized how glad I am that I did not know. Because when I look back, I have a 100% survival rate of my worst days ever. And that's the thing about human potential and strength.

We find our inner strength and our desire to exceed our problems when we hit rock bottom. When we face struggles seemingly bigger than ourselves, and when we see no way out.

That's when we have a choice to develop our character, strengthen our mindset, and build that emotional resilience to keep moving forward… and never give up.

Too often, we focus on the financial Key Performance Indicators of what it means to be an entrepreneur. How much money you raise, or how much you are able to bootstrap.

These are all important factors, but not the only ones. Because you will earn money and you will lose money. You will build businesses, and you will fail. The only constant factor in your entrepreneurial journey is you. You have to keep going, and you have to feel good about yourself and have more than enough energy to sustain the lifestyle of being an entrepreneur.

Now, this sounds quite like the motivational "crap" some of you may think.

Especially if you are going through a rough period in your life. Because let's face it, HOW do we navigate and overcome challenges on our entrepreneurial journey?

Today's reflections are my own insights and lessons on what I learned and used not to allow these challenges to break me down, but to break me open. How I learned to manage my energy more than to manage time. And how I learned to be at peace amidst the chaos so I can focus on what the next right step is.

I hope that those who are thinking of becoming an entrepreneur, or who are struggling as an entrepreneur with personal well-being, or those who want some practical ways to help them manage their founder's well-being, will find this helpful.

Let's dive into it!

Your most Important Foundation is your Foundation of Self

Working for someone else allows you to lend your skills and competencies to the service of a company. Your self-perception remains crucial, yet your identity intertwines with the company's culture. What you deliver—be it a product or service—is distinct from who you are. However, as an entrepreneur, particularly if you're a solo entrepreneur or someone leveraging their personal brand to enhance brand reputation and credibility, you embody both the service and the product. The way you perceive yourself forms the cornerstone of your resilience throughout your entrepreneurial journey.

This journey will inevitably bring your past traumas to the forefront if they remain unaddressed and unhealed. Fears of financial loss, failure, inadequacy, uncertainty, and the relentless waves of change will be triggered.

The entrepreneurial path tests your resilience repeatedly, ensuring you possess the strength to withstand adversity. It demands long hours, often every day of the week, driven by the fact that it's your business at stake. Unlike in a traditional employment setting, no one is there to acknowledge your hard work or celebrate your successes—unless it becomes popular to do so.

Failures, misjudged ideas, and encounters with those looking to steal, copy, or scam you are par for the course.

Your only defense against these challenges is to wear your confidence daily, regardless of circumstances. Let others perceive you as arrogant if they must.

What truly matters is your belief in yourself and your capacity to navigate any obstacle that comes your way.

If unresolved emotional issues from your past—essentially what trauma is—remain unhealed, they will undermine your confidence and your ability to persevere.

The Biggest Illusion of Communication is that it Has Taken Place

The ability to communicate effectively stands as the second most crucial tool for emotional resilience.

A memorable quote from a TV actor, whose name escapes me, captures it perfectly:

"The day you open your mouth is the day you show the world who you are."

For entrepreneurs, the capacity to forge connections with stakeholders and customers is essential for establishing trust. This entails listening attentively to understand their needs, communicating in a manner that aligns with their worldview, and asserting your worth without compromise. It's important to recognize that conveying your value does not guarantee its acceptance by others. Hence, solidifying your self-foundation is a prerequisite to mastering other skills.

Effective communication extends to personal relationships, addressing both your needs and those of your family or loved ones.

For instance, I strive to explain to my son the reasons behind my work schedule and when I am unavailable or too tired to play with him. I refuse to let feelings of shame or guilt linger. Although he may react emotionally at times, I focus on making the most of our time together when I am present.

Quality over quantity, because he remembers the quality every time.

What our loved ones desire most is genuine connection and the exchange of energy. However, assumptions, judgments, and the avoidance of uncomfortable discussions often hinder this process. Having a support system and maintaining openness and honesty about the challenges faced on your entrepreneurial journey are vital.

Communicating from a place of curiosity and empathy, rather than judgment, strengthens connections and builds bridges over obstacles.

Keep your word, no matter what

Recently, I encountered a quote that struck a chord with me on multiple levels:

"It takes you a bit longer because you are not trying to scam, lie, or manipulate people into working with you."

Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, the frequency with which I've encountered individuals failing to honor their commitments is astonishing. Initially, this led to considerable frustration and upset. The question loomed:

Why promise something if you're not going to follow through or, worse, vanish altogether?

This might prompt some to wonder, "Do you see yourself as a paragon of virtue, Nadja?"

Far from it. This realization prompted a self-reflection on occasions where I might have failed to honor my commitments. Life often mirrors our own actions and decisions. It dawned on me that I had areas in my life where I wasn't showing up as I should. This insight is transformative, shifting the focus from changing others to changing oneself. I became more deliberate in my commitments, ensuring I always keep my word, no matter the circumstances.

Another dimension to this principle involves setting boundaries. Without clear boundaries, an entrepreneur's mental and emotional reserves are vulnerable to depletion by others.

Communicating what you will and will not accept is crucial.

When people disregard these boundaries without any effort to adjust, it's vital to remain true to oneself. For instance, when people show me who they are through their actions, and early on, I take them at their word. While I refrain from judgment, my discernment informs me that trust—a cornerstone of any relationship for me—would be absent in any potential collaboration.

Thus, the essence is to maintain your integrity towards others and yourself.

Making decisions with heart AND mind

Understanding the delicate balance between being emotionally involved yet detached is crucial, especially in the context of entrepreneurship.

What exactly does this mean?

In the process of building your dream, investing every ounce of your time, energy, and resources into your business, becoming emotionally invested is inevitable.

Your work is an extension of yourself, infused with passion and dedication. However, it's essential to recognize that emotion is essentially energy in motion.

Becoming overly attached to people or outcomes can tether your emotions to those situations, leading to energy drain as you find yourself constantly ruminating on what might have been or the actions you took or didn't take.

Being emotionally involved means you care deeply, and this genuine concern is palpable to others. Your commitment and dedication to your work and the people you engage with in each moment are evident. Yet, it's crucial to maintain a level of detachment. If things don't pan out, if you face failure, or if circumstances necessitate parting ways, it's important not to cling to attachment.

Accepting things as they occurred, forgiving others and yourself, and moving forward with wisdom rather than being led by your emotions is key.

Your energy is better spent building the future rather than dwelling on the past.

This approach ensures you remain passionate and engaged without being weighed down by past setbacks or disappointments.

Mastering Stress Before It Masters You

Stress, often maligned in today's fast-paced world, actually plays a crucial role in our lives when understood and managed correctly. Contrary to the negative connotations typically associated with it, stress can be a powerful motivator, driving us to action, helping us avoid danger, and enabling us to achieve peak performance levels.

The real issue isn't stress itself but chronic stress, which can have detrimental effects on our health and well-being.

Consider the analogy of holding a glass of water. Holding it for a few minutes poses no significant challenge. However, imagine holding it for an extended period—10 minutes, an hour, five hours, or even days. Eventually, your arm would become paralyzed from the strain. Similarly, stress needs to be relieved periodically; otherwise, it accumulates, leading to a compound effect that can overwhelm us.

I found that my stress manifested in various layers: physical, mental, and emotional, each interconnected yet requiring different management strategies.

Mental stress, in particular, can be pervasive, fuelled by negative thoughts that play continuously in the background, sapping our energy. These thoughts provoke negative emotions, creating a vicious cycle that can be hard to break.

However, as I touched upon in my previous reflections , the goal isn't to suppress negative thinking entirely but to cultivate a mindset that thinks less negative thoughts.

For entrepreneurs, maintaining a strong and optimistic mindset is crucial.

A clear mind focused on problem-solving rather than dwelling on negative thoughts can make a significant difference in overcoming challenges.

My personal journey through entrepreneurship has taught me the value of managing stress effectively.

Even during my lowest moments, I've found pride in my ability to remain resilient under pressure, tapping into creativity to find solutions. Managing stress isn't just about avoiding breakdowns; it's about fostering a strong, healthy mind capable of sustaining a healthy life. Through deliberate practice and mindfulness, we can learn to master stress, ensuring it serves as a tool for growth rather than a barrier to success.

Selfies of the Mind: New Lens, New Filter, New View

In our ongoing conversation about relieving stress, I invite you to explore an episode dedicated to this very topic within my podcast on emotional intelligence and resilience. This episode, like the rest of the series, is designed to offer insights and strategies to manage stress effectively, fostering a more resilient and emotionally intelligent approach to life's challenges.

The podcast is now available for listening on both Apple and Spotify platforms. I encourage you to subscribe on your preferred platform to stay updated with our latest episodes.

For those who are visually inclined and appreciate content that can be both seen and heard, I'm also excited to share that you can find videos dedicated to building emotional intelligence and resilience on my EQ Oasis YouTube Channel.

Your support is incredibly valuable to me. It not only helps spread the message of emotional resilience and intelligence but also enables us to grow a community of individuals keen on navigating life's challenges with grace and strength. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Thank you as always for yoru support, please subscribe to this newsletter if you have not already. Share with your friends or others who you think could benefit from emotional intelligence and resilience wisdom.

And I look forward inspiring and empowering you next week!

Love, Nadja ?? ?? ??

P.S if you want to dive into the world of Emotional Intelligence, explore the EQ Oasis here.