Founders, how do you overcome demotivation?

Shaur ul Asar
15 replies

Replies

André J
Focus on one thing at the time
Elizabeth Tishchenko
Reminding myself what am I doing it for. If it doesn't work, taking a pause and shifting a focus by doing something engaging and pleasant helps. Can be unrelated to work like excercising, walk in a forest, doing some online course, reading a book, etc. Mind might simply need to rest.
Shaur ul Asar
@elizabeth_tischencko Giving ourselves permission to take a pause and indulge in these activities can actually enhance our productivity and creativity when we return to our work.
Uma Venugopal
Have a strong Why. And keep revisiting your why frequently to make sense of the demotivation and what can be done differently.
Shaur ul Asar
@uma_venugopal Absolutely! Having a strong sense of purpose, or a "why," is crucial for staying motivated as a founder.
Peyt Spencer Dewar
Work through it. Demotivation is part of the process.
Shaur ul Asar
@psd Indeed, demotivation is a natural part of the process. Embrace it, learn from it, and let it fuel your determination as a founder.
Mei
You’ve got to realise it’s part of the journey. Take some time off to rest and reflect if needed. Building a company is a marathon. The only way to grow is to prioritise sustainable growth. I actually write about lessons from burn out and failure in my newsletter: sunsetclub.substack.com
Sandra Robinson
Taking a breather, digging into inspirational TED Talks, or just a good cup of coffee helps me.
Shaur ul Asar
@sandrarobbie4 Sounds like a great approach!
Lord Brian Dean-Madanamootoo
Just my personal experience, as founders you will ALWAYS be demotivated. Forget the idea that it won't apply to you. The best thing i've done to overcome that, is to break your work routine. Do 3 weeks of hard work (including Saturdays and 1/2day Sundays) and then take 1 Full week off. (Your body will need minimum 3 days to get back on track, 1 weekend is not enough)
Lord Brian Dean-Madanamootoo
@elizabeth_tischencko Personally, it's actually easier when you have a team. You can coordinate rotations with your team so that there's always someone working on the project. When its less than 20-25% of the team a week taking off, you don't really feel it as everyone comes back full of energy.
Elizabeth Tishchenko
Taking 1 week off a month sounds tempting, but it's not possible especially when you have a team. Unless you are close to burnout and really need it. 1 week for certain will make you feel rested and heavily motivated, but personally I feel it's tough to organize.
Shaur ul Asar
@lord_svp I completely agree that, breaking the work routine and taking a full week off after 3 weeks of hard work is an excellent way to recharge and come back stronger. It's important to take care of your mental and physical health to avoid burnout and maintain productivity.