Don't Hide, Run Towards It

As a Founder of a bootstrapped or scaling startup, you’ve got a s**t ton on your plate. Meetings, actions, chaos. In the middle of it all, it’s easy to hide from what matters most with the phrase: “I’m too busy for that today” or some variation of this - add your own expletives.

Basically, you’re running away from a problem today, because you can and because it’s easy. You know what I mean - the conversation about finances or funding, the decision about a new tool or system that requires investment now (before you’re likely to see any ROI), or the 1:1 conversation with a team member who has a “specific topic” they want to discuss with you.

Tomorrow always seems like a better day to address any of these scenarios - you’ll have more headspace, more energy, you’ll have had time to prepare, they (whoever the recipient is), will have your full attention; and so you mentally-park this and the preparation until tomorrow.

…and then tomorrow comes. You’re unprepared, distracted, apologetic - and the moment? It's a mess. Everyone leaves worse off.

When I think about any challenge, problem, issue or undesirable action or activity, I have a simple series of questions for myself:

• Does this require perfection?

• Does this require expertise?

• Does this require exceptional?

In the majority of cases, the answer is ‘No’, and for this reason, I have no excuses; and in most cases, a combination of taking action and consistency, are enough to generate an outcome.

When you generate an outcome from action, you will feel better. The mental load has been lifted.

The idea of “Run Towards It” is a result of my reading and study of the stoic philosophy, where obstacles are seen as opportunities for growth and development, as opposed to things we struggle to overcome or that stop us in our tracks.

So the next time you feel the urge to delay, ask your three questions - and then run towards it.

That’s where momentum begins.