When we make comparisons, why do we only ever look up? We only ever consider those who seemingly have more rather than less. Bigger, faster, better, richer rather than smaller, slower, worse or poorer. Among the people I know, the pool of people below is much larger than the tiny pool above yet it doesn’t stop us from ringing our hands in despair.
We’ve just finished the last workshop of this year’s Cyber Security Innovation Centre when the topic was raised. You would think in a room full of high achievers, or at least soon to be achievers, confidence would be high yet this is not always the case. Feelings of inadequacy abound. Why isn’t my turnover £1 million? Why don’t I employ hundreds of people? Why is everyone else successful and I am not?
Of course we ignore the seed that falls on stony ground. We also fail to define success.
Those who choose to start their own business can be a peculiar bunch. They have to have a healthy dose of courage, tenacity and determination yet this comes along with the less healthy streak of masochism and self-flagellation. You have to believe in what you are doing and that you are going to get there by hell or high water.
This also brings with it a high tolerance for risk. From the outside it would seem that those who we consider to be very successful financially are prepared to risk everything to get what they want, including other people’s money. I have never been as gung ho as that which explains a lot. Again though we tend to ignore their failures and only concentrate upon success.
All of this is perhaps to be expected, yet what worried most from the conversations we had at the workshop was the high level of ‘machismo’ even among the women. I can’t think of a better word to describe the attitude that was prevalent but it was one of driving yourself forward, working yourself to the point of burnout and always expecting more than your body and mind can give. This can’t be right yet is a common theme amongst new business owners.
It’s easy for me to say but it shouldn’t be. After all, the number one thing that a customer needs from a business is for it to be around in the future. A burnt out founder is no good to anyone, least of all themselves.
Starting a business is hard, there is no doubt about it, yet somewhere along the way consideration needs to be given to how you look after yourself. Fortunately our next session was on wellbeing!
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 