These past two weeks, I’ve been looking at my to-do list with a sense of: I simply don’t have the energy to do this all. An overwhelming wave of I’m too busy to do this extra work, aside from my client work, has taken over.
This feeling comes in waves, and when it happens, I honestly have the hardest time admitting that I’m lacking motivation. Especially as an entrepreneur, where you have to be your own cheerleader (which in reality, isn’t completely true either, but sure feels like it), and where every task, decision, and failure falls on your shoulders, it can all become overwhelming and hard.
You probably hear a lot about the hustle, the passion, and the freedom that entrepreneurship brings. But what happens when you wake up and the fire isn’t there, for a week or even months at a time? When the doubt kicks in, and you start questioning your ability and self-worth? When you would rather binge-watch a new season on Netflix (of course I have time for that!) than process industry interviews, summarize key insights, update an offer, or enter a new market? What do you do when it all feels like too much?
Everyday I’m hustlin'… but not really
The problem with this thing called entrepreneurship is that it’s glamorized. Social media loves (LOVES loves) to highlight the wins: think new clients, a deal bigger than the last one, a new funding round, sold-out events, workshops, or launches, and those big partnerships we all dream about. But it rarely shows missed opportunities, sleepless nights, puffy eyes from crying all night, and the real moments where self-doubt creeps in. Moments when you question if it’s all worth it. If I’m worth it.
Being a founder, entrepreneur, or leader isn’t just hard work; it’s personal. Really personal. The business you’re building becomes a reflection of who you are—your dreams, ambition, and resilience to bounce back when all you want to do is stay down. And when things don’t go well or as planned (and they won’t), it feels like a direct hit to the heart. Your own heart.
We don’t talk enough about the silent battles, when replying to an email feels like climbing the Mount Everest. When you’re running on empty but still need to find the motivation somehow to hit those big, ambitious goals you wrote down in your new 2025 strategy.
What I’ve been telling myself – the reality of not feeling it
Outside of my client work (which I’ve been excelling at), organizing an international leadership retreat, and preparing for a proposal presentation, I haven’t felt like doing anything else. Writing my bi-monthly blog post? Postponed for several weeks. Summarizing my market research? Postponed. Updating my new offer, getting feedback, and following up with people? All postponed. Pitching my new offer? You guessed it, postponed.
I tell myself I’m too busy (except for scrolling mindlessly on my phone, I somehow have all evening for that). But in reality, when I look at my computer screen, I feel blocked, demotivated, and forget why I’m doing all this.
The habit of action
Motivation isn’t a prerequisite for progress. Waiting to take action until you “feel ready” is extremely dangerous because feeling ready isn’t an emotion, it’s a decision.
Today, I jumped on a call with a friend (thanks a million, Charles), and he reminded me of my purpose, why I decided to do what I’m doing. I realized that fear has been driving me, and frustration and disappointment in the outcomes of my actions have been keeping me from taking any further steps. He asked me what my next step was, just one small thing. And that one thing today, was writing this blog post. It shook me up and got me moving again.
On the days when the hustle feels unbearable, structure can be your lifeline. Not the hundred things on your to-do list, but just one real next step.
Revisit your “why”: Why did you start this journey? What problem are you solving, and for whom? What impact do you want to create?
Set small, achievable goals: Instead of tackling a mountain, move one rock. Send one email, make one call, complete one task. Progress, no matter how small, fuels momentum.
Give yourself grace: It’s okay not to feel okay. As my business coach says, “Take 10 minutes to cry (or an hour or a day to recharge) and keep it moving.” Burning yourself out isn’t the goal, so giving yourself grace is vital.
Lean on your community: The people around you (mentors, friends, family, and peers) want to help you; they want to see you do great things and succeed. Don’t be afraid to ask for support.
You can’t hustle your way out of every hard day, but you can build systems to create clarity for yourself, even when you don’t feel like it.
The magic of entrepreneurship isn’t about the grind, the successes, or the moments when all is peaches and cream. It’s about the moments when you keep going, even when you don’t feel strong enough to do so.
So, the next time you find yourself staring at your screen, unmotivated and unsure, ask yourself: What’s one small thing I can do today that my future self will thank me for?
Feel free to send me an email at renate@twenty6consultancy.com or drop me a line on LinkedIn if you have any questions!
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