Starting a small business, is like running. Like the physical running.

As I was running this morning, I was approaching a hill. The thought going through my head was ridiculous. I wanted to quit before I even started running up that hill. I was telling myself it was too hard, I needed to quit and I questioned why I was even doing this. 

As I started up that hill, my legs started to get heavy, my heart was beating too fast and out of my comfort zone. My face turned into a punch red and I was out of breath. I slowed down a bit going up that hill and then I got an ‘aha’ moment. I act the same way when running my business as I just did during my run. 

Starting a Small Business

And Not Quitting When it Gets Tough

When things get hard, I want to quit. I start telling myself I need to throw in the towel and I question myself. Why am I doing this? This is way too hard. 

When I hear negative talk about me as a business owner and someone doesn’t like the way I do stuff, I start getting discouraged and my self esteem goes down the tank. 

Doubt starts set in before having the hard conversations with my staff. What if I am wrong? What if I hurt them? What if they leave? What if I can’t defend myself and my company? 

Every thought that can tear me down, starts to fill my mind, slowing me down on that hill and even telling me to stop. 

Stop the Negative Thoughts

After that ‘aha’ moment, I quickly changed my mindset during my run. I told myself that I can do it and I will become stronger after I conquer that big hill. My legs will be tired and I will be sore and bruised. My heart will beat way too fast and I will be short of breath. But I will not stop. Starting a small business is the same way. You talk to yourself and tell yourself you can do it!

Guess what? I finished my run up that hill and it was really hard. After I was done, I felt stronger because I conquered the pain and discomfort. I was so proud of myself.

Just because things get hard, it doesn’t mean we need to quit. I almost quit myself, not too long ago. I wanted to throw in the towel. I had so much fear, I hated being disliked or even talked about negatively. Having hard conversations would turn my stomach so much (still does) that I would lose my appetite. I didn’t want to do this anymore. The hills became more steep and the journey seemed to get harder. The easiest thing to do would be to walk away. Forget everything I built to this moment and let it crumble because it was too hard.

Don’t Do It Alone When Starting a Small Business

Friend, take the hill! If you can’t do it alone, grab a friend. With the help of my mentors and coaches, I conquered those hills and I am a much stronger human, stronger leader, and I can conquer even bigger hills now. 

Don’t be afraid to open up about your weakest moments. I was so scared to tell someone I was failing. For so many years, I believed what I was taught from a young age. Don’t show your weakness, no one will trust you or like you. That was such a lie. It’s in these battles and when you are feeling helpless we learn the most, face our fears and conquer them. This when our legs get stronger.

My coach listened, guided me in areas where I was struggling and was my biggest cheerleader every single time.

Today, I am running up some serious hills. The same doubts are setting in, but I am crushing them down every step I take up that hill. I don’t have all the confidence yet, but it’s building up. I still doubt and have fear, but I am going to face it. I am going to have that hard conversation and I will learn from it. There is no stopping. 

Starting a small business will have challenges. Keep running up that hill and don’t stop!