- Joined
- Aug 9, 2015
- Messages
- 486
Note: Wrote this for a client wanting to move forward with their business, but getting stuck in Overwhelm quicksand. Thought I'd throw it up as been hearing lot of overwhelm statements on threads in the last few days.
You feel like you’re not moving anywhere. I totally get that. I’ve spent months where it’s felt like I’ve been standing on a walking escalator going nowhere fast, but being too scared to stop completely for fear I’m just going to end up right back where I started again with nothing to show for it
And that overwhelm and inner turmoil you’re feeling right now. Every entrepreneur has felt it. You’ll try to attach it to not being good enough, not knowing enough, being out of your depth. The truth is that it’s none of those.
The Entrepreneurial "Winging It" Road Trip
Let’s for a minute think about the entrepreneurial journey you’re taking as an actual journey. You know you want to end up at SUCCESSVILLE. Admittedly you actually have no idea where it is, but you know it sounds like a fun place to go so hey let’s just wing this thing! Purely by luck you get a fair distance (or in my case many times I’ve only got as far as the end of the road) and then you hit that inevitable fork in the road.... and have absolutely no idea how to move forward. Cue panic eyes, big gulps and stomach doing somersaults as you exit your car and frantically start looking around for directions, flagging down anyone and everyone who passes by.
Everyone you ask tries to be helpful, but no-one really seems to understand where you're trying to go as you can’t really explain what it is or where this destination is. Hours go by. Tired from walking aimlessly round in circles you end up slumped by the road, sweaty, hungry and covered with cuts and bruises from tripping from trying to catch up to people who were really only mirages in your own mind. Sighing to yourself, you decide this is all proof you weren’t meant to get to SUCCESSVILLE. Hell now you’re no longer even sure where your car is to get back to where you started. SUCCESSVILLE might well be awesome, but if this is what it's going to take, well you’re fine settling with Bland Old SAMEVILLE.
The whole thing sounds beyond horrific. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, but the reality is this is what you’re doing to yourself and you are your own worst enemy. The truth is if you’d just pulled out your Sat Nav, plugged in the end location of SUCCESSVILLE and a couple of pit stops to GETTINGTHEREVILLE and OHSOCLOSEVILLE you wouldn’t be at the side of an unknown road tearing your hair out. You would be in your car, flying along the road doing a rather out of tune, but at the same time very commendable attempt at a duet with the latest track on the radio. It would be one epic road trip that got all the sweeter as you hit each pit stop and recognise how far you’d come and how close SUCCESSVILLE is.
Just Get Yourself A Map And Sat Nav Aleady...
The story of achieving success in your life and business isn’t any different. If you want to succeed then you have to stop with these dreamy scenarios of everything will just be alright and click into place. REALITY ALERT. It won’t. This isn’t a Disney movie. This is real life.
If you want to get somewhere with what you’re doing then you''ve got to start helping yourself out. You need to make sure you know what that end destination is and the checkpoints you have to reach along the way to indicate you haven’t got distracted by a shiny thing and gone off wildly off-course.
But what about the obstacles that turn up along the way? The ones you can't plan for? Well If you’re just wishfully moving through life hoping you’re going to get to the unknown Disney dream destination then here's what will happen. Every obstacle that pops up is going to trip you up and give you a bloody nose and when you finally are able to get back up and ask for help, you're in for a painful surprise. Your decision to just do this make it up as you go along thing means you've ended up miles off course in a country. Now you're in a place where they don't speak your language and have no idea what this place is you're talking of... and your mad game of Charades to try and explain is ending up leaving you as at much of a loss as them.
Contrast that to the you that is growing stronger, more driven and motivated each day. You, the one who has got this thing… and more importantly a road map that tells you to reach your destination you'll need first to get from A to B to C.
But what about the obstacles? Am I telling you having a roadmap means everything is going to be easy. No. You are still going to hit them. I don't deny when you notice a whacking great obstacle has suddenly appeared between B and C you might have a momentary gulp and slight sweat. The difference is now you know where you’re meant to be going, and it’s not going to take long for you to figure out the detour to get around it. Remember those locals who were useless up above? Well on this trip it's quite a different story. When you stop and tell people that you've been trying to get from A to C, but you're having trouble navigating round B.. Something will happen People excited by your passion and determination to reach C are more than willing to jump in and help when you look like you need a helping hand. In act you're going to find that a few who have take the road trip before are more than happy to jump in their cars and let you follow them along the route only the experts know about.
At the end of the day,the only thing that will prevent you from getting to your end destination is you. Those without a plan will always return home with war stories of how they fought, but the obstacles were stacked against them. Those with one will find the way despite everything that is thrown in their way. If you want this, you've got this.
You feel like you’re not moving anywhere. I totally get that. I’ve spent months where it’s felt like I’ve been standing on a walking escalator going nowhere fast, but being too scared to stop completely for fear I’m just going to end up right back where I started again with nothing to show for it
And that overwhelm and inner turmoil you’re feeling right now. Every entrepreneur has felt it. You’ll try to attach it to not being good enough, not knowing enough, being out of your depth. The truth is that it’s none of those.
The Entrepreneurial "Winging It" Road Trip
Let’s for a minute think about the entrepreneurial journey you’re taking as an actual journey. You know you want to end up at SUCCESSVILLE. Admittedly you actually have no idea where it is, but you know it sounds like a fun place to go so hey let’s just wing this thing! Purely by luck you get a fair distance (or in my case many times I’ve only got as far as the end of the road) and then you hit that inevitable fork in the road.... and have absolutely no idea how to move forward. Cue panic eyes, big gulps and stomach doing somersaults as you exit your car and frantically start looking around for directions, flagging down anyone and everyone who passes by.
Everyone you ask tries to be helpful, but no-one really seems to understand where you're trying to go as you can’t really explain what it is or where this destination is. Hours go by. Tired from walking aimlessly round in circles you end up slumped by the road, sweaty, hungry and covered with cuts and bruises from tripping from trying to catch up to people who were really only mirages in your own mind. Sighing to yourself, you decide this is all proof you weren’t meant to get to SUCCESSVILLE. Hell now you’re no longer even sure where your car is to get back to where you started. SUCCESSVILLE might well be awesome, but if this is what it's going to take, well you’re fine settling with Bland Old SAMEVILLE.
The whole thing sounds beyond horrific. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, but the reality is this is what you’re doing to yourself and you are your own worst enemy. The truth is if you’d just pulled out your Sat Nav, plugged in the end location of SUCCESSVILLE and a couple of pit stops to GETTINGTHEREVILLE and OHSOCLOSEVILLE you wouldn’t be at the side of an unknown road tearing your hair out. You would be in your car, flying along the road doing a rather out of tune, but at the same time very commendable attempt at a duet with the latest track on the radio. It would be one epic road trip that got all the sweeter as you hit each pit stop and recognise how far you’d come and how close SUCCESSVILLE is.
Just Get Yourself A Map And Sat Nav Aleady...
The story of achieving success in your life and business isn’t any different. If you want to succeed then you have to stop with these dreamy scenarios of everything will just be alright and click into place. REALITY ALERT. It won’t. This isn’t a Disney movie. This is real life.
If you want to get somewhere with what you’re doing then you''ve got to start helping yourself out. You need to make sure you know what that end destination is and the checkpoints you have to reach along the way to indicate you haven’t got distracted by a shiny thing and gone off wildly off-course.
But what about the obstacles that turn up along the way? The ones you can't plan for? Well If you’re just wishfully moving through life hoping you’re going to get to the unknown Disney dream destination then here's what will happen. Every obstacle that pops up is going to trip you up and give you a bloody nose and when you finally are able to get back up and ask for help, you're in for a painful surprise. Your decision to just do this make it up as you go along thing means you've ended up miles off course in a country. Now you're in a place where they don't speak your language and have no idea what this place is you're talking of... and your mad game of Charades to try and explain is ending up leaving you as at much of a loss as them.
Contrast that to the you that is growing stronger, more driven and motivated each day. You, the one who has got this thing… and more importantly a road map that tells you to reach your destination you'll need first to get from A to B to C.
But what about the obstacles? Am I telling you having a roadmap means everything is going to be easy. No. You are still going to hit them. I don't deny when you notice a whacking great obstacle has suddenly appeared between B and C you might have a momentary gulp and slight sweat. The difference is now you know where you’re meant to be going, and it’s not going to take long for you to figure out the detour to get around it. Remember those locals who were useless up above? Well on this trip it's quite a different story. When you stop and tell people that you've been trying to get from A to C, but you're having trouble navigating round B.. Something will happen People excited by your passion and determination to reach C are more than willing to jump in and help when you look like you need a helping hand. In act you're going to find that a few who have take the road trip before are more than happy to jump in their cars and let you follow them along the route only the experts know about.
At the end of the day,the only thing that will prevent you from getting to your end destination is you. Those without a plan will always return home with war stories of how they fought, but the obstacles were stacked against them. Those with one will find the way despite everything that is thrown in their way. If you want this, you've got this.
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Last edited:
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
Xjip O nipvoupif tuni apiyqidvif iwipvt, O'wi ciip muuloph gus e kuc et e qsuhsennis topdi O gopotjif dummihi. Ov't ciip gus ecuav 3 nupvjt pux. O'wi cetodemmz eqqmoif iwiszxjisi O duamf gopf, fof dumf i-neomoph vu iwisz dunqepz O duamf gopf op nz dovz, etlif nz gsoipft og vjiz lpix ecuav tuni kuct. Vji neop qsucmin ot vji medl ug iyqisoipdi. Et tuniupi xju katv gopotjif dummihi O piif vu gopf vjev upi qistup xju xomm howi ni e tvesvoph djepdi. O en dassipvmz op dupvedv xovj duaqmi ug sidsaovoph ehipdoit cav vjiz tvomm jewi puvjoph gus ni. Qmat, vji idupunz jet vuul e jov. E muv ug qiuqmi jewi ciip meof ugg mevimz, itqidoemmz op vji huwispnipv tidvus. O jevi 9-5 kuct, iwip xjip O xet 12 ziest umf O ati vu vimm nz nun vjev O piwis xepvif vu xusl cideati ov muulif tu voni duptanoph epf siqivovowi gus puvjoph. Cav vjot ot e pidittovz ev vji nunipv. Vji citv vjoph O jewi ot nz kuc et e duul cav vji juast dep ci aptvecmi. O emtu guapf e duaqmi ug gsoipft xju piif tuni xictovit caomv/jewi qsucmint xovj dunqavist/oQeft tu ov xomm ev mietv csoph ni tuni opduni gus pux. Qmat O dep'v tvuq xusloph up nz eqqt, vjev xuamf ci e jahi tivcedl.
