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Why I Rebuilt My Mindset to Start a Business
Deciding to start a side business while working full-time required a complete mental shift for me. I was stuck in a corporate job I disliked and overwhelmed by the idea of building a profitable company at the same time. My mindset was fixed on the obstacles – how to balance it all, if I had the skills, whether it could really work.
I realized that if I wanted to create something successful, I needed to radically reframe my thinking. Things only changed when I rebuilt my mindset completely over the course of about 3 years. I stopped overanalyzing every step and instead focused on taking action. I clarified my motivations and committed fully to my new business venture.
Most importantly, I adopted a growth mindset. I understood there would be ups and downs, so when challenges or doubts crept in I viewed them as opportunities to learn. With my new mindset I was able to take the first steps, start writing online, and ultimately create a thriving business. The mental shift was the hardest part – but also the most crucial.
Stop Overthinking Everything
I’m a chronic overthinker. Everything sends my mind spinning. When I was trying to work out a business that I could run when I decided I hated my corporate job, I was overthinking everything.
Would this make me a millionaire? How much time will this take? Can I still have my weekends? You probably guessed that mentality got me nowhere fast. Instead, I learned to let go and just take the pressure off.
That led me to writing. I had to stop overanalyzing every little detail and just start creating content. It didn’t matter if it was perfect. I had to get over my paralysis by analysis and put myself out there.
Chronic overthinking stalled my progress initially. I was obsessed with planning everything out and accounting for every possibility before taking action. But that was preventing me from actually trying things and getting started. Once I pushed past the overthinking and jumped in, things started coming together. The momentum built as I focused on creating consistently without over analyzing each piece.
Limit Your Information Input
The internet is full of contradictory business advice. One source says you need to post 5 times per day to build an audience, while another claims 1 high-quality post per week is best. I’ve lost hours going back and forth on basic elements of running a business:
- Should you sell too much or not enough?
- Give everything away or keep some exclusive?
- Write about yourself or only other topics?
If you pay too much attention to opposing viewpoints, you’ll suffer paralysis by analysis and end up doing nothing. When launching my business, I had to limit my information input to trusted sources and focus on taking action over endlessly tweaking my approach.
The key is avoiding decision fatigue and sticking to a consistent plan, not constantly reacting to the latest tactic you read about. Be selective about who you listen to and what business “rules” you follow. Information overload will only slow you down.
Clarify Your ‘Why’
Having a clear purpose provides motivation on tough days. When you’re starting a business alongside a full-time job, there will inevitably be tough days where you feel drained and unmotivated. Your “why” is what will get you through those days and keep you focused on your goals.
Before diving into a side business, take some time to think deeply about why this venture is important to you. Is it about making more money, gaining more freedom in your schedule, pursuing a passion, or helping others in some way? Get crystal clear on your motivations and purpose.
Write these down somewhere visible as a constant reminder. Revisit them whenever you’re feeling doubtful. Connect every business task back to this driving force. For example, “I’m creating this product even though I’m tired because it gets me closer to quitting my day job and working for myself full-time.”
When your why is clear, it’s easier to push through the inevitable obstacles. On the toughest days, focus on visualizing the end goal you’re working towards rather than the current struggle you’re facing. Your purpose will give you the tenacity needed to turn your side business into a success.
Give Your Business Your All
I actually think the best way to enjoy what you do is to throw yourself into all of it. Full-throttle. Foot down. Into it.
It’s no good operating from the sidelines because you don’t get to feel everything fully.
When you bleed into your work, when you give it everything (whatever that means to you), the highs are higher and the lows are lower.
Meaning — you’re living.
Expect Periods of Self-Doubt
I was naive. I thought I’d love this writing forever and always amen. Turns out that’s not the case. Some days, I have nothing to say. Some days, I question everything. Some days, I have my head in my hands.
The truth is, you will feel like quitting so you must accept and prepare for that. It’ll come and smack you right in the nose.
The best way to prepare is to expect it. Understand that there will be days where you stare at the screen, then out the window, then back to the screen and think:
“What on Earth am I doing?”
In those moments, you’ll need to remind yourself of your “why” (which we discussed earlier). Because an absence of an answer makes you worry even more, that you don’t have a why and then you’re truly done.
It’s normal to have ups and downs. Just know the downs are coming and don’t beat yourself up too much when they arrive. Stay focused on your goals and know that the inspiration and motivation will return if you stick it out.
Create Content for Yourself
I write and build on the internet for myself.
To explore my mind, to build my thinking, to enjoy the world and everything that exists in it.
I’m not solely writing what my audience wants to see, I’m not hanging off the algorithm, and I’m not determined to hit 1M subscribers.
I’m kinda cool with where things are at and what’s happening. That’s a nice feeling.
Remember the Power of Compounding
Compounding growth is one of the most powerful financial principles. Small amounts of effort, done consistently over time, can grow exponentially.
When I first started my side business, I made very little money. But I focused on creating valuable content, reaching a small audience, and slowly improving my skills. Within a year, a tiny income stream had grown more than 10x, even though I didn’t drastically increase my output.
The key is consistency. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, compounding turns small amounts of effort into major results over time. $100 invested today could be $1,000 in 10 years at a 10% annual return.
I wish I had internalized this lesson earlier. It would have reduced my frustration in the early days when progress seemed non-existent. But compounding works its magic if you stick with the process.
Trust in consistent effort over time, even if each day’s work seems insignificant on its own. The compounding effect is real, and it will unlock results greater than you imagine today as long as you persevere.
Money is a Tool, Not the Destination
I used to think money would solve all my problems. I thought if I just had enough money, I could buy happiness and fulfillment.
Turns out, there are some things money can’t buy.
Don’t get me wrong – money is great. It allows you to have experiences, purchase material items, and donate to causes you care about. But money itself doesn’t lead to lifelong fulfillment or solve your innermost struggles.
I realized money was a tool that enabled me to do the things I wanted, not the end destination itself. Money facilitated my goals of starting a business, having more free time, and working on projects I found meaningful. But in and of itself, money didn’t provide meaning or make me “complete.”
Once I shifted my mindset to see money as an enabler versus the solution, it changed everything. I was able to find fulfillment in the process of building my business, not just anticipating happiness from some future payoff.
Of course, money is still important! But remembering it’s a tool and not the ultimate destination helped me keep things in perspective. I work hard at my business, but I don’t pin all my hopes on money alone. My fulfillment comes from doing work I believe in – the money just facilitates that.
Allow Your Mind to Wander
You won’t always do as you want to do. Your mind will run away, it’ll fall over, and it’ll disappoint you. It’s part of the game and the constant battle of keeping yourself on the straight and narrow. Sometimes going off the rails is a good thing.
We get so caught up in planning everything out and trying to control every aspect of starting a business. But innovation and creativity don’t happen on a schedule. Sometimes you need to let your mind misbehave in order to arrive at an original idea or make a connection you may have otherwise missed.
Wandering minds make more associations between loosely related concepts. Daydreaming and mind-wandering can boost creativity. So don’t worry if your mind drifts to imagining wild business ideas or daydreaming about future plans. Let your mind misbehave sometimes – it’s often where the magic happens.
