10 tips to overcome the Founder Blues
Hello Gorgeous,
You may have noticed it was silent in the Cheetah Stories Camp last week.
No founder story blog post, no Instagram stories, and even our Chief Happiness Officer had nothing to say.
So, I self diagnosed that we were collectively suffering from: THE FOUNDER BLUES.
It lasted for 10 long days, but we are back on track, full of energy and happy to share.
In this blog post, I speak about
the phenomenon of the “founder blues”,
great ways to dig yourself into it and
ten actionable tips on how to overcome it.
What the hell is founder blues?
About 10 days ago, I woke up ready to work on my posts and realized I had nothing to say. Those of you who know me will understand what a shock this must have been because I ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY!
I also felt an unusual lack of energy, which is normal for many people, but I usually freak my colleagues out by BEING ANNOYINGLY ENERGETIC.
So, I asked ChatGPT for a definition of the founder blues just to check if my symptoms fit. My conversation started like this:
I rest my case, I think the diagnosis is clear! This is how my good friend “chatty” defines the founder blues:
"Founder blues" refers to the emotional and psychological challenges often faced by entrepreneurs, particularly during the early stages of building a business. These challenges can include stress, anxiety, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy.
Great ways to dig yourself into the founder blues and how to get out of it
Key tip #1:
Ignore the noise! Only take constructive feedback; don’t let people’s opinions mess with your head.
When launching a new business, everyone seems to feel entitled to offer unsolicited feedback and share their brilliant ideas on what additions your product could have - often wholly unrelated to your business model.
People may tell you that your product already exists, that your reasons for starting your business aren't compelling enough, or that the market is too saturated for you to succeed. …
Honestly, I love well-intended and constructive feedback. It brought me very far. I’ve put myself through the Founder Institute - a start-up accelerator - only to be shredded to pieces whenever I presented my idea, which made my idea stronger and my skin thicker.
But I've also encountered plenty of feedback that's simply unhelpful and messes with your confidence. That's why I've learned to find amusement in silly comments.
Check out these gems of feedback and comments I've received. If you find yourself in one of these, don't worry—remember, there's no such thing as bad publicity (or so they say!):
She: You start a high heel company? Great, will you also make flats?
Me: Would you ask someone starting a sneaker company if they will also make high heels? 🤨
***
He: Women wore uncomfortable shoes for so long; why would they want to change that now?
Me: 🤐
***
He (no shoe expert, never wore heels): Do you actually KNOW why high heels are uncomfortable? Let me explain it to you.
Me: Well, given that I wear high heels regularly, and I reflected for 1.5 years about how I could make them more comfortable, I think I can confidently say that I DO KNOW why they are uncomfortable. 🤨
He: Yes, but YOU KNOW you must distribute the weight better.
Me: death-stare 😤
***
She: Are you sure you can do this?
Me: death-stare 😡
***
She: Your brand color is fashionable now, maybe it won’t be fashionable in a few years.
Me: So should I choose a brand colour that will be fashionable in 5 years? 🧐, what an interesting observation, I will think about it (for at least 2 seconds 😇).
***
He (out of the blue): You shouldn’t have a dog as a mascot, it dilutes your brand, stick to the cheetah.
Me: So let me get that straight: Do you want me to adopt a cheetah? 🧐
***
Key tip #2:
Master your personal pep talk!
Suppose you are a start-up founder and CEO. In that case, you are 20 people in one: the creative writer, the social media wizard, the product development officer, the model, the logistician, the designer, the legal expert (or not), the one that keeps the team together, the chief motivation officer, the keynote speaker…
As a self-professed perfectionist, it's safe to say that I find it immensely frustrating not being able to excel in all these roles 100%. This often leads to that infamous feeling of inadequacy. So, in these moments, I sit myself down and embark on a pep talk that usually goes a little something like this:
I have no patience for this right now. Stop the nonsense, you are doing great, 75% is just fine, get your shit together and stand tall!
- me to myself
Feel free to adopt my pep talk until you find your own groove.
Key tip #3:
Spread out the tasks and have a great soundtrack!
I have 22 to-do-lists for myself, my suppliers, manufacturers, colleagues, each with another 20 to dos. Frankly, sometimes I feel like this:
Image retrieved from BBC Science Focus. She is not hiding, she is checking on her eggs under the ground.
When that feeling creeps in, I tackle it head-on by organizing my to-do list by priority and blocking out dedicated time slots in my calendar for each task over the next few weeks. I even set reminders in my calendar to nudge my colleagues about their own to-dos. This way, I can clear my mind of the list because all my tasks are laid out right in front of me.
And when the workload still feels overwhelming, you need the perfect soundtrack to keep you going. For me, it's "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. I also love the cover of Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern Juke Box.
I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky
Like a tiger, defying the laws of gravity
I'm a racing car passing by, like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go, go, go there's no stopping me
I'm burning through the sky, yeah
Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm travelling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man outta you
Don't stop me now
I'm having such a good time, I'm having a ball
Don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call
Don't stop me now
(Don't stop me now) 'cause I'm having a good time
I don't wanna stop at all, yeah
- original lyrics by Freddy Mercury first released by Queen in 1978
Key tip #4:
Forget the term “competition” for once!
Sports class in school felt like my personal hell. I couldn't comprehend how kids could turn so nasty on the football field or running track. I never felt competitive and was always relieved when it was over.
Today, while I'm ambitious, I don't harbor a competitive spirit. Losing a game doesn't bother me, and I genuinely celebrate when a colleague outperforms me. I firmly believe that great things can be achieved together. But upon entering the startup world, the ugly concept of competition reared its head. Suddenly, it's all about outperforming others, isn't it?
With everyone emphasizing crowded markets and questioning how your product will stand out, and with the scramble for attention on social media, it's easy to feel intimidated. Recently, I found myself intimidated by an ad from a billion-dollar shoe company, thinking, "Wow, they're so professional. My posts never look that great." That's when I knew it was time for another pep talk. Because seriously, if we let ourselves get discouraged by everything our fellow brands (notice I'm not calling them competition) do, the founder's journey becomes a very sad path to tread.
The remaining 6 tips
I know I promised 10 tips to get over the founder blues, but who has time to read long blog posts? So here's the condensed version of some quick and practical tips to help you stay afloat during the founder blues:
Key tip #5: Surround yourself with positive, energetic, inspirational people.
I recently joined the Impact Hub in Ticino, attended a Woman in Leadership Event and joined my friends to watch an ice hockey match. These were all great strategies to get out of my microcosmos and get some perspective and inspiration.
Key tip #6: Ignore likes and the number of followers.
The world of social media can be harsh, and it's no wonder many young people struggle with depression because of it. Remember: building a community takes time, but with a great product, it will happen eventually.
Key tip #7: Don’t rush!
Early on, I had to come to terms with the fact that Rome wasn't built in a day, and that's perfectly fine. While patience isn't my strong suit, I've learned that trying to rush things is not only impossible but also incredibly stressful for both yourself and those around you. So, take it slow and remember to enjoy the journey.
Key tip #8: If you feel the need to sleep, sleep!
On a personal note, I'm a big fan of the eight-hour snoozefest at night, and I won't hesitate to sneak in a nap during the day if the opportunity arises. But here's the kicker: despite all that shut-eye, I'm a productivity powerhouse when I'm awake!
I am convinced there's no point in pushing through when you're tired. Instead, take a nap and return to the problem with a fresh perspective. You'll often find yourself accomplishing the task more efficiently after a nap than if you had tried to power through. For those seeking a scientific rationale for napping, I recommend reading "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker.
Key tip #9: Have fun!
Sure, building a company can be exhausting; there's no denying that. But think about it: when else will you have the opportunity to experience such a steep learning curve, enjoy this level of flexibility, and relish in your independence? It's a thrilling journey! Try reframing each task as a fun challenge rather than just another item on your to-do list. After all, isn't the adventure half the fun?
It's not about what happened in the past or what you think might happen in the future. It's about the ride for Christ's sake. There's no point in going through all this crap if you don't enjoy the ride.
- the dad in the movie Along Came Polly
Key tip #10: Be grateful for your family and friends!
As you ride the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, having your squad of friends and family by your side is like having a supercharged booster pack! From proofreading my texts to hitting that like button on my posts, from proudly spreading the word to their buddies to never taking me too seriously—your endless support means the world to me.
So, to my fabulous friends and family: thank you for being my ultimate cheerleaders, my sounding boards, and my comic relief when things get a bit too serious. Your unwavering encouragement fuels my determination and keeps me hustling, even when the going gets tough. I couldn't do this wild ride without you all. Here's to many more adventures together!
That's a wrap for today!
Follow our blog every Monday for more stories on our cheetah adventures and the challenges we face on our journey while building a sustainable vegan high heel business. Here, you will get at least two persons’ honest opinions on our failures, successes, and lessons learned.
If you suffer from founder blues, feel free to give me a shout, and we prep your personal pep talk together!
Stand tall!
With love,
Fiorella
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