The Struggle

"The Struggle" is the period in a company's life when a founder's initial vision and dreams collide with a harsh, unforgiving reality. It is not a single event, but a prolonged state of existential dread where the company's survival is in question.

It is the defining experience of entrepreneurship, separating the great from the merely good.

What The Struggle Feels Like:

• It's when you wonder why you started the company in the first place.
• It's when self-doubt turns into self-hatred.
• It's when you are surrounded by people but feel completely alone.
• It's when you can't hear a conversation because the only thing you can hear is the noise of The Struggle in your head.
• It's when the pain is constant and you just want it to stop.

The Struggle is not failure itself, but it is what causes failure, especially for those who are not strong enough to endure it.

How to Survive The Struggle:

There is no formula, but there are principles that can help:

1. Don't Put It All on Your Shoulders: Share the burden. Be brutally honest with your team about the challenges. You'll be surprised how they rally when they know the truth. Get the maximum number of brains focused on the problem.
2. This is Chess, Not Checkers: In a complex, dynamic environment, there is always another move. No matter how hopeless the situation seems, look for the creative, unconventional play that can change the game.
3. Play Long Enough to Get Lucky: The technology landscape changes rapidly. If you can simply survive, you give yourself a chance for the market to shift in your favor or for an unexpected opportunity to arise.
4. Don't Take It Personally: The situation is likely your fault, but dwelling on that is unproductive. Every CEO makes thousands of mistakes. Giving yourself an "F" doesn't help solve the problem.
5. Remember This is the Challenge: If you want to achieve greatness, this is the price. The Struggle is what separates the great from the rest.

The Struggle is where greatness comes from.

Tags: #leadership #founder #mindset #psychology #struggle #resilience #hard-things #startups