Riding the start-up rollercoaster

Life in a start-up can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride; a mix of highs when a big milestone is reached, and lows when it feels like things just aren’t going your way.

It’s important therefore to have a few ways to help maintain your drive during the more frustrating times, and keep pushing your business forward.

At Shooii there’s a few things that we do consciously and not-so-consciously that help keep us focused.

Take time to take stock

When you’re completely immersed in your business it can feel like you’re not making much headway from day to day.

Chances are though that you’ve probably achieved quite a lot, so taking some time out to look back and appreciate all the things you have done can provide a much-needed mental boost. At the same time you can re-focus on the things that need to get done, and make a start on something new. It’s important to feel like you’re making some real progress.

Accept that there are things you can’t control

 
It’s a bit of a cliché, but the ability to accept that there are some things beyond your control has been crucial during the set up of our business.

If we get too bogged down when we hit a roadblock it can be quite draining, and it’s much more constructive to understand that not everything will go according to plan.

We take some learnings, make adjustments if needed, but above all maintain the passion and confidence that we started with.

Keep learning

 
One of the inherent things about starting a new business is that you are bound to constantly come across new ideas and challenges. It’s also one of the most enjoyable things, as it presents you with an opportunity to continually learn new skills.

If there’s an area of your business that you’re not too confident in, chances are there’s a wealth of information available to help you build your knowledge base on the subject. Reading blogs, watching videos, talking with others in your industry and attending short courses can reinvigorate your interest.

Don’t forget to have fun

Sometimes it’s important to get your mind off your business, as it often helps you process things and can lead to the most creative solutions. There are a few things that we have built into our culture which help make things fun – which we believe is important for keeping yourself engaged. Exercise sessions, a quick catch up over coffee and a Friday afternoon drink here and there all go towards making the daily grind much more bearable.

Above all it comes down to maintaining a bit of perspective, and remembering all the good things that made you take the leap in the first place.