I tweeted out this video of Jensen Huang (NVidia founder)- he says “have low expectations and expect a lot of pain and suffering to get where you want”
Which makes sense – if you don’t act like you’re it, long before you’re it– how will you ever become it?
That’s the mindset shift I’m coaching myself through. I’ve never sold a $1M in deals before, and I’m nervous about getting there this year.
Your Brain Isn’t Always Your Friend
Over the past 6 months, I’ve experienced anxiety about life and career like never before. To the point that a lot of times I’ve struggled to wake up early like I used to because I’ve been feeling like… well shit.
I chose this life but didn’t think this life would be this hard- and have this much risk. That’s what I’m wrapping my head around.
Last year- the anxiety was around finding a sales job I love.
This year – it’s around will I succeed in this sales job which is also a tremendous challenge? What happens if I don’t?
I was on a long walk yesterday and realised that my brain is not my friend in these circumstances. It’s basically just primed to cause anxiety – regardless of the situation.
I’ve really liked the kind of content this guy puts out on this topic- where he basically says you need to say aloud “No brain- this is what we’re doing now”- and do the work you need to do anyway- based on your valued actions instead of what your brain tells you to do.
By focusing so much on what may happen a year from now, I’m stacking the decks against myself.
The short answer is- there is no success or failure. Any outcome will be good. If I get the job done, that’ll catapult me to a different place and if I fail- there’ll be a lot of new learnings.
Both outcomes are good.
I liked what Shaan Puri said on a podcast a while ago “Entrepreneurs may fail in the short term, but on a decade long horizon, they eventually win.” I’m still only 50% through that time.
The answer, I believe, is in staying in the moment. Thinking of the task for today, this week, this month- and being deeply okay with the outcome regardless.