Are You On The Right Path?

Everyone talks about the courage it takes to start a business - launching that idea, taking the leap, the adrenaline of the unknown.

But what don’t we talk about enough is the even tougher phase: when the energy fades, results don’t show up, and everything feels like it’s failing.

Maybe it’s after your first launch flops. Or after months of ads or social media posts that go nowhere. Or months of networking around your region, but no clients bite.

It's in these moments - where novelty wears thin - that the real test begins.

📚 The Science Behind the Struggle

Here’s the interesting thing about courage in business: it’s not about being fearless. Research shows courage actually helps us stay intentional - setting meaningful goals, using our energy wisely, and pushing forward when things get bumpy.

And while it’s true that many businesses don’t make it long term, what separates the ones who do isn’t luck or some secret talent. It’s the ability to keep showing up even when fear is in the room.

In fact, studies suggest that certain fears - like worrying about wasted opportunities, financial security, or securing funding - can actually fuel persistence.

Instead of shutting us down, those worries often push entrepreneurs to sharpen their skills, rethink strategy, and keep moving forward.

Most “failures” are just problems in disguise

Here’s the thing: very few businesses collapse because the founder isn’t capable. They usually hit solvable problems - the kind that sit in one of three big buckets:

• Leads: not enough people seeing the offer

• Marketing: the message isn’t landing or attracting the right audience

• Sales: can’t convert interest into paying clients

Of course, there are other challenges (cash flow, hiring, operations), but nine times out of ten, if you trace it back, it’s really a leads, marketing, or sales problem in disguise.

The encouraging part? Those aren’t character flaws. They’re skills. And skills can be learned, practiced, or hired out.

Think about it: some of the best business owners in the world aren’t naturally gifted at sales or marketing - they’re just relentless about sticking around long enough to figure those pieces out.

👉 Why The Messy Middle Phase Breaks People

The “messy middle” of entrepreneurship is where many dreams stall out - not because people aren’t capable, but because it feels like everything gets harder at once:

• The honeymoon wears off. That rush and excitement of “I’m doing this!” fades into the daily grind of building something sustainable.

• Effort doesn’t match results. You can pour in 12-hour days and still wonder why progress feels so slow.

• Isolation sneaks in. Around 70% of entrepreneurs report feeling lonely, carrying the full weight of every decision.

• Identity blurs. When the business struggles, it feels like you’re struggling. When things stall, you question if you’re cut out for it.

• Comparison steals your energy. Everyone else looks like they’re “crushing it,” while you’re just trying to keep moving forward.

🧠 When ADHD or Perimenopause Enter the Mix

If you’re building a business while managing ADHD or navigating perimenopause, the messy middle can feel even messier. And that’s not because you’re weak - it’s because your brain and body are literally working with different chemistry.

Here’s the fascinating part though: both ADHD and perimenopause have surprising ties to entrepreneurship.

The ADHD paradox.
Research shows people with ADHD are almost twice as likely to become entrepreneurs. About 29% of founders show ADHD traits - drawn to the freedom, creativity, and risk-taking that entrepreneurship offers. Hyperfocus, energy, and fast idea generation can be real superpowers when it comes to innovation.

But here’s the flip side: the same traits that push you to start can make it harder to persist. Studies show high inattention predicts business failure and impulsivity can cut into earnings. In plain English? The novelty-seeking, the struggle with routines, and the executive function hiccups can derail you right when consistency matters most.

The perimenopause challenge.
For women in their 40s and 50s, perimenopause adds its own storm. Nine in ten say symptoms impact their work - brain fog, exhaustion, anxiety, and a hit to confidence top the list. Declining estrogen affects executive function, making focus, word recall, and short-term memory harder. No wonder nearly two-thirds of women report “cotton wool brain” during this stage, and 40% say symptoms disrupt work weekly.

The double whammy.
ADHD and perimenopause share one cruel overlap: both make persistence harder. It’s not just about battling algorithms, sales funnels, or market conditions - it’s about battling your own brain chemistry.

And here’s the reframe: that’s not failure. That’s biology. And once you understand what’s happening, you can stop beating yourself up and start building systems, support, and strategies that work with your brain, not against it.

⚡ The Real Entrepreneurial Superpower

The ones who make it in business aren’t always the smartest, the most creative, or the best connected. They’re the ones who have learned how to keep going when things feel uncertain…

They get that:

• Progress isn’t a straight line. Every business has seasons of momentum and seasons that feel like standing still.

• Failure is feedback, not a finish line. Every misstep holds data you can use to adjust and try again.

• Persistence needs a plan. It’s not about grinding harder — it’s about persisting smarter, knowing when to tweak strategy instead of just muscling through.

✅ Your Survival Toolkit: Expert Strategies for the Tough Times

1. Protect Your Mental Foundation
Most entrepreneurs will outwork anyone in the room - but often neglect basic health needs. Here’s the truth: the “basics” aren’t basic at all. They’re the foundation.

• Sleep: 7–8 hours isn’t a luxury; it’s a business requirement.

• Movement: Even a daily walk reduces stress, depression, and anxiety. Aim for 30 minutes, 3–5 times a week.

• Fuel: Your brain is your primary business tool - treat food like fuel, not an afterthought.

2. Separate Self-Worth from Net Worth
Your business is something you do, not who you are. Anchor your identity and your worth in more than revenue: family, friendships, hobbies, community. That perspective keeps the tough seasons from breaking you.

3. Reframe Failure
Stop telling yourself, “I failed.” Instead ask, “What did I learn?”. Look at the data from a different perspective: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Life is a constant process of trial and error. Every “failure” is just market research for your next iteration.

4. Build Your Support Network Before You Need It
Entrepreneurship feels lonely because too many of us go it alone. Don’t. Find other owners you can swap war stories and wins with. The sooner you build that circle, the stronger you’ll stand when things wobble.

5. Set Intelligent Persistence Boundaries
Blind perseverance burns you out. Smart perseverance keeps you moving. Regularly check in with yourself:

• Am I still passionate about this?

• Am I making measurable progress?

• Do my goals still align with my values?

If you’re answering “no” consistently, it’s not failure. It’s a sign it’s time to pivot or evolve your approach.

6. Practice Micro-Recovery
Don’t just celebrate the big milestones. Break goals into daily or weekly wins. Research shows the more control we feel over our goals, the less stress we carry day-to-day.

7. Try the 20-Minute Rule
Instead of task-hopping, give one thing your full focus for 20 minutes. You’ll get more done, at a higher quality, and with less mental drag.

For ADHD & Perimenopause Entrepreneurs: Work With Your Brain, Not Against It

• Leverage your strengths: creativity, hyperfocus, handling uncertainty.

• Build scaffolding around weaknesses: use accountability partners, coaches, or smart systems.

• Protect your flow: When you hit a flow state, protect that time fiercely. Block distractions and dive deep.

• Build in movement and variety. Your brain needs novelty and stimulation -design your work to include these elements rather than fighting them.

• Don’t white-knuckle it. If symptoms feel unmanageable, professional support is not a weakness - it’s a business asset.

✍️ The Permission You've Been Waiting For

Over the past ten years, I’ve built two successful businesses and am now growing a third brand, The Owner Switch. And let me tell you - I’ve walked through the exact ups and downs you’re probably facing right now. Every struggle you’re wrestling with, I’ve wrestled with too.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me in my darkest entrepreneurial moments: it’s okay that this feels hard. It’s supposed to be hard.

Difficulty isn’t proof you’re on the wrong path - it’s confirmation you’re building something that matters. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’s 2024/25 Report, nearly half of people say they won’t start a business because they’re afraid of failing. The fact that you’re here, still showing up, already puts you in rare company.

The courage to keep going when nothing seems to be working isn’t just an entrepreneurial skill - it’s a life skill. The resilience you’re building now will serve you everywhere.

✨ Moving Forward

The entrepreneurs who change the world aren't the ones who never face dark moments - they're the ones who keep moving through them. They understand that persistence isn't about maintaining constant optimism; it's about maintaining consistent action even when optimism wavers.

Your willingness to continue when the path is unclear, when the metrics are discouraging, when well-meaning friends or family suggest you "get a real job" - that's where the real magic happens. That's where businesses are actually built.

So here's to your courage - not just the courage that got you started, but the even greater courage that keeps you going.

Keep pushing forward. The world needs what you're building ✨

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