Is that frustration or fun you feel?
We seek out things which are difficult: puzzles, games, sports. In these contexts, we find difficulty fun.
In other contexts, an entirely similar feeling is interpreted as frustration. We get upset with ourselves when we struggle to make progress. The same internal dialogue that says "this is fun!" when we struggle through the hard part of a game instead says "I'm no good at this" when we’re struggling to make progress at work.
A (fairly unimportant and) unfortunate truth is I'm not that good at Cryptic Crosswords. I often fail to answer more than two or three clues in each puzzle. But I enjoy the struggle. I have fun.
If I fail to land a couple of commercial speaking engagements or mentoring contracts in a row, on the other hand, I might start to hear from a rather more sinister and self-defeating voice in my head.
You might experience something similar.
Remember, it doesn't have to be that way.
The puzzle of finding the right commercial angle for my ideas, of discovering the real issues that people have that can be solved, of creating the right programs to resolve those issues... all of these puzzles are every bit as fun as a David Astle clue on a Friday. The struggle is the fun part!
Whenever you next hear the voice in your head utter a defeated "I'm no good at this", ask yourself instead if this is actually the fun part.
P.S. — If you run a business that relies on your energy and enthusiasm to make it work, and you're struggling a bit, send me an email (col@colfink.com) and let me know what's going on.
If you’ve been sent here by a friend and found it useful, you can sign up to the Fink Tank here.
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