@frankdegods โThe heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter into one of the most creative periods of my life.โ
There is no lonelier time for founders than nights.
Not evenings โ but when you're actually in bed, trying to sleep, and you just can't.
It's the hours after midnight, when it's pitch black, and you're all alone in your mind, thoughts racing.
This is when doubts seep in, and worries begin to spiral out of control.
Is it going to work out?
How will I pay my bills?
How will I make payroll?
Am I just lying to myself?
Is this even the right business?
Were these last few years wasted?
Am I not smart enough?
Where did I go wrong?
What do I do?
When these negative thoughts compound, your blood pressure rises, and anxiety spikes.
A panic attack in the middle of the night. How horrific and pathetic at the same.
I think every founder has experienced these sleepless nights at some point in their journey.
Are you even a real founder if you haven't?
What's worse is that it's never just one night (wouldn't that be great). It's multiple nights, and often *months* of sleepless nights.
You wake feeling like shit. It's a hangover without the drinking, but just as bad.
Your day is packed with calls, meetings, zooms; plenty of action to distract you from the harsh realities of your struggling business.
Building a startup is hard. In fact, it's next to impossible.
The odds are against you. Sometimes, people are against you, too.
It's easy to grind and hustle during the day. And to put on a smile when you're talking with your team or others.
But there is no lonelier time for founders than nights.