“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”
— Kahlil Gibran
Many of us have experienced times when we wanted to achieve something but lacked the motivation to continue. Instead, the longing that once excited us now made us feel as if we were pushing against a wall. I know I have had many such moments. During those times, I would often ask myself quietly, “Is this going to be worth it?”
When I had my first big crash, and plans went sideways
My first serious setback happened without any warning. I had been making progress on several projects and had a few ambitions, then suddenly, bam! Everything I had worked for vanished in the blink of an eye. The launch failed badly, and the plans I had made simply didn’t succeed. I kept questioning myself internally, reflecting on every choice I made (and still make) and all the little things I overlooked or didn’t question.
Was I unprepared? Was I simply not meant for this path?
When support faded, and I felt stranded
The second blow hit. Support vanished. The people I believed would stand by me were beginning to lose faith, not only in what I was doing but also in my ability to bring that vision to life. Their doubts made me increasingly sceptical of myself.
When no one believes you will reach the destination, who do you fight for?
I experimented with new tools, changed my working methods, sought different communities, and used systems that claimed to bring clarity and focus. Many did not work. Some offered unexpected benefits to me. I began to realise that, while I needed external support, I often achieved minor breakthroughs through structured processes and systems. I did not need extra motivation; I needed discipline.
Discipline, systems, and the quiet middle
I realised the difference between motivation and discipline at that point in my life. Motivation sparks action; discipline sustains it when progress stalls. My experience with running long distances exemplified this. Once the adrenaline fades, your body screams, “Stop!” Quitting feels perfectly reasonable after the third mile. However, discipline sees you through to the finish line. You can know more about that by reading this book: Dream Big and Win
Your daily routine or systems function in the same way. Like your pace during a run, discipline alleviates your fears about your next step and continues to propel you forward when you lose confidence and motivation.
The turning point: A shift that changed everything
Discipline keeps anxiety at bay! A lesson from one of my favourite stories, “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy.
“I can’t see a way through,” said the boy. “Can you see the next step?” replied the horse. “Yes,” whispered the boy. “Just take that,” said the horse.
So many times, I’ve almost quit my entrepreneurial dream, and I’ve learnt something invaluable from taking one more step in each of those close calls. Perhaps you can relate as well? What is the toughest lesson you’ve learnt from your hardest times?
I would love to learn from you. Let’s grow through it together!