Driven. Relentless. Focused.
All brilliant words to describe founders.
But how about these too:
Selfish. Stubborn. Obsessed.
That was me when I started PUSH Manager Training. Quite frankly, I bloody had to be to put up with some of the most challenging circumstances that I’d ever faced!
⚡️ Starting with absolutely nothing (post a six-figure salary, might I add). With just a vision and a belief that somehow, I’d ‘make it work’.
⚡️ Getting told ‘no’ or it ‘will never work’ over and over again – by investors, clients, customers and in some cases, even family and friends!
⚡️ Earning next to nothing at the start (errrr and not only at the start, btw) – whilst friends climbed the career ladder, got promotions, and took nice holidays.
⚡️ Working every hour that existed – giving everything to the business, even when I was exhausted (and not being paid – see above)
⚡️ Missing out on life – on time with friends, family, and the things I loved – because the business always came first
So why did I do it? And why do others do other Founders, when most people probably, quite sensibly, stay in the perfectly happy PAYE?
Well, of course, it’s about purpose – that deep, unshakable belief in bringing an idea to life with the dream of making the world a better place.
But it’s also something more.
It’s about proving something – not just to others, but to ourselves.
To know we can do it. To push our limits. To see what we’re really capable of and maybe just to believe in ourselves that little bit more.
I know this was true for me.
When I built PUSH, I did it because I wanted to change the way people experienced work. I wanted to make workplaces better.
But if I’m really honest? I also needed to prove to myself that I could build something from nothing. That I could turn an idea into something real, something impactful. In particular at a time when, if I’m honest, for me, that self-belief felt pretty low.
So, that, in my humble opinion is what makes founders do their thing: Because we are driven by both purpose and proof. And maybe, when we embrace that, we don’t just build businesses we build a better understanding of ourselves too
I’d love to hear what others think of the theory!