Top 3 Mental Frameworks That Have Helped Me When Things Seem To Be Hard
Whether you're just starting out creating content or are trying to grow your Maker business to the next level, content-focused businesses are hard.
Some days, you feel like everything is going right and anything you do will win. Unfortunately, most of the time you feel like your efforts are in vain, nothing will work for you, and you should just quit (at least that's been me lately). The good news is, both ends (most amazing and most disastrous) are likely more built in your head than a reflection of reality.
As I've been consuming more content from Alex and Leila Hormozi, these 3 mental frameworks from them have kept me pushing forward (including writing this when I don't really feel like it).
Mental Framework 1: This Is What Hard Feels Like
If building a lucratively profitable business were easy, everyone would do it and we'd all be multi-millionaires.
Alex tells a story of when he was in charge of "new recruits" for his fraternity and they were all complaining that the process was unfair and impossible. He sat them down and asked them 2 questions: do you want the rewards of winning? and did you think this would be easy? Everyone said yes to winning and no to easy.
He told them, "This is what hard feels like," and the whining stopped once they had reset the goal and how difficult they thought it would be.
Mental Framework 2: I Will Do What Is Required
We've all heard the phrase, "just do your best."
In those lonely dark nights adding paint to a project, editing a piece of content for YouTube, or trying to figure out some kind of monetization strategy, your best just doesn't feel good enough. You feel like you've burned through all your mental energy and are running on the fumes. But sometimes, just past all that negativity, is what will stick and keep you going.
Don't settle for your "best" because it can change based on your mood, the weather, your kids, or whether the final season of Stranger Things is finally available, so do what is required instead (even if it's beyond your best in the moment).
Speaking of things dependent on your mood...
Mental Framework 3: F*ck Your Mood, Stick To The Plan
One of the first of many impactful things I've heard recently from Leila, and the one that has stuck with me the most.
As mentioned above, your mood can change as fast as the weather and can go through all kinds of emotional cycles (separate conversation about resiliency). As difficult as it can be to try to set your mood aside, I've found it's incredibly helpful to tell your mood to go f*ck itself and keep progressing along with your plan. After just a few minutes, I find I'm already getting in a groove with the plan and my mood has already changed at least a little for the better.
Don't let your mood or emotions control you and keep you from achieving what you set out to do.
