The difficulty with being too connected to your work is that it makes pivoting or abandoning a project much more difficult. Entrepreneurship is about creating and innovating, but it’s also about distinguishing between what you want to work and what really works.
You’re holding yourself back if you’re connected to your company concept or the method you sell it. Here are three strategies to break free from attachment and get a more flexible outlook.
The 10,000-hour rule for mastery is based on a study of violin students conducted by the late K. Anders Ericsson in 1993. In the decades afterward, that standard has been contested, but one thing is certain: the top violinists — and even the center of the pack – practiced a lot.
We all want to make a great product, but just imagining the ideal offer or prototype isn’t enough. We must put it to the test. Before we feel ready, we must push publish and deliver the product. “If you’re not humiliated by the initial version of your product, you’ve launched too late,” says LinkedIn creator Reid Hoffman.
Consistent output aids in the elicitation of the feedback (or crickets) required to make your next step. What is it that works? What does not work? You’ll never know for sure if you wait for perfection before shipping.
Many prospective entrepreneurs, particularly inventors, are drawn to the image of the troubled artist. There’s a common misperception that building anything great necessitates locking oneself away and working alone. This dream is poisonous, and it may hinder you from receiving the critical criticism you require to progress and breakthrough. Rather than avoiding critique, seek it out. Every flaw you find in your value proposition makes you stronger in the long term.
It’s important to remember that the opposite end of the spectrum may be equally harmful. “Radical candor” and other buzzwords denoting brutal, non-supportive honesty may feel like a must for success, but a good coach or mentor will offer you severe criticism while still supporting you as you push forward.
The most dangerous aspect of the IKEA effect is that it is a hit to your ego when others say your invention stinks. If you’re not used to it, you’ll recover slowly (if at all — many individuals simply quit up), and the hours you spent in your thoughts will be lost forever.
This, if anything, encourages you to test out new product features or marketing efforts. It is possible that you will make a mistake, which will provide you the opportunity to practice bouncing back and, over time, build resilience.
It’s great to be enthused and motivated about your next business venture; the inspiration is the gasoline that propels us all ahead on this wild journey. However, fight the impulse to create an echo chamber that protects you from the reality about your company as you move forward. Pursue feedback from others and make a commitment to learning along the road, and the correct type of confidence will emerge sooner or later.
