When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time?
Being a founder is like stepping into something new for the first time—every single day. One moment, you're deep in strategic thinking; the next, you're figuring out marketing, business development, content creation, and/or budgeting. It’s an exhilarating mix of challenge and learning, constantly shifting between big-picture vision and the operational details that keep everything running. Fortunately it’s one of my strengths.
But I’m also noticing just how much energy this takes. The mental load of juggling everything from planning, problem-solving, decision-making. It can be intense.
Finding the Energy for Learning
Interestingly, what fuels me the most is the learning. Stretching myself in new ways, tackling fresh challenges, and realising that I’m not just running a business. I’m becoming a business leader. It’s a shift in identity that I hadn’t fully appreciated before.
Every day brings something new to figure out, and while that can feel overwhelming, it’s also what makes this journey rewarding. Learning keeps me engaged, motivated, and excited about what’s next.
The Irony of Teaching What I Most Need to Learn
And here’s the irony, so much of what I teach as a coach and facilitator is exactly what I need to practise myself right now. I help others navigate change, manage competing demands, and stretch beyond their comfort zones.
I’m also constantly learning (and relearning) how to do the same. Coaching others doesn’t mean I have it all figured out, it means I’m on this journey too.
Just as I like to encourage you to stretch yourself, I also need to make space to come back to a place of reflection and recalibration. Life is cyclic, just like the tide.
The ebb and flow must be listened to. With energy must come rest. Pushing into the unknown, then pausing to integrate, reassess, and regain balance before moving forward again. If I keep stretching without returning to a place of comfort, I risk burning out rather than growing sustainably.
So, I’m asking myself:
How do I balance the thrill of newness with sustainable ways of working?
Where do I need to set clearer boundaries to avoid exhaustion?
How can I prioritise tasks, and notice when I’m getting lost in the noise?
These are questions I’m still exploring, but one thing is clear, founding a business isn’t just about building something external. It’s about who I’m becoming in the process.
When was the last time you did something for the first time? And what did it teach you?