Building a Business from the Ground Up: Insights and Reflections
Written on
Chapter 1: A Return and a New Beginning
After a four-month hiatus from sharing updates on Medium, I’m back with renewed energy and a commitment to post multiple issues of "From Scratch" each week until we’re fully in sync. Welcome to "From Scratch!" This series offers a behind-the-scenes look at my journey of building a new business from the ground up, showcasing my weekly endeavors and the lessons I learn along the way.
Measuring Progress
Throughout my journey, I’ve often struggled to appreciate my achievements. My mind is frequently racing ahead, rarely allowing me to savor the rewards of my hard work. This tendency seems to stem from our primal instincts—once the hunt is over, we instinctively seek the next meal.
Lately, I’ve found myself contemplating the future more than ever. Questions like what the next phase of my business entails, the identity of my first hire, and the source of future sponsorships swirl in my mind. These worries, compounded by setbacks in other projects, have been a source of unnecessary stress. I've realized that I’m the one creating this turmoil.
In the midst of this mental whirlwind, I recalled a thought-provoking book I read a couple of years back titled The Gap and The Gain by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan. The core idea is that we can approach situations from two perspectives: the Gap or the Gain.
Section 1.1: Understanding Gap Thinking
Gap thinking represents our default mindset, one we must strive to overcome unless we wish to live in perpetual dissatisfaction. This mindset involves comparing ourselves to an ideal future, others, or some imagined version of success. When we focus on distant goals, we lose sight of our achievements, constantly feeling unfulfilled.
Instead of fixating on what I aim to achieve in the next three months, I’ve started to reflect on what I’ve accomplished in the past 90 days. Chances are, I’ve made significant progress—progress that often goes unnoticed as I’m too busy looking ahead.
This perspective shift isn't limited to business; it applies to life as a whole. Currently, I’m writing this from my childhood home, where I returned to focus on personal development and new projects. While this environment lacks distractions, it can feel constraining at times. I could easily list everything I dislike about this town, but instead, I choose to recognize the valuable experiences I’ve gained here over the past two years.
For example, I’ve fostered meaningful client relationships, honed my skills, and appreciated the simple fact that I have a roof over my head rather than being in survival mode.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Power of Perspective
This morning, I noticed a moving truck outside my neighbor's house. They moved in around the same time I returned and are now relocating. My initial reaction was negative—“This place isn’t great.” But then I reminded myself that they’re likely seeking better opportunities.
By focusing on my recent accomplishments rather than idealistic comparisons, I shifted from a Gap mindset to one of Gain. Progress becomes invisible when we only measure ourselves against a distant ideal. Instead, we need to acknowledge our growth over time.
I highly recommend The Gap and The Gain for anyone seeking similar insights.
Chapter 2: Celebrating Milestones
As I celebrate reaching the 50-week mark of writing this newsletter, I find it hard to believe I’ve maintained consistency. Initially, I worried about my ability to keep this up, but I was judging myself against an earlier version of me. When I compare my current self to who I was 50 weeks ago, the transformation is significant.
This week has seen a slowdown in activity, but that’s perfectly fine. We have projects in the pipeline that require patience. One exciting development is that a client who has been inactive for nearly a year is now ready to compete again, with a match scheduled for October.
Additionally, our subscriber count has grown slightly, now at 2,213, reflecting steady progress despite a minor dip in traffic. While I may need to explore more effective promotional strategies, steady improvement remains the primary goal.
Trust the process, and enjoy the journey.
Kevin
P.S. For those interested in my previous updates, feel free to check them out here. Currently, I'm on Episode 65.