Building mental toughness isn’t for the faint of heart. Nobody tells you that running a business can feel like facing one challenge after another—all while smiling and asking for more.
The path to entrepreneurial success is harsh, uncomfortable, and exactly what you signed up for. The sooner you embrace the roughness, the faster you’ll grow.
To develop mental toughness as an entrepreneur, you’ll need to embrace discomfort as an essential companion. Start by building rock-solid routines that don’t rely on fleeting motivation – like waking up early, tackle the hardest tasks first, and treat setbacks like reps in your mental gym.
Document your failures and wins daily, practice staying cool under pressure through gradual exposure, and maintain unwavering discipline in your daily actions.
The deeper you push yourself outside your comfort zone, the stronger your entrepreneurial muscles become.
Key Takeaways
- Build discipline through consistent daily actions rather than relying on motivation, including structured routines and specific goal-setting practices.
- Practice emotional control by developing a pressure routine and gradually exposing yourself to challenging situations that build stress tolerance.
- Document failures and lessons learned in a “Failure Resume” to foster resilience and transform setbacks into valuable learning experiences.
- Implement the 70% rule for quick decision-making and maintain a solution-focused mindset when facing business challenges.
- Step outside your comfort zone regularly, viewing uncomfortable situations as mental training opportunities that compound into lasting resilience.
What is mental toughness and why is it important for entrepreneurship?
Mental toughness is your ability to push through challenges, setbacks, and self-doubt while maintaining focus on your goals – and it’s absolutely necessary for entrepreneurship because building a business is like climbing a mountain during an avalanche—exhilarating, exhausting, and full of close calls.
You’ll face constant obstacles, criticism, and uncertainty that would make most people quit.
Building resilience requires conquering challenges with unwavering strength and determination.
- Resilience Under Pressure: Entrepreneurs must bounce back from failures, adapt to market changes, and maintain composure when everything seems to be falling apart – just like a rubber band that stretches without breaking.
- Emotional Control: Managing stress, anxiety, and frustration becomes as routine as checking email. Those who master their emotions make clearer decisions and build stronger relationships with clients and team members.
- Growth Mindset: Mental toughness means viewing challenges as opportunities to learn rather than roadblocks. Every “no” becomes data, every mistake becomes education, and every setback becomes fuel for improvement.
- Self-Discipline: Tough minds create tough habits – waking up early, tackling difficult tasks first, making unpopular decisions, and persisting when motivation fades. Because nobody else will force you to do what needs doing.
How to Develop Mental Toughness for Entrepreneurship
Building mental toughness as an entrepreneur isn’t strictly focused on powering through challenges – it involves developing the psychological armor you need to weather storms while staying concentrated on your vision.
Those inspirational stories of overnight success often skip over the countless moments of doubt, fear, and setbacks that every business owner faces before breaking through.
Below, we’ll go over some ways to help strengthen your mental resilience, from reframing setbacks as learning opportunities to maintaining balance during high-stress periods.
See failure as a necessary step toward success.
Reframing failure as a stepping stone to success means training your mind to view setbacks not as devastating endpoints, but as valuable data points that guide you toward your entrepreneurial goals.
The path to building this mindset starts with studying successful entrepreneurs who crashed and burned multiple times before making it big.
Take Walt Disney, who was fired from a newspaper for “lacking creativity,” or Arianna Huffington, whose first book was rejected by 36 publishers.
These aren’t just feel-good stories – they’re proof that failure is simply part of the entrepreneurial equation.
The more you expose yourself to these examples, the more natural it becomes to see your own failures as normal, expected phases of growth.
Your response to failure needs reprogramming at a practical level. Instead of spiraling into self-doubt when things go wrong, grab a notebook and treat each failure like a scientist examining data.
What specific factors led to this outcome? Which variables were in your control? Which weren’t?
This analytical approach strips failure of its emotional sting and converts it into actionable intelligence. The next attempt becomes stronger because you’re building on lessons learned, not starting from scratch.
The real mindset shift happens when you start getting uncomfortable with comfort. If you’re not failing at something, you’re probably playing it too safe.
Push yourself to take calculated risks, knowing that there are solutions to every challenge and that each stumble makes you more resilient and adds to your entrepreneurial toolkit.
Remember, the most dangerous failure isn’t the one that knocks you down – it’s the failure to try because you’re afraid of falling.
- Keep a “Failure Resume” documenting setbacks and lessons learned – review it monthly to track your growth and identify patterns.
- Set “failure goals” alongside success goals – aim to fail at something new each quarter as proof you’re pushing boundaries.
- Create a 24-hour rule: allow yourself one day to feel disappointed, then pivot to analysis and planning mode.
- Build a support network of fellow entrepreneurs who share their failure stories openly and help normalize the experience.
Build a routine that focuses on discipline, not motivation.
While motivation might feel like rocket fuel for your entrepreneurial dreams, it’s actually one of the most unreliable resources you’ll ever tap into.
Building sustainable success requires a foundation based on unwavering discipline and consistent daily actions.
Mental toughness development comes through dedicated practice and systematic training rather than being purely innate.
Instead, you need to build rock-solid discipline strategies that’ll carry you through both the sunshine and storms of business ownership.
These strategies should be simple enough to follow on your worst days yet challenging enough to drive meaningful progress.
| Time of Day | Routine Benefits | Discipline Action |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Clear thinking | 5AM wake-up |
| Mid-morning | Peak productivity | Deep work blocks |
| Afternoon | Sustained energy | Exercise break |
| Evening | Strategic planning | Review/adjust goals |
| Night | Mental recovery | Digital disconnect |
There’ll be plenty of days when you’d rather binge-watch Netflix than tackle your business challenges.
The temptation to procrastinate or seek immediate gratification will test your resolve daily.
That’s exactly why your routine can’t depend on feeling “motivated.”
Your success depends on showing up consistently, especially when you don’t feel like it, and maintaining your established protocols regardless of external circumstances or internal resistance.
Train yourself to stay calm under intense pressure.
Staying calm under intense pressure means training your mind to maintain composure and clear thinking when business challenges feel like they’re crushing you from all sides.
The first step to building your pressure tolerance is deliberately exposing yourself to uncomfortable situations in controlled doses. Start small – maybe it’s speaking up more in meetings when you’re nervous, or setting slightly tighter deadlines for yourself.
It’s like building muscle – you need progressive overload, not jumping straight into a 250-pound lift.
Each time you push through discomfort, you’re rewiring your brain to handle bigger challenges.
The real magic comes from developing your “pressure routine” – specific actions you take when you feel the heat rising.
This might include taking three deep breaths, walking around the block, or doing a quick brain dump of your racing thoughts onto paper.
The key is practicing these techniques when things are calm, so they become automatic when you actually need them.
I learned this the hard way after nearly having a meltdown during my first client pitch – now I know exactly what to do when my heart starts racing.
Understanding that pressure is normal and even beneficial can reshape how you handle it.
Those sweaty palms and racing thoughts? They’re just your body getting ready to perform at its peak. Top athletes and business leaders don’t eliminate pressure – they utilize it.
When you feel overwhelmed by a massive project or a difficult client, remind yourself that this pressure is making you stronger, sharper, and more resilient for whatever comes next.
- Create a “pressure playlist” of calming or energizing songs that help regulate your emotions during high-stress situations
- Practice the 4-7-8 breathing technique: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale for 8, repeat three times when feeling overwhelmed
- Schedule regular “pressure simulations” where you intentionally work under tight deadlines or present to challenging audiences
- Keep a “wins journal” documenting past successes under pressure, reviewing it whenever self-doubt creeps in during tough times
Develop resilience by pushing through uncomfortable situations.
True resilience emerges from constantly stepping outside your comfort zone and facing the situations that make your stomach churn. When you embrace discomfort as growth, you’re building mental fortitude that will serve you throughout your entrepreneurial ventures.
When you push through challenging moments and stay committed to your goals, you’re training your entrepreneurial muscles to handle bigger challenges ahead.
These daily acts of courage, no matter how small they seem, compound over time to create lasting change.
Each uncomfortable situation is a rep in your mental gym – the more you do, the stronger you become.
Each time you face uncertainty head-on, you develop neural pathways that make future challenges less daunting and more manageable.
| Challenge Type | Growth Opportunity | Action Step |
|---|---|---|
| Public Speaking | Communication Skills | Start with small groups |
| Cold Calling | Sales Confidence | Make 5 calls daily |
| Decision Making | Leadership Growth | Take quick, firm stands |
Set clear goals and relentlessly pursue them every day.
Setting clear goals and pursuing them relentlessly means creating specific, measurable objectives and taking consistent daily actions toward them, regardless of obstacles or temporary setbacks.
The first step in developing an ironclad goal-setting practice is getting completely honest about what you actually want to achieve – not what others expect or what sounds impressive at networking events.
Write down your raw, unfiltered goals, then refine them into concrete targets with real numbers and deadlines.
That uncomfortable feeling in your stomach? That’s your signal that you’re pushing beyond your comfort zone, which is exactly where growth happens.
Your goals need daily attention, like a garden needs water. Break down those big, scary objectives into smaller chunks that you can tackle each day. Maybe it’s making five sales calls before breakfast, writing 500 words of your business plan, or reaching out to three potential mentors.
The key is consistency – showing up even when motivation takes a vacation. Those small daily wins compound into massive progress over time.
When obstacles pop up (and they will, repeatedly), treat them as data points rather than roadblocks. If your initial approach isn’t working, adjust your tactics while keeping your end goal firmly in sight.
Remember that Thomas Edison didn’t fail 1,000 times; he discovered 1,000 ways that didn’t work.
That same persistent mindset separates successful entrepreneurs from those who give up too soon.
- Create a “non-negotiable” morning routine that prioritizes your most important goal-related tasks before daily distractions kick in.
- Track your progress obsessively using a simple scorecard system – rate yourself daily on goal-advancing activities on a scale of 1-10.
- Schedule weekly “course-correction” sessions to evaluate what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change in your approach.
- Build an accountability system with specific consequences – either team up with another entrepreneur or set up financial penalties for missing targets.
Focus on solutions, not problems, when challenges arise.
A solution-focused mindset is the difference between entrepreneurs who crumble under pressure and those who build empires from their biggest challenges.
This mindset separates those who give up at the first sign of trouble from those who view setbacks as stepping stones to greater success.
When you’re faced with obstacles, don’t waste time wallowing in the problem – train your brain to immediately switch to solution mode.
Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, channel that energy into brainstorming actionable steps forward and creating concrete plans to overcome the challenge.
Every time you successfully maneuver through a difficult situation, you build resilience and develop better strategic thinking abilities that serve you in future scenarios.
| Challenge Type | Problem Focus | Solution Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Financial | “I’m running out of money” | “What new revenue streams can I create?” |
| Competition | “They’re stealing my customers” | “How can I innovate to stand out?” |
| Time Management | “I’m overwhelmed” | “Which tasks can I delegate or automate?” |
Develop a growth mindset to learn from every experience.
Developing a growth mindset means training yourself to view every experience – especially failures and setbacks – as opportunities to learn, adapt, and become stronger in your ventures.
The first step to building this mindset involves completely reframing how you process challenges and disappointments.
Instead of thinking “I failed at this pitch” or “My product launch was terrible,” you need to automatically pivot to “What specific lessons can I extract from this experience?”
It feels weird and forced at first, like trying to brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand, but with consistent practice, it becomes your default operating system.
This mindset shift requires you to become almost obsessively curious about your experiences, both positive and negative. When something goes well, dissect exactly why it worked rather than just celebrating.
When things go sideways (and oh boy, will they ever), resist the urge to wallow or blame – instead, grab your metaphorical microscope and examine every detail.
What assumptions were wrong? Which signals did you miss? What skills do you need to develop? Consider yourself a scientist studying your own entrepreneurial experiments.
The real power of a growth mindset comes from combining this analytical approach with relentless action. Knowledge without implementation is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Once you’ve extracted lessons from an experience, immediately create specific action items.
Maybe you need to take a public speaking course after that shaky pitch, or perhaps it’s time to finally learn about financial modeling after mismanaging your cash flow. Whatever the lesson, pair it with concrete next steps.
- Keep a “lessons learned” journal where you document at least three takeaways from every significant business experience, whether positive or negative.
- Surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who embrace learning and growth – their mindset will rub off on you.
- Set aside 15 minutes after every major business activity to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what you’ll do differently next time.
- Challenge yourself to find at least one valuable lesson in your most painful business failures – the tougher the experience, the more important the potential learning.
Prioritize long-term goals over short-term distractions.
While developing a growth mindset empowers you to learn from challenges and build resilience over time, your mental toughness won’t mean much if you’re constantly chasing shiny objects.
Your long-term vision requires unwavering focus and smart distraction management to bring it to life, just like elite performers maintain laser focus on their goals.
Similar to building a house – you can’t keep changing the blueprint every time you see a cool design on Pinterest.
The foundation must be set properly from the start, and each subsequent phase needs careful attention to detail and consistent execution.
| Time-Wasters | Success Habits |
|---|---|
| Social media scrolling | Daily goal review |
| Reactive email checking | Scheduled deep work |
| Random “urgent” requests | Strategic networking |
You’ve got to be ruthless with your time and energy, treating each hour as a non-renewable resource.
Sure, you might miss out on some fun short-term opportunities, but that’s the price of building something meaningful that stands the test of time.
Hone the ability to make quick, decisive decisions.
Making quick, decisive decisions means training yourself to analyze situations rapidly and commit to actions without getting trapped in endless deliberation or second-guessing.
Start by embracing the “70% rule” – when you have about 70% of the information you believe you need, make the call.
Analysis paralysis is an entrepreneur’s worst enemy, and waiting for perfect certainty is like waiting for rain in a desert.
You’ll grow more confident with practice, and you’ll discover that most decisions aren’t actually make-or-break scenarios, even if they feel that way in the moment.
Build a decision-making framework that works for your business style. Map out your non-negotiables, your risk tolerance, and your core values.
When faced with choices, run them through this mental filter – if something aligns with these fundamentals, you can move forward faster.
It’s similar to having a trusted adviser in your head, one who knows your business inside and out and can give you instant feedback.
Time-box your decisions based on their importance. Minor choices should take minutes, medium ones deserve hours, and only the most significant warrant days of consideration.
Remember, a “good enough” decision now usually beats a perfect decision later. The market waits for no one, and while you’re stuck contemplating all possible outcomes, your competitors are already taking action and learning from their results.
- Set strict time limits for different types of decisions (e.g., 5 minutes for small choices, 1 hour for medium ones, 24 hours for big ones)
- Create a one-page decision checklist with your key criteria to speed up the evaluation process
- Practice making small, low-stakes decisions quickly throughout your day to build the decision-making muscle
- Keep a “decision journal” to track outcomes and patterns, helping you refine your intuition over time
Stay committed to your vision even when others doubt you.
True mental toughness emerges when you can stand firm in your vision despite the chorus of doubters, naysayers, and self-proclaimed experts telling you why it won’t work.
The strength to maintain course comes from a deep-rooted belief in your mission and careful preparation for the journey ahead.
You’ll need both vision clarity and doubt management to weather these storms, especially when it feels like you’re the only one who believes in your dream.
Building resilience through daily practice and surrounding yourself with even a small circle of supporters can help maintain momentum during challenging times.
| Challenge | Your Response | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Family doubts | Trust your research | Strengthened resolve |
| Friends question | Show, don’t defend | Proven track record |
| Market skeptics | Study harder | Enhanced expertise |
| Self-doubt creeps in | Review your why | Renewed conviction |
Learn to adapt quickly to changing circumstances and environments.
Being adaptable in entrepreneurship means developing the ability to pivot, adjust, and thrive when circumstances shift unexpectedly – whether that’s market changes, customer preferences, or competitive pressures.
To build your adaptability muscles, start by intentionally putting yourself in unfamiliar situations.
Take different routes to work, try new foods, or tackle projects outside your comfort zone. These small challenges train your brain to stay calm and think clearly when bigger business disruptions occur.
It’s like practicing emergency landings before you actually need one – uncomfortable but a must for survival.
The key to quick adaptation lies in maintaining loose attachment to your plans while staying committed to your core goals.
Picture your business strategy as a GPS navigation system – when there’s a roadblock, you don’t abandon your destination, you simply recalculate the route.
Train yourself to view obstacles as data points rather than disasters, asking “What can I learn from this?” and “How can I adjust?” instead of freezing up or pushing harder against immovable barriers.
Building strong observation skills forms the foundation of adaptability. Watch your market like a hawk watches its surroundings – notice subtle shifts in customer behavior, emerging technologies, or competitive moves.
The sooner you spot changes, the more time you have to adjust your approach.
This means regularly analyzing data, listening to customer feedback, and staying current with industry trends, even when things seem stable.
- Create weekly “disruption drills” where you imagine potential changes (competitor launches, market crashes, supply chain issues) and sketch out possible responses.
- Build a diverse network across industries and backgrounds – different perspectives help you spot opportunities and solutions you might otherwise miss.
- Keep a “pivot journal” documenting past changes you’ve navigated successfully, including what worked and what didn’t – use it as a reference guide for future adaptations.
- Maintain emergency resources (cash reserves, backup suppliers, alternative revenue streams) that give you flexibility to change direction when needed.
Strengthen your emotional control in tough business moments.
Emotional storms can shipwreck even the strongest business ventures if you don’t learn to traverse them skillfully. Success requires developing emotional awareness and practical coping strategies to stay grounded during turbulent times.
Building emotional resilience doesn’t mean suppressing your feelings – it is channeling them productively while keeping your cool when everything’s on fire (metaphorically speaking, hopefully).
The key is learning to process emotions constructively while maintaining professional composure, even in high-pressure situations.
| Situation | Don’t Do This | Do This Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Major client leaves | Panic and spam their inbox | Analyze why and improve |
| Cash flow crisis | Stress-eat entire pizza | Create action plan calmly |
| Team conflict | Take sides emotionally | Mediate with clear head |
Your stress management toolkit needs upgrading from “freak out” to “figure it out.”
Learning proven techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, and structured problem-solving can also help you respond rather than react.
Keep a positive attitude, even when facing setbacks.
Maintaining a positive attitude during entrepreneurial setbacks means actively choosing to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles.
The first step in keeping your positivity intact involves reframing how you interpret difficulties. When your startup faces a major hurdle – maybe an investor backs out or your product launch flops – your initial reaction might be to spiral into doom and gloom.
Instead, train yourself to pause and ask, “What can I learn from this?” or “How might this actually lead to something better?”
We’re not talking about fake cheerfulness; rather we mean genuine belief in your ability to navigate rough waters.
Building a positive mindset requires daily maintenance, much like physical exercise.
Start your day by acknowledging what’s working well in your business, even if it’s something small like a loyal customer’s feedback or a minor process improvement.
When negative thoughts creep in (and they will), counter them immediately with evidence of past successes or potential solutions.
Remember, every successful entrepreneur you admire has faced similar moments of doubt – they just refused to let those moments define their journey.
Surrounding yourself with the right people plays a big role in attitude maintenance.
Find fellow entrepreneurs who’ve weathered similar storms and can share their experiences without sugar-coating the reality.
Their stories of resilience can become your mental ammunition during tough times.
Additionally, keep a “wins journal” where you document every small victory and breakthrough – it becomes invaluable evidence of your progress when your confidence needs a boost.
- Start each morning with three specific business achievements you’re grateful for
- Create a “setback protocol” – a structured response plan for when things go wrong, including who to call and what steps to take
- Schedule regular breaks during challenging periods to prevent emotional burnout
- Maintain a folder of positive feedback, successful outcomes, and overcome obstacles to review during difficult times
Use self-talk to reinforce confidence and motivation daily.
Self-talk shapes your entrepreneurial reality more powerfully than any external force or circumstance you might encounter.
When you master positive self-talk through consistent practice and mindful awareness, you’ll release incredible confidence boosting benefits that’ll alter your business mindset and transform your approach to challenges.
You’re basically being your own personal hype squad that’s ready to uplift you during any situation or moment of doubt.
This internal support system is available 24/7, doesn’t cost a dime, and becomes more effective the more you engage with it.
| Replace This Negative Talk | With This Power Statement |
|---|---|
| “I can’t handle this” | “I’ve got the skills to figure it out” |
| “What if I fail?” | “Each attempt teaches me something new” |
| “It’s too complicated” | “I’ll break it down into manageable steps” |
| “Nobody will buy this” | “My solution helps solve real problems” |
Start your day by speaking these empowering phrases out loud in front of a mirror or during your morning routine to maximize their impact.
While it’ll feel weird and perhaps uncomfortable at first, that initial discomfort is actually a clear sign that your mind is adapting and the process is working effectively.
Your brain’s literally rewiring itself to think like a champion through the formation of new neural pathways dedicated to success-oriented thinking.
This neurological transformation is exactly what you need to crush it as an entrepreneur and maintain unwavering confidence in your business journey.
And if you’re not sure if you’re making progress, there are plenty of positive mental growth signs that’ll prove otherwise.
Take calculated risks and trust your instincts when necessary.
Taking calculated risks and trusting your instincts means finding the sweet spot between careful analysis and gut-level decision-making, especially when incomplete information forces you to act.
The journey to becoming comfortable with calculated risks starts with understanding the difference between reckless gambling and strategic risk-taking.
Smart entrepreneurs gather as much data as they can, run the numbers, and consider multiple scenarios – but they also recognize that waiting for perfect information means missing opportunities.
Imagine it like learning to ride a bike: at some point, you’ve got to take off those training wheels and trust that you’ve done enough preparation to stay upright.
Your instincts grow sharper through experience, which means you’ll need to embrace some initial discomfort.
Each decision, whether it succeeds or fails, builds your internal database of pattern recognition.
Remember those first few times you tried something new in business? Maybe your palms got sweaty, and your stomach did backflips – but you pushed through anyway.
That’s your risk-taking muscle getting stronger, and just like physical exercise, it gets easier with consistent practice.
The real magic happens when you combine analytical thinking with refined instincts.
Start small – test your gut feelings on lower-stakes decisions before graduating to bigger ones. When your research aligns with that persistent nudge in your gut telling you “this is right,” you’ve found your sweet spot.
And yes, sometimes you’ll mess up, but those mistakes become valuable data points for future decisions, as long as you’re honest about what went wrong and why.
- Create a risk assessment framework: List potential outcomes, assign probability percentages, and set clear boundaries for what you’re willing to risk
- Track your intuitive hits and misses in a decision journal to identify patterns in your instinctual responses
- Build a trusted network of mentors and peers who can provide feedback on your risk evaluation process
- Set aside dedicated “cooling off” periods for major decisions to guarantee emotion isn’t overriding logic
Conclusion
Building mental toughness is no walk in the part – it’s like swimming against the current while carrying a boulder. You either build grit or quit.
Look, setbacks suck. But they also transform you into a better entrepreneur – whether you like it or not. And discomfort is your teacher.
Stick to your systems. Trust your instincts. The mental strength you build now becomes your edge in the market while others crumble under pressure.
Stop reading. Start doing. Your competition isn’t waiting around.
FAQs
1. How do you mentally prepare for entrepreneurship?
Start by accepting failure as part of the journey. Build a routine that includes self-care, mindfulness, and setting realistic goals to stay focused and resilient.
2. How to be mentally strong in business?
Practice staying focused on your long-term vision, embrace discomfort, and learn to bounce back from setbacks without losing momentum.
3. How do I increase my mental toughness?
Challenge yourself daily, step out of your comfort zone, and reflect on past successes to build confidence in overcoming challenges.
4. Why is mental toughness needed to succeed in entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster. Mental toughness helps you stay focused, overcome challenges, and keep going when things get tough.
5. How can a small business owner build mental resilience?
Focus on self-care, surround yourself with supportive people, and break big goals into smaller, manageable steps to avoid burnout.
6. How do I stay focused when running a business?
Prioritize tasks, set clear boundaries, and eliminate distractions. Remember, staying focused is a skill that improves with practice.
7. What’s the best way to overcome challenges in entrepreneurship?
Adopt a problem-solving mindset, learn from failures, and remind yourself why you started. Every challenge is a chance to grow.
8. How do I bounce back from setbacks as an entrepreneur?
Acknowledge the setback, analyze what went wrong, and take actionable steps to move forward. Resilience is key to bouncing back.
9. Can self-care improve my mental toughness?
Absolutely! Self-care keeps you energized and focused, making it easier to handle stress and stay mentally tough in business.
10. How do I build the mental strength to handle business failures?
Reframe failures as learning opportunities, stay connected to your purpose, and lean on your support network to stay motivated.
