I’ll offer three alternate lenses that can complement what you’re saying:
1. Timeframe: just because your current situation doesn’t match your self belief, doesn’t mean your self belief isn’t warranted. In fact, as you point out, you’ve had success before and this is a moment in time. You might be proven right on the co-founder aspect but I wouldn’t write your self belief off as delusional because it isn’t all beer and skittle now.
2. Delusion is necessary but shouldn’t be absolute: I actually think that we owe it to ourselves to swing back and forth between delusion and critic. We wouldn’t take shots if we didn’t have an inflated view of our ability but we need that critic to help guide us over the long-term... but they can’t exist at the same time, and they need to take turns.... make hay while the sun shines and work on the tractor when it’s raining lol
3. Depending on who you are, delusion might be less than your potential. Plenty of people might write something off as delusional only for it to be within their reach given the right effort and circumstances. If we didn’t have delusion, we wouldn’t achieve as many things for the first time... as individuals and as a human race.
I think you’re right to look at things and reevaluate... but protect that delusional self belief at all costs!
Thanks for sharing Ben. Self reflection is important for self improvement.
I think you can hold your head high knowing your tried as best as you can.
I am also wondering if you jumped the gun with a cofounder who wasn't committed because you were in the process of wrapping up your Rugby career and you needed something to transition into?
I’ll offer three alternate lenses that can complement what you’re saying:
1. Timeframe: just because your current situation doesn’t match your self belief, doesn’t mean your self belief isn’t warranted. In fact, as you point out, you’ve had success before and this is a moment in time. You might be proven right on the co-founder aspect but I wouldn’t write your self belief off as delusional because it isn’t all beer and skittle now.
2. Delusion is necessary but shouldn’t be absolute: I actually think that we owe it to ourselves to swing back and forth between delusion and critic. We wouldn’t take shots if we didn’t have an inflated view of our ability but we need that critic to help guide us over the long-term... but they can’t exist at the same time, and they need to take turns.... make hay while the sun shines and work on the tractor when it’s raining lol
3. Depending on who you are, delusion might be less than your potential. Plenty of people might write something off as delusional only for it to be within their reach given the right effort and circumstances. If we didn’t have delusion, we wouldn’t achieve as many things for the first time... as individuals and as a human race.
I think you’re right to look at things and reevaluate... but protect that delusional self belief at all costs!
*because at the end of the day... some of what we think is delusional actually isn’t...
Thanks for sharing Ben. Self reflection is important for self improvement.
I think you can hold your head high knowing your tried as best as you can.
I am also wondering if you jumped the gun with a cofounder who wasn't committed because you were in the process of wrapping up your Rugby career and you needed something to transition into?
Thanks Clare and I agree. Was is such a rush to make my career transition that I definitely jumped the gun! Paying for it now. Great observation.
Ben
You are being too hard on yourself. Those sorts of businesses are really tough businesses
There are many out there in tech world trying very hard without success.
I’m a minor shareholder in a tech company. I know how hard it is to develop a product, market it and then support it.
Not easy .
Makes sense to me - but without self belief you'll never get anywhere so it is a powerful asset.
Stopping things isn't necessarily failure either, especially when you're doing it at the right time for good reasons.
Seth Godin wrote an interesting book on this called "The Dip" which might be useful.
Remember Giannis said it's "steps to success" (and then his coach got fired but let's forget that bit 😀).
Keep going!
Thanks mate. Will have a look at the dip, and let's forget the bucks coach bit lol