Mind the energy gap this autumn 🍁

Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely journey and there are times when it’s hard to feel buoyant especially as autumn arrives and the days get darker. But there are plenty of things you can do to stay energised.

I’ve spent the summer months reflecting on a number of small but powerful practices that have a big impact on motivation. From a new partnership encouraging women founders to face their fears over money, to how best to deal with business challenges calmly, it’s about stepping back to look at the bigger picture.

You could also use this period of transition to undertake some essential business maintenance by reviewing those who surround you. Ancient societies thrived by working together, sharing resources, and building a tribe – and there’s a reason community and collaboration hold so much value 2,000 years later. As companies grow, new challenges arise and people need people to fuel them.

When 6th century philosopher Confucius said “never be the smartest person in the room” he knew that by intentionally adding people who know more than you into your tribe, you’re choosing the path to knowledge and empowerment. How can you learn and grow otherwise?

Autumn is the perfect time to consider what you give your attention to and what may be draining you. Why not use the season of shedding to shed it?, thank it (like Marie kondo) for its service and let it go. We hope you find the tips in this newsletter helpful in refuelling your energy stocks and boosting business resilience ahead of the colder months ahead.

If you're one of the many women founders struggling with the concept of money, we have good news. Off the back of our successful Women and Money workshop, we’ve teamed up with financial specialist Sandra Boekhoudt to launch the course online next month. The programme challenges the reasons why so many women undervalue their services, price products too low, don't pay themselves a salary and/or shy away from financial negotiations. The workshops proved extremely popular with our community of women entrepreneurs and from November you’ll be able to access the course on the Wyseminds website. Watch this space. However for our readers we have 5 spaces left for our beta group. Interested? Email us with a short message about yourself (and your company) and why you'd like to join. We will inform you afterwards individually about your participation.

When problems occur do you find yourself going straight into gear six? In a world of overload, it’s a natural response. We’ve recently worked with some women founders to look at what’s causing the daily petri dish of business challenges that get bigger and more stressful each time. It’s about learning to detach so you can keep a cool head, a method proven to enable problems to be tackled at their core. That way you avoid repeats of the same issues that serve only to demand your time and attention, and drain your energy.

‘Tis the season to be thankful
Finally, some ancient wisdom for the 21st century founder. When our forebears paused to give thanks at this time of the year, it was to celebrate the growth of crops that could never be taken for granted.

In 2024, similar events are about to take place all over the world reminding us of the need to reflect and appreciate our achievements. The Harvest Festival in the UK, Thanksgiving in the US and Canada, Erntedankfest in Germany, Kinro Kansha no Hi in Japan. Whether growing crops or revenue, successful growth requires consistent effort. Taking the time to reflect on and feel thankful for all you’ve achieved so far prevents the focus falling too heavily on quick gains and promotes sustainable, steady progress for the long term.

Fancy a cuppa?
If any of the topics in this newsletter resonate with you, why not book a virtual coffee and see how we can help? Or get in touch with our coaching team here.