How NOT to start a new venture (especially if you are a sensible person)
Updated: Oct 23
And how a few of God’s creatures might steer you along the way.
Here are my top tips for anybody dreaming or making plans to start a new business, ministry, project… etc.
My top tips, that is, if you want to crash and burn!
1. Start a new venture when you are already an old dog, when your life is already FULL, and when you have half the energy you had when you were in your 30s.
I had an idea to create some interactive materials designed to help people steer a path away from possible burnout.
The idea was simple—a 21-day guided journal, carefully crafted around a 10–15-minute space each day. Where peace, quiet and reflection can identify damaging habits and celebrate good ones.
I hear the irony. I have a busy job and an active family, and my body isn’t what it used to be. So I will push my energy and time beyond my limits in order to write a book about burnout!
So, I became rather thankful of the sloth. The creature who shows us that slowing down, working at your natural pace, and conserving energy, is a sensible way to live.
I started to take rest seriously. I started to listen to my body when it told me I was pushing it too hard again.
And that has kept me going.
2. Expect measurable progress and champagne-popping success every step of the way
I’m in my late 60s, I thought. I might be dead by the time this thing takes off, so I must create something that succeeds quickly.
And several other ridiculous thought bubbles.
What I hadn’t realised when I kicked this thing off was that in order to achieve some level of success, I needed to learn some stuff along the way. I couldn’t download all I needed in one go (like a software upgrade). I needed to travel the road of seeking advice, trying things, evaluating the outcomes, trying it differently.
I needed to be a woodpecker, tapping patiently on the bark whilst yielding little in return until… something. Learning from the something, building on it, shaping the idea, re-shaping, measuring the result. Trying again. Building a reservoir of knowledge.
I had to learn to embrace failure because it is sometimes the best vehicle to drive you towards success.
“Failure, the best teacher it is” – Yoda
(One of my favourite quotes)
3. Have very fixed and definite ideas about how your plan is going to work.
Early in my journey I discovered a few things about Octopuses. Apparently, they can learn to solve new problems. Researchers have found that they can effectively train octopuses to manipulate and open containers to access food. And when the rules are changed, the octopuses try a different approach.
The marketing of my journals has given me the greatest headaches. I had naively expected that a page on Amazon was enough to draw in thousands of hungry customers.
The reality was that as far as most of the world was concerned, I didn’t exist. And nor did my 21-day journals.
So the octopus in me has had to adapt to a new reality: learn new skills.
It has been slow progress. I learned to build a website (albeit a Wix one); I created a presence on Pinterest (a job that has taken forever but is finally gaining some traction now); and I am making a tiny difference on Facebook.
Small beginnings.
And occasionally people go to my shop window at Amazon.
In a nutshell, I had to let reality change my assumptions about how Animal Instincts would actually reach people.
But in time I also realised something else. This journey has definitely helped me to see what not to do when starting something new. But it has also given me a few clues here about how to survive life—even flourish in life:
Listen to your body and take rest seriously
Embrace failure and welcome it as your teacher
You are never too old to learn new skills.
What small change can you make to help you flourish in life today?
……….
Ready to slow down and flourish?
Starting something new can be exciting, but it can also leave us exhausted, discouraged and wondering whether we're making any progress. I've learned that taking rest seriously, learning from failure and adapting to change are essential parts of the journey.
If you'd like help finding a healthier pace, discover Sloths Are Awesome: Slow Down and Breathe.
This 21-day guided journal offers a little space each day to reflect on your habits, recognise what drains your energy and develop a more sustainable approach to work and life.
Not ready for a journal? Take our free burnout self-assessment to reflect on whether your current habits and workload could be putting you at risk of burnout.
And if you'd like to keep learning, explore more Animal Instincts articles for practical lessons from nature about resilience, productivity, leadership and personal growth.
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