How to Ride the Rollercoaster

Hey founders,

Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as all about strategy and execution—building the right product, finding customers, and scaling fast. But there’s also another side to this whole game.

Success in business is just as much about managing emotions as it is about metrics.

This week, we’re diving into the emotional side of entrepreneurship: the highs and lows, the mindset shifts, and the fear that shapes the journey. In other words, how to ride the rollercoaster.

Let’s go!

Emotional Rollercoasters

Let’s face it—building a business can be a wild ride. One moment you’re on top of the world after landing a big client, and the next, you’re staring at a problem and asking, “What the hell just happened?”

In the backdrop is fear: fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of judgment. These emotions can feel overwhelming—but they’re a natural (and expected) part of every founder’s story.

If you’re feeling any of this:

• Welcome to the club.

• Congrats—that’s called growth!

Remember, successful founders fail more than most people even try. Embrace the ups and downs. Every low point is a lesson, and every high point is a step toward your goals.

Control Your Brain

What sets successful founders apart is a growth mindset.

Now, we get it—‘growth mindset’ is a buzzword. But here’s the deal: this mindset is foundational to every entrepreneur on the planet.

Why? Because you’re going to fail. Often. 

An idea will flop. A campaign will miss the mark. A “brilliant” strategy might turn out to be a dud.

The real question is: how will you respond?

Thomas Edison said it best: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”

When you face your next challenge, ask yourself: What can I learn from this? And how can I make it 1% better next time?

Be unshakeable. Learn, adapt, persist, and grow from there.

Do Not Be Afraid

Let’s talk about the hardest emotion of them all: fear.

Fear is often seen as a barrier—something to avoid at all costs. But what if fear is actually a sign that you’re on the right path?

We like to think of fear as a spotlight. It illuminates the areas where you have the most to gain. 

Launching something new, pivoting the business, hiring your first employee—all of these are scary as hell. But they’re also where transformation happens.

Greatness is often just on the other side of that fear.

Instead of focusing on what could go wrong, ask yourself: What could go right? Visualize the rewards of taking that leap. Imagine the best-case scenario.

Embrace It All

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a company; it’s about building yourself. Every challenge you face, every risk you take, and every lesson you learn brings you closer to your vision. 

It’s everything all at once—which is what makes it the best game in the world. Embrace it all. 

Questions for the Road

1. What’s one failure you’ve experienced recently, and what did you learn from it?

2. What fear is holding you back right now, and how can you reframe it as an opportunity?

3. What values drive your business, and how can you align your work more closely with them?

This week, ride the rollercoaster. Growth happens in the twists and turns.

—The Tribe Team