Unstuck: A Guide to Confidence & Momentum
Shift Your Perspective, Make Decisions with Confidence, and Find the Right Support
Your biggest challenge isn’t knowledge—it’s trusting yourself to take action.
About 15 years ago, we decided to sell our suburban home and move to a 25-acre property in a rural town. To say I am up for any challenge is an understatement because I’m good at hiding the uncomfortable until it’s comfortable. But this time, I was way underprepared and much less confident.
The first crack was losing my support system—friends and family were now miles and miles away. I was thrown into a space that was not only unfamiliar but completely different from how I grew up. We had wide open spaces to roam and navigate, but nothing like this.
Even my trusty old lab, Rocky, was hesitant in the new surroundings. The bullfrog mating sounds freaked us both out, and the overly friendly contractors weirded us out, too. And being alone—really alone—was a whole different experience.
There were too many decisions to make with too little knowledge. On top of that, I was navigating a new town. And layering it all together—I was trying to build a sustainable business while parenting a teenager who was struggling just as much as I was.
I questioned the move, the change, and why on Earth I agreed to this whole new adventure.
Then, I did something simple but powerful—I took a minute. A beat. A breath. A pause. And I let the positives sink in.
I stopped focusing on what I didn’t know, what wasn’t familiar. Instead, I started embracing the fun in the unknown.
All the new people to meet. Fixing up a house that some said was not fixable. Picking berries from the bushes on the “back 40.” Learning to be disconnected after a long day of internet things.
Like I had to adapt to my new environment, solopreneurs often navigate unfamiliar terrain—alone, uncertain, and overwhelmed.”
The Common Struggle: Isolation, Self-Doubt, and Decision Fatigue
You’ve probably heard the term imposter syndrome—but rather than being about actual deception, it’s often just self-doubt taking hold. It’s that nagging feeling that you don’t belong or aren’t qualified, even when evidence says otherwise. We sometimes hit the wall of “who am I,” which leads us to think everyone else has some magic secret.
But you don’t have a built-in emotional, strategic, or both support system to help move you along. Sometimes, tapping into the right group—even informally—can help get you unstuck. Other times, a partner or colleague can help you funnel through all the small choices that can feel massive. Or maybe someone like me shares that we’ve all been there and burnout is real.
There’s no magic potion—it’s about shifting your mindset from “What the heck am I doing?” to “I’ve got this, one step at a time.” It’s knowing that mistakes and missteps will happen – and they happen to everyone.
The Mindset Shift: Finding Stability in Uncertainty
Success in running a business of any size comes down to a mindset shift rooted in confidence, resilience, and adaptability. Whether it looks like quiet resilience or bold leadership, confidence is built through repeated actions—not something you wake up with one day. Your mindset takes shape in approaching challenges, making decisions, and recovering from setbacks.
- Reframing Isolation: Like the self-doubts I had on my rural adventure, mistaking solitude for loneliness can take you down. Instead of feeling out on an island all by yourself, use that space for creativity and clarity.
- Decision-Making Systems: Analysis paralysis is really just a lack of systems and frameworks—like trying to cook a meal without a recipe. Without a clear process, every step feels overwhelming, but decisions become second nature with a simple structure in place. When you are making a decision from square one every time, you can easily run on cognitive overload right into burnout.
- Silent Accountability Partners: Accountability doesn’t mean you need some labyrinth of people or a community of a thousand. Find ways to create the support system you need in your space.
The Practical Approach: Tools and Strategies for Moving Forward
The best approach is the most practical—having tools that actively help you move forward. These tools aren’t just physical or digital; they include your strategies, processes, and the ability to identify immediate needs.
- Building a Decision-Making System
- Decision-making becomes easier when you remove the need to start from scratch each time. Consider using a ‘default choice’ system where everyday decisions follow a set pattern—like always responding to client inquiries within 24 hours or using a pre-set pricing structure.
- Frameworks are your friend, but perfection is not the goal. Use the philosophy of “good enough for now” to reduce overthinking. A simple decision matrix (e.g., urgent vs. important) can help cut through the noise and make choices feel less overwhelming.
- Automate where possible—whether it’s scheduling meetings, sending invoices, or tracking tasks. Automation removes repetitive decisions and frees up mental space for more strategic thinking.
- Creating a Support Network Without Overwhelm
- Micro-mentorship: Instead of seeking one all-knowing mentor, cultivate a few trusted connections who offer insight in specific areas. These small but mighty relationships can provide guidance without the pressure of formal mentorship.
- Silent accountability: Not everyone thrives in high-touch mastermind groups or structured accountability programs. Instead, create an informal system—whether it’s publicly tracking your progress, setting up a check-in with a peer, or using self-imposed deadlines—to stay on course without added stress.
- Avoid overloading yourself with too many voices. A few well-chosen perspectives can provide clarity without creating confusion. Choose quality over quantity when building your support system.
The Power of Adaptability
There came a point when I had to make a choice—embrace my new environment or retreat to the familiar. This moment will come in your business, too. Shifting your mindset allows you to reframe challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles.
The best part? You don’t need all the answers, just the next step forward.
Small shifts can create big transformations. What’s one small action you can take today to shift from stuck to forward momentum?