Being thankful for entrepreneurship even when it hurts
Welcome to the Dojo!
A close friend and mentor in the nonprofit world once told me something that stuck: gratitude isn’t passive. It’s about remembering what’s been given so we can keep giving more. When you’re genuinely grateful, you don’t coast. You build, you serve, and you lift people up because you understand exactly what it took to reach this point.
And that’s exactly why this week’s reflection is about being thankful not just for the wins, but for the clients, rejections, and mistakes that hurt—because they’re the ones that shape us the most.
On the Mat
- Let’s Train: Training Gratitude in the Middle of the Mess
- Ask Feras: I really need the help of a specialist, but can’t afford them
- Sharpen The Blade: 3 invisible mindset traps
Let's Train
Training Gratitude in the Middle of the Mess
When you’re in the thick of it—tight cash flow, tough clients, a slow pipeline—the last thing you feel is grateful. You feel tired. Frustrated. Doubtful.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
The hardest situations I’ve faced as an entrepreneur are the ones that built the skills I still use today.
There was the scope-creep client who demanded the world for $2,000 and paid late.
At the time, I was stressed and embarrassed.
Now, I’m thankful, because that project forced me to learn:
- How to scope properly
- How to check with my delivery/implementation partner before promising anything
- How to delight a demanding client without destroying the business
There was the day my co-founder and I got rejected five times in a row by restaurant owners.
It felt like the universe was saying, “You’re not cut out for this.”
But when we cooled off, we realized those “no’s” were market research. We listed every objection, built responses, and used that to land our first client.
And there was the big enterprise request-for-proposal (RFP) we lost after investing dozens of hours, all because one stakeholder felt ignored in the room. That stung. But it made me sharpen my ability to read people—not just slides and titles.
Here’s the pattern:
- In the moment: it feels like punishment.
- Later: you realize it was training.
Gratitude doesn’t mean pretending the situation was fine.
It means recognizing that you were being stretched into someone who can handle more.
So here’s your training drill for this week:
- Write down three hard moments you faced this year in your business.
- For each one, answer:
- What did this force me to learn?
- What system, boundary, or habit came out of this?
- Decide one way you’ll use that lesson going forward.
This is how you stop seeing your entrepreneurial story as “a series of bad things that happened to me”… and start seeing it as your training arc.
Ask Feras Recaps
I really need the help of a specialist, but can’t afford them.
🔥 The Challenge
A full-time professional running a couple of side hustles reached out and said:
“I need the help of a marketing specialist. I found someone I really like — we connected well, they understand my space, and they come highly recommended. The only problem is I can’t afford them right now. Without their help, I feel like I’m going to keep struggling. What should I do?”
🛠️ What I Told Them
If you genuinely believe this specialist is the right fit — in skill set and chemistry — don’t give up so quickly. Have an honest conversation with them about alternative ways to work together.
If they quoted a full monthly retainer, ask whether you can start with one or two strategy sessions at a smaller fee. As your business improves, you can ramp up gradually. Instead of committing to the full $X/month, begin with a fraction of it — and be transparent about your plan to implement their recommendations immediately and increase the engagement as revenue starts coming in.
Most good specialists appreciate clients who show commitment, hustle, and a willingness to execute. You may be surprised at how flexible people can be when you communicate openly and show you’re serious about doing the work.
Sharpen Your Blade
You keep tweaking your plan, rewriting your offer, and taking more courses—but you’re still not launching. In this video, I walk you through the 3 invisible mindset traps I’ve seen stall hundreds of founders before they ever make their first pitch. These traps look like progress, but quietly kill momentum.
I also share a free Fear-to-Focus Playbook you can download and use to map your blocks, spot your patterns, and finally break out of analysis paralysis so you can start building the business you keep talking about.
In this video, you’ll learn:
- The mindset traps that keep new founders stuck
- How overthinking hides fear
- Why you already have more expertise than you think
- How “protecting your family” becomes an excuse to stay stuck
If you’re serious about leaving the 9–5 and building a consulting business with clarity, confidence, and discipline, watch this video and subscribe to the channel for tools, frameworks, and real talk from the trenches.
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