Coping with the roller coaster

I am the kind of person who likes riding on roller coasters. I like it when adrenaline rushes through my body after the long way up. But I did not expect me being a Freelancer to be similar in many ways to riding on a roller coaster. This article explains some similarities I see – and how I have learned to cope with certain aspects of it.

First, let’s start with the positive. There are days being an entrepreneur when you feel like the world embraces you. When a big customer signs up, when a large bill is paid and the money arrives in your bank account, when you have done a good job with a client – that feeling is great, very similar to the rush you feel when the roller coaster has picked up speed, when adrenaline rushes through your body. When you are just – in the flow. Extremely satisfying, some would even say addictive.

But there are also days when nothing appears to work, when a customer that you thought you will sign up tells you that something has changed, your service is too expensive, budget got frozen – or they were not interested in what you had to offer in the first place, which I find particularly frustrating. Especially in summer for a consulting-business like mine – there were stretches when nothing really exciting customer-wise was happening for even – weeks. When everybody was on vacation, the most common sentence I was hearing was “let’s talk after summer”. Waiting in line in this situation can feel very frustrating.

For an experienced entrepreneur, this is daily business, they are used to that. In my business plan I had actually foreseen this as well and not planned in a lot of revenue for the summer month – but to actually be in that situation – did feel different and at least made me doubt if what I am doing is a good idea. Waiting in line at the roller coaster is, after all, also part of the game.

Also, just like when you are doing work as an employee, there are days when you start with a plan – and by the end of the day, you look back and think “what the hell have I achieved”. This happens to everyone from time to time – but when you have just bet your career and financial future on being able to build your own company – it suddenly feels very – personal.

The trick to get through those periods is also simple: just get up and do the work. There are always things to do, tasks to finish around your website, insurance – this gives you time to learn, do a course, try out something that you always wanted to try, talk to people you have not talked to in a long time, work on your network, plan your next steps, review what is working in your company and what is not, thinking about acquiring new customers or how to turn a lead into an opportunity – just getting up and doing the work is important, also when it feels like the world is against you.

What I found important at those times is to make sure I don’t fall into the busywork-trap. The tasks I mentioned above are most definitely NOT in order of priority – to the contrary 😉. So taking a step back, taking the time to think and reflect on what is important and what is not – remains crucial also and especially in those times. Redesigning your website for the 5th time will not get you new clients – even if you are good at it. Perfecting your insurance setup will not pay your bills. Focus on what moves the needle: reaching out to prospects, following up on leads, building relationships. All tasks involving getting out there and acquiring new customers for me feel very – uncomfortable. Just like sitting at the top of the roller coaster and staring down into the void does. Nevertheless – this is part of the experience, no way around it – and without tackling the uncomfortable parts, the rush of success will also not come.

One lesson that was difficult for me to learn in the beginning was that there are times when it is OK to work less. Spending more time with my family, doing sports, enjoying the sun – recharging my batteries is important and those time are the best times for it. Sometimes, working more and trying to force it will not get you out of your situation, working against the tide harder will only tire you out faster. There are times when you can work crazy hours as an entrepreneur, when things just click and don’t even feel like work – but those times are still tiring your body out. Recognizing when is the time to do that, when it is time to push harder – and when is the time to let go for a bit and just let the roller coaster carry you – is important for me, at least.

Looking back at these first months, I realize the roller coaster metaphor isn’t quite complete. Because unlike a real roller coaster, this one doesn’t end after 3 minutes. And that’s the point. The ups and downs aren’t bugs in this journey – they are features. They teach resilience, force prioritization, and make the victories sweeter.

So if you’re on this ride too, please remember:

• The lows are temporary (even when they don’t feel like it)
• “Let’s talk after summer” isn’t personal – it is just the way it is sometimes
• Working harder isn’t always the answer – sometimes the best strategy is to rest and recharge
• The days will come when your success feels natural – and when the world embraces you. Then it is time to work hard, to embrace victory – and prepare for the times when the roller coaster goes up the next hill – which will surely come as well 😉

And most importantly: You bought the ticket – just trust the ride. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some uncomfortable tasks to do related to customer acquisition. Because that view from the top? Totally worth it.