Latest news with #Marketcircle
Entrepreneur
15 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Why Business Leaders Need to Stay Calm Under Pressure
One thing I know unequivocally is that your mindset as a leader directly impacts your entire organization. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. The entrepreneurial journey is filled with challenges that can test even the most resilient business owner. Throughout my years bootstrapping Marketcircle and growing our business growth tool Daylite, I've learned that maintaining a positive mindset isn't just helpful — it's essential for business survival and growth. The leader's mindset sets the tone One thing I know unequivocally is that your mindset as a leader directly impacts your entire organization. According to Gallup research, 70% of the variance in team engagement is determined solely by the leader's approach. What you project is super important. If you come across as "we're doomed" and project panic or despair, you'll kill any motivation that anybody had to try and solve problems. Even though you may be doubting everything and don't have a solution, it's necessary to remain calm. When leaders project panic, that second layer of people around you — your inner circle — will get discouraged and panic as well. Conversely, when you stay calm and ask for ideas and input, your team remains calm and solutions will emerge. Related: This Is the Single Trait Every Great Leader Needs Tools to prevent overwhelm With studies showing that 42% of small business owners have experienced burnout monthly, having strategies to maintain perspective is crucial. I've developed several tools to stay positive when feeling overwhelmed: Journaling: When feeling overwhelmed, I write things out. This might be a list or even doodles—whatever helps me organize my thoughts when I'm just spinning my wheels on one thing. Taking walks: Going for a walk, especially with music, helps clear my mind when I'm stuck on a problem. Watching movies: Sometimes I watch familiar movies that I've seen before (like The Hunt for Red October, Braveheart and Interstellar). This serves as a mental change of scenery, so to speak, allowing me to return to challenges with a fresh perspective. While these tools work for me, the key is finding what rejuvenates you personally. I'm an introvert, so my recharging activities tend to be solitary. My wife, an extrovert, gets reenergized by being around other people. Know yourself and your recharging needs. Related: How to Build a Resilient Team That Thrives in Uncertainty Don't make assumptions — gather information When faced with unexpected bad news, avoid making assumptions. Instead: Stay calm and resist immediate panic. Gather relevant information and data. Ask questions to understand what happened. Collect facts before deciding on next steps. This approach isn't about being overly data-driven. In fact, many successful entrepreneurs, including myself, operate more on probabilities than deterministic certainty. We work in a probabilistic environment, making bets on what might succeed. I've experienced this firsthand. When making strategic decisions for Marketcircle, I can't make deterministic decisions; I have to make probabilistic ones, meaning I'm going to make bets. I've found that some of our strategic mistakes between 2022 and 2023 came when we relied too heavily on data. While data helps back you up, it shouldn't be the sole driver of decisions. The point of gathering information is to avoid assumptions when facing unexpected challenges. Get the facts so you can make informed decisions. Surrounding yourself with the right people Your team's mindset significantly impacts your resilience, and through years of building teams, I've observed how people tend to be characterized by three types of mindsets: The negative spinners: These people dwell on problems rather than seeking solutions. They drag everybody down; they should be kept out of your inner circle and, I would argue, out of your organization entirely. The silent types: These people don't question or contribute — it's just like having someone on mute. While not actively negative, they don't help move things forward. The solution seekers: These people ask, "What about this?" or "What if we did that?" Even if their ideas aren't perfect, they generate possibilities and commit to thinking things through. The third group is invaluable. Even when they don't have immediate solutions, they'll say, "I don't have an answer now, but I'll think about it and get back to you tomorrow." They multiply your efforts rather than divide them. In our development of Daylite, this kind of solution-oriented thinking has been essential. When facing challenges in feature development or customer needs, having team members who can see options rather than obstacles makes all the difference in how quickly we can pivot and improve. Related: 7 Ways to Improve Your Life in 7 Days Learn to stay calm under pressure A leader's response to unexpected challenges creates ripple effects throughout the entire organization. I focus on asking "What could we try next?" rather than dwelling on "Why did this happen?" This reframing has repeatedly unlocked creative solutions from my team when they might otherwise have felt stuck or demoralized. The most innovative breakthroughs in our business often emerged directly after our most difficult challenges, not despite them, but because of how we collectively approached them. Remember: there's a critical difference between urgency and panic. Urgency has a next step; panic doesn't. When people ask how I stay so calm during crises, I simply explain that I know I can't project panic if we want to find solutions. Cultivating a solution-oriented environment requires consistent practice, but its impact on our ability to adapt and grow is tremendous. By developing tools to stay positive and surrounding yourself with solution-oriented people, you'll navigate challenges more effectively and build a more resilient business in the process.
Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Still Saying 'I'll Just Do It'? That's Why You're Stuck
If your business would collapse without your daily involvement, you haven't built systems — you've built a job. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. "Nobody can do it to my level of quality." Sound familiar? I hear this refrain repeatedly from fellow entrepreneurs and our customers at Marketcircle. Though I was fortunate to have experience leading teams before starting my business, I've watched countless small business owners struggle with this mindset. It creates a critical growth ceiling that many never break through. The reality is simple: you only have 24 hours a day. If you insist on doing everything yourself, your business can never grow beyond what you personally can accomplish in those hours. Related: Are You Running Your Business, or Is Your Business Running You? The trap of self-reliance Most solopreneurs and small business owners start with a side gig, gain confidence and then transition to full-time. The problem emerges when you reach capacity but still believe nobody else can match your standards. The consequences are predictable: Working 18-hour days with no end in sight Sacrificing personal relationships and health Hitting an income ceiling limited by your available hours Never being able to take time off I've seen countless talented entrepreneurs burn out because they couldn't escape this trap. They're working in their business rather than on it. Testing your delegation readiness Want to know if you're stuck in this trap? Ask yourself one simple question: can you take a vacation? If your business would collapse without your daily involvement, you haven't built systems — you've built a job. Another indicator: when faced with explaining a task to someone else, do you find yourself saying, "I might as well just do it myself"? That's a warning sign that your business growth is on borrowed time. Breaking through the mental block The foundation of letting go starts with a mindset shift. You must recognize that there are people who can do certain tasks not just adequately but actually better than you. This was a revelation for me. I pride myself on being a good architect, yet a developer on our team consistently outperforms me in this area. Rather than threatening my ego, this frees me to focus on areas where I add unique value. Watching shows like "Chef's Table" on Netflix can be eye-opening. These displays of extraordinary skill in specific domains remind us that expertise exists everywhere. When you acknowledge this reality, hiring becomes less about filling vacancies and more about discovering specialists who elevate your entire operation. Teaching principles, not just steps Many entrepreneurs fail at delegation because they only teach steps — "do this, then this, then this" — without explaining the underlying principles. This attracts and retains what I call "button-pushers," who need constant direction. When something unexpected happens (and it always does), they're lost. A more effective approach: Explain why you organize things the way you do. Share the reasoning behind processes. Teach the principles that guide decisions. Let them understand the context, not just the actions. One example from our work developing Daylite: when organizing code, I spent time explaining to our team why we structured elements in specific ways based on certain patterns and principles. Initially, this took longer than just dictating steps, but the payoff was worth it — team members began making independent decisions that maintained our quality standards without requiring my input. Setting clear expectations For delegation to succeed, expectations must be crystal clear. This requires: Thoughtful planning: Determine what you actually want accomplished. Clear expectations: Don't assume people understand what you want. Defined timeframes: Agree on when things should be done. Regular check-ins: Verify progress without micromanaging – trust, but verify. I struggle with this myself. I often assume people understand what I want, but that's not necessarily true. Taking time to establish clear expectations upfront prevents frustration on both sides. Finding solution-seekers True delegation demands having the right people to delegate to. Along my entrepreneurial journey, I've identified three distinct types: Negative Spinners who fixate on problems, Silent Types who follow orders without contribution and Solution Seekers who naturally explore possibilities. Only by finding these Solution Seekers can you genuinely let go. These team members don't just complete tasks — they improve processes and spot opportunities independently. Their problem-solving mindset extends your impact rather than merely replacing your time. At Marketcircle, this approach has transformed how we operate. When complex business challenges arise, having team members who contribute creative alternatives allows me as CEO to focus on strategic direction while trusting they'll navigate the day-to-day hurdles effectively. Related: Take Control of Your Business by Treating It Like a Knife Fight The ultimate liberation The irony of control is that you gain more by letting go. By building systems, teaching principles, and finding people who excel in areas where you're merely competent, you create a more resilient organization. This doesn't just free your time — it multiplies your impact. Instead of being limited by your 24 hours, you leverage the intelligence and energy of an entire team. When entrepreneurs make this shift, they build better businesses and they reclaim their lives. They can focus on vision and growth while their teams handle execution. They can finally take that vacation. And paradoxically, their businesses often perform better without their constant intervention. So, are you ready to let go?
