Is Overthinking Holding Your Business Back?

Written by Lauren Elizabeth Perna, CEO & Lead Writer of Lauren Perna Communications

When I decided to become a full-fledged entrepreneur, I quickly realized there was one thing that I had to stop doing. One thing that had the potential to hold me back…

Thinking.

Yes, thinking. As in thinking too much. Overthinking a situation, thinking I’m not good enough, thinking someone hates me, thinking I’ll hurt someone’s feelings. You know, the kind of thinking that gets you in trouble.

As an anxious person, this type of thinking is where I excel. If I could be graded on overthinking, I would get an A++.

Overthinking in Entrepreneurship

When you work for yourself, especially in the beginning, you don’t have anyone else to help pump the brakes on the thinking train. You must rely on yourself to stop the runaway brain train and get to the implementation station (too much? I can’t help it.).

If you spend too much time thinking, you’ll never get anything done, and getting things done is the lifeblood of entrepreneurship. You want to spend most of your time doing things that will make you money. Very few people in this world get paid simply to think. Even those who get paid for their brain power alone have to show up somewhere and do something.

For me, overthinking was a direct result of a lack of confidence. The more confidence I had in an area of my business, the less I worried or overthought my actions. The times when I felt like I had imposter syndrome or wasn’t experienced enough were the moments when my brain train went racing down the tracks.

Once I realized that my overthinking was directly related to my lack of confidence, I knew I needed to work on both. In the first year of business, I worked just as hard on my mindset as on building my business. Through therapy and business coaching, I eventually began to believe that I have the skills, am capable, and can trust my instincts.

Here’s the catch, though. No matter how hard I work on my mindset and my mental health, I will always have an overactive, anxious brain. I will never be a Logan Roy (of Succession) type who makes impulsive decisions without a care in the world or feels apathetic about making tough, gut-wrenching choices. I will always be Emily of Emily in Paris, with my heart on my sleeve and eager to please with my ridiculous creativity, quick wit, and snazzy couture wardrobe (clearly kidding on that last one—I’m a Loft gal).

From Setback to Superpower

To overcome overthinking, I had to learn the tools to quiet my busy brain so I didn’t hold myself back. But, overall, I actually think my overactive brain makes me a better businesswoman. My anxiety helps me make the most thoughtful business decisions and build honest relationships with my team and clients. We talk about reframing our chronic illness as a superpower in the Chronic Boss Collective a lot!

I think it’s about finding that perfect balance of honoring who you are at your core (an anxious person who cares deeply) and making changes to be the best version of yourself (someone whose overthinking doesn’t hold her back).

Tips to Stop Overthinking

So, how can you harness your overthinking brain for good?

Get a business coach and a therapist on speed dial. Join several networking groups and a mastermind. Make sure your family is on board and your partner is your biggest cheerleader. Don’t forget to implement the perfect combination of medication, exercise, healthy eating, and self-care. Oh, and stop drinking while you’re at it, too.

Besides that, take a peek at a few of these helpful articles:

• 3 Types of Overthinking — and How to Overcome Them (hbr.org)- I love how this one breaks down the different types of overthinking into three types and offers solutions for overcoming each type.
• How to Stop Overthinking: 14 Strategies (healthline.com) – These are great strategies to have in your back pocket, many of which I apply regularly.
• Overthinking Your Business is Costly (Business Success Solution) – This one is from a blog for accounting professionals, but I actually found it quite relatable.
• 8 Steps for How To Stop Overthinking at Work (Indeed.com) – Because I like to make sure my articles apply to anyone, not just entrepreneurs, I am including this one about overthinking at work.

As a final thought, I’ll leave you with this: I encourage you to consider the things holding you back from reaching your fullest potential in your career. Think about how you can overcome them and reframe them as superpowers because they are truly your superpowers. 

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