Working on Yourself Is Still Work
door Penelope Stephens
Healing, mindset, growth; it’s all just another job. But it's a job you can’t outsource.
Ever heard the saying...
“Thoughts turn into actions. Actions turn into habits. Habits turn into character. Character shapes your destiny.”
“Thoughts turn into actions. Actions turn into habits. Habits turn into character. Character shapes your destiny.”
So where does the path of your life, your business and your success start?
That’s right, your mind.
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So, we have loads of people daily telling us they want to start a business.
And let me make this clear, I’m not trying to “gatekeep” business-owning, but starting, owning and running a business actually starts in the place people overlook - your fkn brain guys.
Some of these people who want to start a business think they need some money, some skills, some great camera equipment, 10,000 purchased bot followers or to speak another language to be unique.
Hey, I’m not judging. I had the same thinking and that’s why my very first business failed.
P.S You do need runway and skills to start a business. Just not all the other “bells and whistles”
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So your brain is a muscle. It needs to be stimulated, trained, explored and moulded.
You can teach your brain anything.
You can tell your brain WHO you are.
Everything starts in the mind.
Why wouldn't we take care of it, grow it and train it to be exactly who we want to be?
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Realistically, I only learnt how to properly regulate my emotions, be disciplined, self-motivate, follow a plan, understand beginner mentality, squish my imposter syndrome, defeat my fear of success and a million other things when we STARTED Boring Studios.
It wasn’t before. So don’t fret. You can learn along the way.
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These mindset skills aren’t a destination either.
I slip and I f*ck up all the time.
It’s a journey with your mind and you need to work it out just like you do with your body.
So how do I know someone’s business will probably fail?
It starts with understanding them and where their head is at.
Someone who has a weak mindset:
- They can’t emotionally regulate, so they’ll probably throw a tantrum at the first problem that arises.
- They can’t self-motivate or create structure, so they’ll get nothing done unless someone tells them what to do.
- They don’t know how to handle rejection, so they’ll take every “no” personally and spiral.
- They rely on validation, so they’ll burn out making things that get likes instead of sales.
- They over-identify with their emotions, so “I’m tired” becomes a reason to quit instead of a reason to rest.
- They’re addicted to the idea of freedom, but they panic when there’s no one to hold them accountable.
- They want the result, not the process.
- They think “it’s all over” at their first sign of failure.
- They tell everyone their plans, hoping someone will hand them the answers instead of looking for them.
- They think the work is external, branding, marketing, offers, but their nervous system isn’t stable enough to take risks yet.
Do any of the above sound like you?
Maybe you need to workout your mind.
So what’s the solution?
It’s not a quick fix. It’s a journey.
It’s daily work. It’s f*ck ups. It’s finding solutions. It’s taking a breath. It’s journaling. It’s exercising. It’s planning.
Let’s rewrite some of the above problems into solutions:
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Can’t emotionally regulate?
- Learn to pause. Don’t react immediately. Sit with discomfort. Respond tomorrow if you have to.
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Can’t self-motivate?
- Stop waiting for motivation. Build a routine. Commit to doing the bare minimum every day.
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Spiral after rejection?
- Reframe it. One “no” means you’re trying. Collect rejections like data, not personal attacks.
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Chase validation over value?
- Focus on usefulness. Create things people need, not just things that make you feel seen.
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Over-identify with emotions?
- “I feel tired” ≠ “I stop.” Your feelings are valid, but they aren’t always the decision-maker.
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Talk instead of act
- Stop announcing and start executing. Let your results be louder than your plans.
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Your mindset is EVERYTHING.
Well, I think it is, because once I fixed mine, everything else fell into place.
I was no longer disorganised or frustrated.
I began to see things clearly and efficiently.
Life didn’t seem so hard anymore.
It was clear with direction and momentum.
If you’re failing, stuck, or spinning in circles…
You don’t need another productivity hack.
You don’t need to buy a $400 camera or wake up at 5am.
You need to learn how to work with your own mind.
That’s why we built the Thinking Like a Business Owner course inside Club Boring.
It’s not motivational fluff.
It’s tools, shifts, and clarity - for the version of you that can actually build something sustainable.
Start there or at least start somewhere in your mind.
Because my friend, every issue and hurdle you face, is all in your head.
XOXO
Penelope
Penelope
