How I overcome adversity and obstacles as a digital entrepreneur

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I have a lot of experience dealing with adversity and obstacles. Throughout my minor and major projects, countless systemic and personal difficulties have presented themselves. Yet, if I hadn't been determined and hadn't taken the initiative to face them head-on rather than running away from them, I probably wouldn't have been as successful as I was in my career as an entrepreneur.

All entrepreneurs face some kind of barriers and roadblocks, and having founded two successful businesses, I know there are many practical and substantive issues. But there is also a major aspect that we don't often reflect on, and that is ourselves. We must do our best and live up to our game to ensure the best chance of success.

Related: 3 Ways to Overcome Adversity and Achieve All Your Goals

mental barriers

These are the thoughts that plague my mind, and I think they also plague the majority of entrepreneurs at one time or another. However, they aren't physical, and you can't just stand up and brush them aside.

But mental obstacles are more subtle and not always the obvious answer. There are many - I'm sure more than I'm going to list here. But I imagine the experience I had is common. Here are some of the doubts that endlessly crossed my mind at the beginning of my career:

I will never be rich or as successful as I dreamed.

I'm not creative enough.

I don't have enough knowledge to pass.

I don't have enough formal education to succeed.

If I fail this time, I will never recover.

Only I can make the right decisions.

You may have encountered some of the above issues, or others, but you need to stay above these kinds of issues if you want to shine. From what I can see, there are various things you can do to alleviate and overcome any type of mental roadblock:

Acceptance

This is the first point for every entrepreneur. You need to understand that adversity will come your way at some point one way or another. But you can be prepared by accepting this as a reality. Just understand and accept that these feelings are normal. If they are too heavy to bear, professional or social help can be sought to overcome them in a therapeutic setting. However, the first step, for me, is to accept them as they come and not allow them to dictate my every thought.

Related: How to Bounce Back and Stay Optimistic in the Face of Adversity

Take care of yourself

This is another important aspect of your professional life. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy", as the saying goes. It's an adage from one of my favorite movies, but it hits you right on the head. Most of us will work every hour possible in order to achieve our entrepreneurial goals.

This is all just great, but we have to find a balance. Here are some ideas of what you can do to not burn out:

Regular breaks throughout the day, even just 10 minutes

Longer retreats, such as a long weekend or a week's vacation

Built time into your schedule for the things you love to do; believe me, it's vital

When you're overwhelmed with tasks, delegate

Build a strong network

We are social beings. We form families, friendships and communities. We need to have people around us. As entrepreneurs, we must choose our business partners wisely, but we must also do the same for our friends.

We need a network of people to rely on in difficult times and who can inspire us in good times. It's important to have positive-minded people who will encourage you to move on and pick yourself up when you're down. Together, t...