💪 How to maintain entrepreneurial motivation under pressure

1️⃣ Identify the source of stress🎯

The first step is to understand where the pressure comes from. Don't just think "I'm under a lot of pressure" without breaking it down.

• Financial pressure: Broken capital chain, insufficient investment, unstable income
• Team stress: employee turnover, difficulty finding talent, and friction in collaboration
• Market pressure: Fierce competition, difficulty retaining users, and product failure to fit the market
• Personal stress: family expectations, health issues, social comparisons

👉 Hong Kong scene: Many entrepreneurs feel suffocated by "high rents + expensive wages". These are all sources of pressure that they have to face in reality.

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2️⃣ Develop healthy habits🏃♀️

It's impossible to completely eliminate stress, but being in good physical and mental shape can help you cope with it more effectively.

• Exercise : At least 3 times a week, whether it is running, yoga, or fitness, exercise will release endorphins and have a significant stress-relieving effect🏋️
• Sleep : Many entrepreneurs think working late at night means hard work, but long-term sleep debt can actually impair judgment.
• Diet : Eat less junk food, drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables, and maintain stable energy🥗

👉 Editor's tip: Many "wasted entrepreneurs" in Hong Kong's startup world laugh at themselves for constantly drinking bubble tea to fill their stomachs, but in fact, this will drag down their productivity in the long run.

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3️⃣ Set clear goals 📋

A lot of stress often comes from unclear goals and the feeling that "no matter how hard you try, you will never be able to finish it."

• Break down your goals into smaller steps. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when you complete each step.
• The three MIT principles : Focus on the three most important things each day to avoid being distracted by trivial matters.
• Track progress : Use Notion, Trello, and Google Calendar to keep track of your progress.

👉 Hong Kong people are used to a fast pace. If there are no short-term milestones, it is easy to feel "no progress → no motivation".

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4️⃣ Build a support network 🤝

It’s easiest to give up when you’re alone on the road to entrepreneurship; a support network can help you share the pressure.

• Mentor/Advisor : Find a senior person in the industry to be your mentor and give you advice and support
• Startup communities : Hong Kong has communities like Cyberport, Science Park, and StartmeupHK, where you can meet like-minded people.
• Friends/family : Be honest with them about the source of stress, don't just push it yourself

👉 Hong Kong scene: Many startup founders join coworking space communities, such as The Hive and WeWork, because they are surrounded by fellow entrepreneurs and can encourage each other.

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5️⃣ Adjust your mindset🧘

The most important thing to stay motivated is your mindset, not external resources.

• Accept failure : Treat failure as tuition, not the end.
• Focus on progress : Different people have different timelines, so don't compare yourself to Silicon Valley unicorns.
• Gratitude exercise : Write down 3 things you are grateful for every day to help reduce negative emotions 🙏

👉 The startup environment in Hong Kong is very stressful, and people tend to compare "who has more funding and who has the highest valuation", but in fact, entrepreneurship is a long-distance race, not a short one.

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6️⃣ Find your original intention 🔥

When the pressure is overwhelming, ask yourself: Why did you start a business in the first place?

• What problem do you want to solve?
• What value do you want to create?
• For whom do you want to bring change?

👉 Editor's reminder: Your original intention is your "fuel". When your income is not stable, investment is not in place, or your team has problems, your original intention can help you persevere.

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✍️ Editor's summary

There will definitely be pressure when starting a business, but that doesn’t mean you should be defeated by pressure.

1. Identify the sources of stress🎯
2. Build healthy habits 🏃♀️
3. Set clear goals 📋
4. Build a support network 🤝
5. Adjust your mindset 🧘
6. Find your original intention 🔥

In a nutshell, pressure is a normal part of the entrepreneurial journey; the real key lies in finding the right method to transform pressure into motivation . Hong Kong entrepreneurs, as long as they can withstand it and learn to adapt, can continue to forge ahead in high-pressure environments.