Episode #396: The Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster

Nobody told you that building your dream business would feel like this.
Some days, you’re on top of the world — landing a client, hitting a milestone, feeling like you can do absolutely anything. And then the very next day, you’re questioning everything. Doubting yourself. Wondering if you made a mistake going all in.

That emotional whiplash? It’s not a sign that something is wrong with you. It’s the price of admission for doing something that actually matters.

In this solo episode, Lianne Kim pulls back the curtain on the real emotional landscape of entrepreneurship — the fear, the loneliness, the frustration, the shame — and why feeling all of it means you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. She also shares the specific tools and strategies that have helped her survive (and grow through) the hardest moments of her decade-long journey, including a very public and painful experience in 2020 that nearly broke her.
This episode won’t promise you that the highs and lows will stop. But it will give you the tools to ride the waves without wiping out.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• Why entrepreneurship feels like a rollercoaster — and why that’s actually by design
• The most common negative emotions entrepreneurs experience (fear, loneliness, frustration, disappointment, shame) and why every single one is normal
• The positive emotions that make the journey worth it — and the hidden danger of chasing them too hard
• Why resilience and self-awareness are the two most valuable skills you’ll build as a business owner
• Lianne’s personal toolkit for navigating the lows: coaches, breathwork, therapy, stoicism, and the power of one small action

Timestamps: 

00:00 – The real emotional journey of going all in on entrepreneurship

03:00 – Why entrepreneurship magnifies the highs and lows of life

06:00 – The negative emotions: fear, loneliness, frustration, disappointment, and shame

16:00 – Nervous excitement — the emotion that’s both a high and a low

19:00 – The positive emotions: pride, calm, gratitude, and joy

25:00 – Why daily gratitude is one of the most underused tools in business

28:00 – Learning to ride the waves — lessons from parenting and personal experience

31:00 – The two skills entrepreneurship forces you to build: self-awareness and resilience

34:00 – Lianne’s toolkit for getting through the hard moments

40:00 – What stoicism has to do with entrepreneurship

42:00 – The power of taking one small action when you feel completely stuck

Links mentioned:

Episode #108: Just Keep Going
Calm app
Breathing zone

Connect with me:

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Instagram: @liannekimcoach
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