{"id":4010,"date":"2023-02-16T10:51:12","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T15:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/?p=4010"},"modified":"2023-06-13T17:13:06","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T21:13:06","slug":"how-to-handle-productivity-guilt-as-a-saas-founder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/how-to-handle-productivity-guilt-as-a-saas-founder\/","title":{"rendered":"How to handle productivity guilt as a SaaS founder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Time is running out. We\u2019re already one month into 2023. The inspiration from the New Year\u2019s resolutions is burning off, and you\u2019re left with endless to-do lists. Productivity guilt<\/a> is real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now\u2019s the time when everyone starts sharing their amazing accomplishments, their growing numbers, and their big wins. It\u2019s easy to get sucked into this comparison game and feel not so great about yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turns out that the business world isn\u2019t that much different from the everyday social media world. Someone\u2019s always better, stronger, faster, younger, more agile, and overall more successful. Or, so it seems. This can take a significant toll on our mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Startup founders are built to doubt themselves. No matter how far you\u2019ve come, you\u2019re always comparing yourself to that large and well-known competitor. And suddenly your achievements don\u2019t seem so grand. So here are a few tips on how to break that unhealthy habit<\/a> and regain your confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus on cold hard facts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This will be different for everyone. But try your best not to compare yourself to others blindly. Analyze your numbers (whichever are the most important to you). And then compare them to your own numbers from last year, from the year prior, from year one of your business. Better yet, calculate that growth percentage. Yes, it\u2019s easy to grow 500% at the beginning because you started with nothing. But still \u2013 pat yourself on the back for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bottom line<\/strong>: try to outperform your old self.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, you could be comparing your fourth year to somebody else\u2019s fourteenth year. And that\u2019s clearly not a fair comparison. So, keep that context in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s good to look to others for some aspirational routines, but don’t let that bring you anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, analyze what went right and led to your success. Break down what could have been better and how you can use that as a learning opportunity. Try to document all of that too, and set reminders to refer back to those notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better yet \u2013 try to analyze competitors\u2019 wins and, more importantly, fails. You can probably learn a lot from them too and prevent similar mishaps in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspire your team<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s good to be competitive, always challenge the status quo, and reach for the moon. But\u2026not everyone enjoys that. Some creative thinkers will get demotivated very quickly if they feel like they\u2019re never good enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has this ever happened to you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n