Overthinking is a curse that’s hard to shake off, and it can be especially damaging in business. Nadia Hamila, the CEO and founder of Moroccan food business and platform Amboora, discusses her tips and tricks on how to stay focused, deal with negativity and create a thriving community.
It is said that a whopping 73% of 25-25 year olds ‘overthink’, and that this is most common in women. But what does ‘overthinking’ really mean? Why is it so paralysing? And, how can it be dealt with in business? For female business women everywhere, Nadia Hamila, CEO and founder of Amboora, social entrepreneur mentioned in the New York Times, business operator and mother, delves into her experience with overthinking, and gives vital advice to those who are struggling.
Learning how to tackle over thinking can help individuals reduce stress, anxiety and fatigue, and to focus on their mental health. Good mental health is key when it comes to motivation and success in business. The happier and healthier you are, the better your business will fare.
Professor of Strategy at the University of California, Irvine’s Business School, Dr Travis Howell asserts that in order for a business to succeed the entrepreneur must have the right mix of confidence, passion and risk-taking. “Many entrepreneurs are fully aware of the risks in launching a business, but they believe their idea is important enough that it’s worth trying anyway”, he adds “even if there is a minimal chance of success, they won’t be happy doing anything else”.
So, it is clear that a budding entrepreneur must have self-confidence, which acts as the foundation holding the business together. Over-thinking can damage self-esteem, by over-analysing social interactions and relationships, but it can also mean that you ignore your instincts for the sake of an action based on fearful thoughts. Business people are often enigmatic, instinctive and intuitive individuals, and overthinking can be the antithesis of this approach, and therefore, paralysing.
So, what do you do from here if you find yourself overthinking?
Done is better than perfect
Making a product and improving with actual customer feedback is better than waiting till the product is perfect. Just get the product out because you have to test, test and test.
Be agile, there’s always more than one route
There is more than one route to market to sell your products, if someone says no then find another route and with the technology today there are so many ways to sell products, you just need to find the right one for you. As the saying goes, all roads lead to Rome
Celebrate the milestones
Celebrate the milestones that you reach at every occasion, even though they might be small to the outside world they are huge for you, enjoy the moment. There are a lot of downs as well so come together and plan a get out solution
Trust your instincts
When hiring people, go with my gut instincts rather than what’s on the CV, hire attitude over experience any day!
