How To Generate Internal Momentum

Tips for when you're the engine and the fuel.

After last week’s letter about redefining productivity as an entrepreneur, multiple readers told me they found my bullets on how to measure progress when it feels intangible to be helpful for when they’re feeling stuck. So today’s letter is an expansion on how to build momentum when you don’t feel any.

If you ever want me to expand on a piece of a letter, leave a comment and I’ll try to address it. And, as always: let me know your questions about all things curly hair.

Keep Reminders Of The Long Game

There’s the adage that most overnight successes take 10 years, and it exists because it is true. Even companies that became wildly successful earlier in their lifespan took a few years of pain to get there.

Never think anyone else had it easy. You probably just don’t know what it actually took. Brian Chesky and his Airbnb cofounders sold boxes of cereal they “origami”ed together with a hot glue gun and filled by hand in the company’s early days because they needed more money before they got into Y Combinator.