In 2022, during my first coaching session with Matthias Müller-Lindenberg, we explored what I needed to do to help my startup, Jamie, succeed. My co-founder Benedikt and I began by making lists—writing down everything that came to mind about what was required for our venture’s success.
Many ideas emerged. As we discussed them one by one, I read aloud one of my notes: “our success will require hard work.” Matthias smiled gently and asked, “Why do you think so?” I explained that hard work and persistence are what it takes—lessons I’d learned from the successful founders I admired. I added that with all the suffering that may come, I would have to work hard to overcome it. Calmly, Matthias responded, “If you believe that the way ahead will be hard, it will be. But if you believe the way ahead will be harmonic, disciplined, yet balanced with yourself, then that is how it will turn out.”
In that moment, something clicked. I had always assumed the path forward must be hard, demanding immense work, discipline, and willpower. But I realized that this was just a belief—one not firmly grounded in reality. Sure, agency, focus, and work ethic are important when building a company, but as someone who naturally values these traits, there is no reason for the journey to be painful.
Yes, there will be painful times, and some struggle is inevitable. Yet even then, much of the suffering is self-inflicted. There is no law that building a meaningful company requires enduring hardship. It all begins with our perception and the self-fulfilling prophecies we hold deep down—most of which stem from flawed personal logic.
Your perception of the present and the future shapes outcomes in profound ways. In that sense, your perception becomes your reality. There are paths available that combine purpose, joy, and fulfillment—but only if you truly believe they are accessible. By reexamining your perception, you can see how much you might be standing in your own way, and understand the path to changing that at its very core.