The Flywheel Was Spinning
About a month ago, I was in the groove. I’d just finished publishing 100 newsletters in 100 days. The flywheel was finally turning.
If you know the concept, you know it takes a massive push to get that flywheel moving.
At first, it barely budges.
Then, with consistent force, it picks up speed.
Eventually, momentum kicks in and the thing becomes unstoppable.
That’s where I was. I could feel the shift.
And then,life happened.
When Everything Came to a Halt
A personal situation hit hard. It was serious enough to take all my energy, mental, emotional, and physical. And just like that, the work stopped. The progress paused.
Now, I know what you might be thinking:
“You’ve just got to show up, even a little.”
And trust me, I believe that too.
But sometimes, life doesn’t leave room for even a little.
Sometimes, there’s nothing left in the tank.
The Hard Truth About Being Human
We all face seasons like this, solopreneurs or not.
It’s not weakness. It’s reality.
The details of my situation aren’t what matter.
What matters is this: setbacks are part of the journey.
And more importantly, comebacks are too.
Forget the Gap, Focus on the Return
I could dwell on the four or five weeks I missed.
But instead, I’m choosing to focus on the return, the get-back-in-the-game plan.
Because here’s what always shows up alongside a comeback:
Self-doubt
Fear
Procrastination
“What-if” thinking
And if you’re not careful, those thoughts will win. That’s why the comeback plan is key.
It’s Not Starting Over, It’s Building Forward
Yes, it feels like starting from scratch.
But it’s not.
You’ve already built a foundation.
You’ve already proven you can do hard things.
You’re just re-engaging with the momentum you’ve already earned.
The negative thoughts will creep in:
“What if no one reads this?”
“It’s been too long, maybe I should just let it go.”
“I’ve failed already, what’s the point?”
Rewrite the Script
Here’s how I pushed through:
I flipped every negative thought on its head.
Not with fake positivity or woo-woo affirmations, but with an honest, grounded perspective.
Because let’s face it:
Most negative thoughts are made up, fictional fear-based stories we tell ourselves.
So if we’re going to make things up…
Why not make up something that moves us forward instead of holding us back?
Failure Isn’t the Enemy , Stagnation Is
Fear of failure will paralyze you.
But failure itself? That’s just feedback.
It’s data. Information. The raw material for growth.
Every time you fall short, you learn something useful,
What not to do next.
Where to tweak.
How to improve.
Tech, Tools, and Tough Seasons
As a solopreneur over 50, I’ve had to ask myself:
How can I future-proof my business during hard times?
The answer: automation and AI.
If you’re not using today’s tools to support your business when life hits, you’re flying blind.
Now is the time to:
Embrace AI as your second brain
Automate what you can
Build systems that don’t collapse when you need a break
Life Will Interrupt, Build Anyway
No matter how faithful and consistent you are, life will intervene.
That’s not a flaw in the system. That is the system.
What matters is:
Don’t add guilt on top of stress.
Don’t shame yourself for stepping away.
Don’t quit because you paused.
You can rest. You can pause.
Just don’t stay there.
My Reminder to You (and Myself)
I’m coming out of a rough patch with some clarity:
The fears are still there, but they’re not in charge.
The doubts still whisper, but they don’t get the final say.
I’m back, not perfect, not polished, but present.
And that’s enough to restart the flywheel.
Energy Follows Intention
When we lead with goodwill, grit, and grace,
When we replace fear with action,
When we show up even after a detour,
That’s how the comeback becomes stronger than the setback.
Keep going.
Don’t lose sight of your goals.
The pause didn’t break you, it made room for the restart.
Stay tuned for the next issue.
