Founder Hope: On the Road

Over the past seven years I’ve moved between two major states of existence: One where I feel alive and fulfilled by purpose every day but crippled by chronic financial anxiety; the other a place of financial stability where I dissociate, burnt out by the monotony of day-to-day existence.My preference, and I question my choice to use that word, is the former. As someone who has endured their fair share of financial ups and downs, I have developed something of a resilience to financial hardship over the years. But bouncing between these two states is no way to live. And over time I’ve begun to notice a pattern behind the cycle, repeatedly setting myself unrealistic goals in unfeasible timeframes.But why do I put these unreasonable time pressures on myself, and why are so many of us falling into the same traps? Let’s explore some of the most common pitfalls and unpack what drives these choices, before looking at how we might begin to break the cycle.1. Time blindnessThe term time blindness is used to describe a number of different phenomena which impact our ability to judge time. For me this shows up either in my inability to accurately estimate how long a task usually takes, which in the past led to a lot of rushing and showing up late, or in losing track of time when I’m engrossed in a task, where three hours pass but it only feels like twenty minutes.Whilst I am predisposed to these, I have found coping mechanisms to reduce their impact. For example, timing myself carrying out common tasks and recording the duration so that I can refer to the list whenever I’m feeling overly optimistic. I also set alarms at intervals throughout the day so that I’m aware of the passage of time.If something is particularly time-sensitive I will sometimes crudely add an extra 30 minutes to my estimate. This approach can work well if you intend to slow down your life in general and are comfortable with some extra margin. This is something which I actually really rate, but it’s not going to be for everyone.2. FOMO and impatienceWhat lies beneath a fear of missing out (FOMO) can vary wildly, but it often boils down to an unmet desire, whether for financial security, purpose and meaning, or human connection.And once you grasp hold of that thing you so desire, it can be tempting to never want to let it go, gripping tighter and tighter, quickly becoming fearful of losing what you have.FOMO comes then from a place of insecurity, and this unhealthy desire not to lose what we have can lead us to rush ahead. Let’s be honest, once you get an exciting idea in your head it can be tempting to run with it, fully expecting it to change not only your world but the world around you. In my experience this is especially true if one or more of the following apply:* You came up with the idea after a few beers.* You came up with the idea after a few coffees.* You came up with the idea after a run. Unverified, but widely reported.* You shared the idea with two or more friends who didn’t tell you it was terrible.Don’t get me wrong, it’s quite possible that your idea is unique, elegant and has the potential to disrupt the status quo. And yes, refusing to Google it just in case somebody’s already built it is absolutely the correct strategy. The longer you can keep your head buried in the sand, the better. [please note my sarcastic tone with that last comment]3. Financial necessityMoney does funny things to people. Too much and it changes their outlook, their ability to empathise, and their relationships with friends and family. Too little and a scarcity mindset kicks in. Suddenly this idea doesn’t just have to work, it has to work this week.This pressure leads to taking shortcuts and a constant cycle of panicking, rushing to meet unattainable deadlines, and re-planning with increasingly unrealistic timeframes in a hopeless attempt to fast-track the process.And it’s on this lie that get-rich-quick gurus and influencers prey. Promising that there is a way to make it work, that you’re one course away from finding the secret that makes it all come together.“If it worked for Barry in Taunton and Sally in Inverness then surely it should work for me?”The truth is that most of us know these gurus are full of s**t. The comment sections are full of people asking why, if they’re so successful, are they charging so much to sell a course. But we still buy the course, only adding to a growing, burdensome list of “things I must do to become successful”.There is no silver bullet. Just more of the same rehashed advice, only now it’s run through an AI, presented with a generic Canva template, and contains ads convincing you to spend even more money to join the ‘Inner Circle’ for the equivalent of half a month’s rent.Feeling trappedWith the UK in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and external pressures seemingly giving us so little time to act, it can be tempting to despair. Sometimes that despair means choosing to ignore the issue altogether. Sometimes we look for solutions in dangerous places, such as high-interest lines of credit, gambling, or even turning to crime.The problem is that with a plan that is not given proper time to breathe, these ideas are destined to fail, leaving you further in debt, with your self-esteem battered, and the sense that there isn’t a way to continue. You start to feel trapped.But here’s the thing: there’s always a way. Sometimes this means taking a step back, a deep breath and time to identify the patterns and destructive lines of thinking that have held us captive.So what’s the solution?The solution? Buy my training programme, of course! [there I go again with my trademark sarcasm]The first thing to do is to stop.Take out your headphones.Breathe deeply.Take a sip of water.Listen to your surroundings.Be present.It only takes a minute or so and you’ll realise that you’ve been battling this all in your head.That doesn’t mean the situation and the consequences aren’t real, but the intensity you’re experiencing every day in your mind is not a requirement.Next it’s time to write or record everything that’s going on. And don’t hold back.Write until your hand hurts.Speak until your phone runs out of storage.Get it out of your head, out of your heart.Put it into the world.Share it with someone.Does this fix your situation? No.But will you feel better? Yes.And once you feel a little clearer, it will be easier to start solving things, whether alone or with a friend.What next?You might not like to hear this, but you need to prepare yourself for a long journey. But believe me when I tell you that you’re going to enjoy this long journey a lot more than you might expect.Solutions to big problems rarely occur overnight, and when they do they often come with dangerous consequences.Where I find myself today, as I’m writing this article, I am exactly two months into a 40-month journey. I haven’t managed to undo all the knots I’ve tied over the past ten years. I still live with anxiety. I still judge myself unfairly and speak unkind words over myself as I lie awake at 4am.But I’m getting better.I have a plan to be where I want to be today, in 40 months’ time. Because I know that if 40 months ago I had made this same decision, I’d be living in that reality now.What exactly do I want that day to look like? I don’t know yet. I’m curious. I’m open to having my head turned and my heart changed.But what it doesn’t mean is that my life is on hold for the next 40 months. Because there is so much joy and hope to be found in the process, in every step of the journey, as those lies are dismantled, the debt is slowly reduced, the brain fog begins to lift and the creativity return.The sun shines a little brighter. You catch your reflection one day and notice something on your face that you hadn’t seen before.It’s a smile.Slowly.Gently.Joyfully.Hopefully.You’re beginning to live again.And now, crucially, you’re beginning to believe that in less than 40 months life is going to look very different indeed.Next week…If this was of value or interest, be sure to subscribe. Next time I’m going to share some of the practical steps I’ve introduced into my life to help move forward in the coming months.Edition #2: Thursday 12 March 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit founderhope.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit founderhope.substack.com

Most newsletters like this one start with the author listing off their achievements.* Exited founder from five Fortune Cookie 5000 businesses before the age of 13. * Best-selling author and co-creator of Generic Business Leading: Rehashed. Now available as an online course.* Led a pack of twenty autistic huskies through a series of business challenges with Denise van Outen for Channel 5's Husky Pitch Challenge 2021.You might then be treated to a mosaic of famous publication logos, from the BBC to the New York Times, and The Verge to Time Magazine, each of them clicking through to a story more grandiose than the last. Well I am sorry to disappoint, but you’ll get none of that here.HelloMy name is Pete Beckett, I am a failed entrepreneur who carries a disproportionate level of hope for someone who has achieved so little. What I lack in success I more than make up for in enthusiasm and determination.But this isn’t a newsletter about me, it’s about examining the things which hold us back as purposeful, entrepreneurial individuals. Yes, I’ll draw on my own experiences from time to time to amplify a point, or provide additional context, but at its heart this is a space to share, explore and grow together as pioneers and founders.Founder HopeThe concept for Founder Hope has existed in my mind for more than a few years. Originally I had planned to create an online community for struggling business founders seeking emotional and practical support, something I craved myself when I was in the darkest moments of my journey as an entrepreneur. The community never happened, in-part due to the overwhelm I was experiencing myself at the time, but the idea never left me, leading to subsequent plans to reimagine Founder Hope as a book or a podcast. It never did launch under any of these guises, but here I am finally bringing it to you today as a newsletter on Substack.So why is it that despite connecting with like-minded entrepreneurs, planning and writing full chapters for the book and lining up podcast interviewees, I never quite got to the point of pulling the trigger? I’ve been paying for the .com domain name and had an active monthly subscription to a podcast platform for the privilege of allowing them to host my ever-evolving logo for longer than I care to admit. But for some reason I could never quite get it out.Unfortunately this narrative isn’t unique, with many of my entrepreneurial endeavours and ideas over the years meeting a similar fate, whilst costing me a small fortune in well-meaning subscriptions. I had the foresight to identify what was needed, the conviction that I had a voice worth being heard and the belief that I could deliver on my vision, and yet… I didn’t. But why?ADHDA little over eight years ago my partner at the time encouraged me to take an ADHD assessment having identified a few traits in me which she had learned were common amongst people with the disorder. At first I was skeptical and refused to engage, but one evening curiosity got the better of me and I found myself wide-eyed and nodding along as I read the questions laid out in the bizarrely named Diva 2.0.For the first time in my life I was feeling seen, understood and able to put language the things I experienced on a daily basis. An ADHD diagnosis quickly followed, as did the prescription of medication and the desire to re-examine every aspect of my life through the lens of this newly discovered language.The deeper I dived into understanding my condition and the experiences of others, the more I would read about executive dysfunction. This wasn’t a term I’d heard of before, or if I had I’d have switched off, likely associating it with employees who routinely failed their annual reviews or a breakdown between partners at a corporate legal firm.What is executive dysfunction?Executive dysfunction generally relates to a someone’s inability to plan, start, organise, or complete a task. And whilst this is true of all humans to some degree, it is something which is experienced more acutely in neurodivergent individuals.For me personally this stems from both a chronic lack of mental clarity, a symptom for which I find medication, a healthy diet and exercise tremendously helpful, and a strong emotionally-charged sense of tread and fear. And it’s this emotional shackle which I believe has held me back from meeting my potential over the years.So where’s the hope?You’d be right to wonder why a newsletter about hope has started from such a gloomy and heavy place. But here’s the thing, having hope says less about our circumstances, and more about our attitude. It isn’t about pretending everything is fine, a flimsy wish that leans into the dangerous philosophy of toxic positivity, it’s about knowing that there is a way, and waking up each day to make decisions that one day might lead to the future we desire and deserve.I want this newsletter - and the inevitable podcast, community and book - to be a space where the reality of running a business is freely discussed. That doesn’t mean an unhealthy emotional overshare or false humility which exposes every one of our perceived failings and foibles, but it also doesn’t mean a woe-is-me attitude, licking our wounds and blaming the world or our circumstances.Join meWhether you identify with the frustration of feeling you’ve not delivered on the potential you know you have or you find yourself alone and drowning in the helplessness of a business that isn’t working out, I’d love to have you along for the journey. I can’t promise you a winning formula or guarantee financial success, but I can remind you that you’re not alone and share with you the little things which continue to give this founder a little bit of hope.Next time…In my next newsletter I’ll be unpacking Bill Gates’ famous quote that most people overestimate what they can do in a year whilst underestimating what they can do in ten, as I introduce my own approach for setting expectations over the coming years.Edition #1: Wednesday 11 February 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit founderhope.substack.com