What a Founder and CEO at Konnekted Coworking Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Coworking Industry
Nickolaus, Founder & CEO of Konnekted Coworking, learned that the overwhelming feeling of being "so clueless" is common, wishing someone had advised them on managing those moments. The interviewee's advice is to proactively plan for mental breaks, countering the pressure of always "being moving, always be doing," as this approach to work is unsustainable for most.
Executive/Leadership, Overcoming Challenges, Stress Management, Resilience, Hard Truths
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nickolaus Violin
Founder & CEO
Konnekted Coworking
Cal State Northridge, 2017
UCAL Anderson | MBA
Marketing
Hospitality, Restaurants & Events, Real Estate
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. The feeling of being clueless is normal, especially when starting a new business. There are so many things to do that it can be overwhelming. It's important to have a strategy for dealing with these moments of uncertainty.
2. It's okay to stop and take breaks. The idea that you always need to be working to achieve success is false. Burning yourself out is counterproductive.
3. Time blocking can be a useful technique to manage your time and deal with feelings of being overwhelmed. This allows for scheduled breaks and prevents burnout.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
There are times you'll feel so clueless it drives you crazy. Especially when launching a new business, there are so many different things that need to be done. But even in general, there's so much to do that I've felt completely lost.
I've literally sat there thinking, "I don't know what to do. I don't know where to start." I wish someone had told me to have a plan for those moments. Whatever "it" is, it's different for everyone.
For me, I started time blocking. If I truly didn't know what to do, I would mark that time as a break—a mental break, physical break, whatever. If you're sitting there and genuinely don't know where to start, stop.
I wish someone had told me it's okay to stop. Nobody tells you that. When you see people like Zuck, Musk, or Bezos in the news, they seem like grinders, high performers, and role models.
You think if you want to reach that level, you need to always be moving, always be doing, and never take a break. That's false. The approach Elon Musk is currently taking isn't something many people can manage. It's very difficult to operate at his level for an extended period. He's a unique individual.
I won't compare myself to him. I believe I can keep going for a long time, but I still need to take breaks. Burning myself out mentally is not good.
I wish I had known sooner to prepare for those moments of feeling lost and how to handle them.