Dealing with Uncertainty: How You Can Navigate the Unknown

Lusia Donovan
3 days ago
3 min read

If you’ve been in business for more than five minutes, you already know: entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. One of the most consistent and uncomfortable parts of the entrepreneurial journey is uncertainty—uncertainty around your revenue, your next step, your client pipeline, or even whether you’re heading in the right direction.

Uncertainty isn’t a sign that you’re doing something wrong. It’s actually a sign that you’re building something new. But that doesn’t make it any less stressful. Here’s how you can learn to navigate the unknown without letting it paralyze your progress.

1. Accept That Uncertainty is Part of the Process

First, let’s normalize it. Uncertainty doesn’t mean you’re unqualified, unprepared, or doomed. It means you're an entrepreneur. The truth is, the people who make it to the other side aren’t necessarily the smartest or most funded—they're the ones who kept moving even when the path wasn’t clear.

Reframe uncertainty as a constant companion, not a roadblock. It’s not something to be eliminated but something to be managed.

2. Make Micro-Decisions

When everything feels up in the air, your brain may default to all or nothing thinking. But you don’t have to solve the whole puzzle at once. You just have to make the next right move.

Instead of waiting until you have the entire roadmap, focus on micro-decisions—small, low-risk choices that move you forward. This could be reaching out to a potential collaborator, testing a service idea with one client, or updating one section of your website.

Progress doesn’t come from knowing everything—it comes from doing something.

3. Build a Contingency Plan, Not a Concrete One

Planning is essential. But rigid plans can backfire in uncertain times. Instead, create flexible frameworks that allow for course correction.

Ask yourself:

What’s my best-case scenario?
What’s my worst-case scenario?
What’s a plan B if neither happens?

Being mentally prepared for multiple outcomes gives you the confidence to keep moving, even when the picture is incomplete.

4. Return to Your Core Values

When everything feels up for grabs, your values anchor you. What do you stand for? Who do you serve? Why did you start this business in the first place?

Your values don’t change, even when the market does. Use them to filter decisions, communicate with clarity, and show up consistently—even when you’re still figuring things out behind the scenes.

5. Lean on Your Community

Entrepreneurship can be lonely, especially when you're facing tough decisions or moments of doubt. That’s why community is non-negotiable.

Whether it's a coach, a mastermind group, or a business community you trust, surround yourself with people who get it. People who’ve weathered storms before and can remind you that it does get better, even when it doesn’t feel that way right now.

You don’t have to navigate the unknown alone.

6. Prioritize Self-Regulation

This might be the most overlooked but most important skill: learning to regulate yourself when everything else feels out of control.

That means taking breaks when you need to. Getting rest even when your to-do list isn’t finished. Moving your body, setting boundaries, drinking water, saying no, and asking for help. Chaos in your business is much easier to handle when you’re not also exhausted and emotionally burnt out.

You are the most important asset in your business. Take care of the operator.

My Final Thoughts

Uncertainty isn’t going anywhere. But neither is your grit, your vision, or your ability to pivot. As entrepreneurs, we don’t wait for clarity to show up—we create it, one decision, one action, one small win at a time.

So if today feels uncertain, know this: you’re not lost. You’re just building something no one’s built quite like you before.

It’s never too late to build the business you’ve always wanted—start now with clarity and confidence. Here are a few ways you can take action today:

Just Starting Off? If you’re thinking about starting a business or have just launched within the past year you are in the right place. Go here to get started on your journey!
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