Dealing with FUD: fear, uncertainty, and doubt 🧗

“Being an entrepreneur and in an ownership position, you are the core function of the company, and that's important to me. I don't like doing things that I don't feel are moving the needle in any way.”

A heartfelt desire to make an impact

Like many entrepreneurs, Paul Passey, CEO and co-founder of Logick.io, felt his time working for someone else had come to an end.

With support roles in general, it’s not entirely uncommon to feel you’re not as appreciated or acknowledged as others higher up in a company.

Paul wanted an opportunity to make impactful decisions and the freedom to build something of his own. So he created it.

​Seeking the freedom that comes with entrepreneurship, he set out to co-found a consulting firm in 2015 that he operated for just under 7 years before exiting.

Fast forward to January 2024, and he went back to the trenches to become a co-founder for Logick.io, identifying a gap in the market he knew he had the skills, and passion, to address.

“Ownership in a business is something that’s important to me because you have skin in the game and a sense of, you’re building something for yourself. Plus, the work that you do is super impactful to the business because it's core to it, versus just being in the support role for a company.”

Taking the leap and dealing with “FUD”

On the outside, it may seem like many successful business owners have everything figured out.

But in reality, even seasoned founders deal with stress, doubt, and fear when it comes to navigating the path they’re creating for themselves. Especially those who truly care about what they’re building.

“Even still, I have what I call FUD: fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Every day. Even today, I have it.”

Arguably, one of the biggest fears always revolves around funding. And for Paul, it’s no different. Some founders seek seed investors to help start up their business, while others choose to fund it themselves.

Either way, money is usually limited.

“We’re running through a pile of cash and there’s no guarantee that we're going to fill it back up. So that's a fear: it’s running out of runway.”

That fear is very real. Imagine you’re spending so much time connecting with people, making slide decks, presenting your service… Everything feels like you’re on the right track.

And of course, you get some positive response and a lot of opinions and unsolicited advice. But the more you hear “no,” the more that fear can grow.

“A lot of times, nothing happens. You don't get the follow up. They say, ‘This is interesting but we’re not quite there yet.’ ​

That wears on you, doing that week after week after week. You're trying so hard to get it going. But you're not getting the responses that you're looking for.

​​You have to just keep moving forward. That's the only way to do it, and you can't give up.

Staying motivated throughout

Part of what keeps Paul motivated to push forward, even during the more challenging moments, is remembering the reason why he chose this path in the first place.

“There are moments when you sort of stare off into the distance and try to reevaluate everything, because everything you've tried thus far has not worked. But the alternative is me having to go out and get a salary job from somebody else.

​I don't want to do that. So that motivates me to continue to do this.”

But there are external motivators too.

Building a team means it’s not just your livelihood, happiness, and fulfillment that’s at stake. When others are just as dedicated to the company’s success, it helps you keep your head up too.

​“You can tell when someone’s feeling the weight. We would sort of talk each other ‘off the edge’ because you have to support each other. We know we can figure it out.”

The motivators extend beyond the business too. When you’re building a company like Logick.io that addresses issues companies are having right now, the drive to stay relevant and helpful in that moment helps keep the gears turning.

“The AI revolution is happening right now and companies are trying to figure out how to implement AI in the Enterprise. So everybody's talking about it. Everybody's trying to figure it out, so you can get really good meetings pretty quickly. So that helps.”

The things that make it all worth it

By creating his own business, Paul was able to fill a gap in the market that companies are actively needing solutions for.

He was also able to create a role for himself that highlights his strengths and allows him to show up for others in the most effective way possible.

“At the end of the day, I’m a consultant. Not only do I understand and listen to my customers, but I also help them come up with a solution. It’s brainstorming. It’s pulling in that creative side of you that thinks through problems deeply.”

When it’s something you’re good at doing, and you see the results you bring, it’s highly rewarding.

​Not only that, but it builds trust and credibility within the industry too, which is something Paul knew he likely wouldn’t get if he stayed in a company’s support role.

“As a founder and a CEO, you have certain meetings and you usually get a different level of respect. The buck stops with you, so you can command more. It helps build a mutual sort of respect for each other and that helps.”

Key takeaways from the entrepreneurial journey

Looking back at what he’s accomplished and what he’s working through now, Paul’s had a handful of takeaways that not only affect how he shows up in his business, but how he prioritizes his well-being in his day-to-day life as well.

🌱 Build a strong team culture

Entrepreneurship can be lonely, so fostering a strong support system helps lessen the load and keep the business going.

“Building a team and a culture is always super important, as is having people around you that are all committed to the mission and are supportive of each other.”

🌱 Develop true understanding

Paul is constantly reminded that it’s always harder to gain a new client than it is retaining a current one. By making sure he knows exactly what it is his audience needs, and continuing to deliver, he can build trust and keep clients happy.

🌱 Know your worth

How many of us tend to sell ourselves short? These three questions keep Paul on track when he’s presented with a new opportunity:

☑️ Is it real?

☑️ Can we win?

☑️ Is it worth it?

And if all three of those boxes aren’t checked? It’s okay to turn it down and leave room for something else more aligned. It’ll come.

🌱 Respect your limits

Especially during the startup phase, there are a LOT of moving parts. You’re constantly thinking about what you’re building, what problem you’re solving, what the next steps are. On top of that, there’s marketing, sales outreach, taxes, compliance… The list goes on.

Paul has learned to respect his limits.

“There's always work to be done. You have to decide where your limits are and commit to them, and be prepared to walk away when you know certain things are gonna fall by the wayside. You can't do it all, you can't work all the time.”

Sticking to this idea also helps keep time available for the things you love doing, the things that keep you grounded and bring you joy. For Paul, that’s gardening!

🌱 Don’t forget to move

Taking time to exercise and move your body during the day, especially during the more frustrating moments, has been really pivotal for Paul.

“I either just walk and think, or walk and talk with somebody on the phone. It helps to get out of whatever environment you’re in and to exercise, because after a while, you can't keep ruminating on everything that didn’t work. ​

You can get the smallest amount of motivation from certain people just by talking to them, and they give you encouragement too.”

When’s the last time you audited your own wellness?

Each month, we’ll share a gentle prompt or two to help you sort through your thoughts, motivations, and fears. The goal here isn't to give advice (we're sure you receive too much of that already). Rather, we hope this gives you permission to be the type of founder you want to be.

As founders, we’re constantly tasked with thinking about what’s next, what’s wrong, or what’s urgent.

This “Stability Scan” invites you to notice how what you’re doing feels solid: what’s working, what’s true, and what’s quiet but foundational.

Feel free to pull out old fashioned pen and paper, or create a new doc just for journaling, and spend a few focused moments thinking about the following:

• What am I carrying with more ease now than I was a year ago?

• What feels dependable in my life or work right now—even if it’s small?

• What have I handled well lately—even if it didn’t feel remarkable?

• What belief or value has kept me grounded when things get messy?

• Is there anything that makes me feel unsettled, unstable, or uneasy that I can set aside for a while?

Remember, there’s no right or wrong answer. You might even feel like you don’t have an answer at all. And that’s okay! Getting things down on “paper” can often help us come to new realizations or reconnect to ideas we’ve forgotten or pushed aside.

Take some time, give this some thought, and see what comes up for you.

If you're comfortable sharing your insights with us, we'd love to hear them! Hit let us know at foundingwell@vallelegal.com.