Entrepreneur’s Ennui

First off… it’s pronounced On-We and it’s French. This word that originated in the 1660′s refers to a feeling of boredom, weariness and discontent in a way that only a French accent can do justice. I first learned of ennui when enrolled in a women’s literature course in college and throughout the semester I used every excuse I could to use it. “The cafeteria food produces within me ennui”, “my date with James was just ennui” but it never really fit… and then today I woke up and realized what has been wrong with me the last few day’s, I have enterpreneur’s ennui.


It explains it so perfectly, even though my business is doing better than ever and expanding in ways I am excited about I have this sinking feeling, this strange gloomy ghost who hangs around my laptop sighing and quoting Sylvia Plath novels. Something is just off. Enter enterpreneur’s ennui. Firstly I think it happens because as entrepreneur’s we often work alone or in very isolated settings. Every day I go to my local Starbucks to work on my laptop just for the feeling of ‘people’ around me. Granted my headphones are in and I try not to make much small talk but I can’t help but feel comforted knowing there are others around me. Still its no office setting with jokes around the water cooler, after shifters with the gang bashing the boss’ newest memo and the solidarity one takes from working as part of a team… even if its a crappy team.

Secondly enterpreneur’s ennui is seems to set in after the completion of a big project, instead of the euphoria I expected to feel when I launched my third site, Tweeterpreneur I was overcome by fear and self doubt. What if it doesn’t sell? What if the last month I’ve spent working on this and all the hopes and dreams I’ve put into it equal to nil? See.. that is when entrepreneur’s ennui really comes to get you.

So what’s the cure? Well definitely NOT Sylvia Plath, she almost made me slit my wrists & punch every man I saw in college and I think another go at The Bell Jar will send me over the edge- plus note to teachers don’t assign an author talk about how great a inspiration she is & then say “oh by the way she offed herself because she thought life was so hopeless”. The cure is simple but most don’t do it, reach out to others who are in your same boat, if you haven’t already join some sort of mastermind group (an idea from Napoleon Hill) or just start linking up with other like minded entrepreneur’s via social media. Twitter, Facebook, Linked In are all great places to start.

Thirdly you can always talk to me! I’m starting an entrepreneurial ennui support group So send me a little note in the comments and let me know what your particular form of ennui consists of? Maybe if there’s enough of us we can get some government aid! <<joke about politics, a no-no