13 Jun How are you at puzzles?

Every year, I go on a nature retreat with a spiritual group. There’s always time for reflection and deep conversations—but just as important are the moments when we hike, play music, relax, and do one of my favorite activities – jigsaw puzzles.

This year’s puzzle was of a colorful New Yorker magazine cover with individual dogs dressed up. As people wandered over to look at the progress, I invited them to join in.

You’d think I had asked them to solve a differential equation.

I can’t tell you how many people said, “Oh, no, I’m not good at puzzles.”

A puzzle, people. A puzzle! We’re not launching satellites here—we’re matching bits of cardboard to a picture on a box.

So many of us have quietly convinced ourselves that we can’t do something before we’ve even tried.

Not just big things like building a business. Even little things. Like a puzzle.

That “I’m not good at this” voice creeps in early and gets comfortable. And unless we do something about it, it will take over the show.

But here’s the funny part: when I said, “Fine, just keep me company while I work on it,” they’d start poking around, and before long, they were fitting in pieces. Turns out they could do puzzles—once they stopped judging themselves and just had fun with it.

And that’s exactly how entrepreneurial confidence gets built, too.

It’s not magic or talent. It’s five simple elements:

Exposure – You have to be around it. See it in action. Be near people doing the thing you want to do.

Practice – Tiny steps. Trial and error. One puzzle piece at a time.

Strategy – Knowing when to look for the edge pieces, and when to sort by color or shape. Business isn’t only hustle—it’s approach.

Persistence – Being present to the difference between “I can’t do this” and “I’m learning how.”

Partnership – Don’t build your business in a vacuum. Find your people. Sit with someone who believes in you, even when you don’t… yet. (That’s my role as a coach.)

You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to sit down at the puzzle table.

I’m curious to know what “little” things are challenging you and keeping you from tackling the big things. Comment below to let me know!

Your business can feel like a puzzle that you don’t have the picture for. I’ve created a quiz that can help you determine your blockages by providing insights into your unique strengths and areas for growth as the “CEO” of your business! It’s a fun way to reflect on your skills and discover opportunities for development. Click here to take the quiz and unlock your CEO potential today!