How to Staying Off the Entrepreneurial Emotional Roller Coaster
Nov 03, 2025
How to Maintain Neutral Energy in Business (and in Life)
If entrepreneurship has taught me anything over the last decade, it’s that the emotional ride can be absolutely wild. The highs feel euphoric. The lows feel gutting. And somewhere in between, you start to wonder—how do I keep showing up for this without burning myself out?
In this fifth lesson of my 10 Lessons for 10 Years of Entrepreneurship series, I’m sharing one of the hardest (and most freeing) lessons I’ve learned: how to stay off the roller coaster.
Because the truth is, entrepreneurship is a roller coaster—but you don’t have to ride every up and down like your life depends on it.
The Roller Coaster Never Really Stops
When I first started out, I thought the ups and downs were a sign that I was doing something wrong. One week, I’d land a dream client or a big opportunity and feel unstoppable. The next, I’d face a rejection or a setback and spiral into self-doubt.
Sound familiar?
Over the last 10 years, I’ve watched a lot of entrepreneurs bow out of the game—not because they weren’t talented, but because they couldn’t handle the emotional waves that come with this work. And listen, I get it.
But if you want to make it 10, 20, or 30 years in business, you have to learn how to manage your energy, not just your time.
What It Means to Maintain Neutral Energy
A mentor once told me about something called neutral energy—a term I had never heard before but instantly knew I needed.
Maintaining neutral energy doesn’t mean you never celebrate or that you ignore hard feelings. It means learning to choose when to feel the highs and lows so they don’t control you.
For example:
When I’m selling something or in a launch, it’s tempting to get overly excited when someone asks for the link or says they’re in. But I’ve learned not to celebrate until it’s official—until the payment’s made or the contract is signed.
Then? I throw myself a full-on party. Because when the time to celebrate comes, I want to feel it fully.
Neutral energy is about keeping yourself grounded between the “maybe” and the “moment.”
Feel It Fully, Then Let It Go
On the flip side, when things go wrong—when the sale doesn’t come through, when a client leaves, or when something fails—it’s important to actually feel it.
I’m not a believer in toxic positivity. If something hurts, it hurts. The key is not to stay there.
One thing I’ve noticed (especially as a mom) is how kids are so good at this. They feel their feelings completely in the moment and then move on. As adults, we tend to hold on to things for way too long.
I’ve started asking myself:
- What’s actually worth getting upset over?
- Is this really about business—or is it triggering an old story or wound that needs healing?
- Is this a true emergency, or just an emotional reaction?
As one of my early mentors said to me, “This is PR, not ER.”
That line has stuck with me for years—and it’s the same lens I use in entrepreneurship today.
Choosing Your Highs and Lows
Staying off the roller coaster doesn’t mean numbing out. It means being intentional about when and where you let your emotions take the wheel.
When the good news comes in, celebrate. When something stings, let it. But don’t let either extreme define your day.
This practice—of staying neutral, of choosing your energy—has become one of the greatest tools in my entrepreneurial toolkit. And while I’m far from perfect at it, I’m much better at knowing when to get excited, when to feel the sting, and when to simply move forward.
Your Turn
Ask yourself today:
- Where am I riding emotional highs and lows that I don’t need to?
- What would it look like to stay grounded, even when things are uncertain?
- How can I protect my energy while still being fully human in my business?
You don’t have to numb out to be successful. You just have to stay steady enough to keep going.
Because entrepreneurship isn’t about who wins the race—it’s about who stays in the game.
