Why 90%+ Quit Before It Gets Good (and How to Escape Beginner Hell)

A — THE PROBLEM

92%.
That’s the percentage of aspiring entrepreneurs who give up before month six.

A study by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor confirms it. A Kajabi survey echoes it: only 8% of online business owners stick with it long enough to see financial success.

Why? 
One of the obvious reasons:
Because those first six months aren’t just hard — they’re emotionally brutal.

I call it Beginner Hell — the terrible no man’s land where your dream meets no external response and your energy meets silence. It’s the make-or-break phase of every one-person business.

Definition Beginner Hell:
The 6+ month window where effort is loud, feedback is quiet, and self-doubt shouts the loudest.

Stick with me — we’re going to map the landmines and the exits.

(And just so we’re clear: six months is not a “magic” number. Think of it as the minimum time commitment required to gather real feedback — assuming you’re implementing proven strategies, writing/communicating well, and actually doing the work. Some need more time. Rarely less.)

But First: A Quick Personal Note

I haven’t fully cleared Beginner Hell with this solo venture myself. Mostly because I hit pause more than once (not something I recommend, though in my case it was due to some major life transitions).

However, in one of my previous businesses, our off and online campaigns regularly blew past client sales targets — thanks to industry-specific strategies and excellent systems.

Different arena, same fundamentals. That places me far enough ahead to hand you shortcuts, yet close enough to understand the sting.

What Beginner Hell Actually Looks Like

Let me give you a more detailed picture — as opposed to filtered Instagram versions you may be used to.

For almost everyone, those first six months are a brutal rollercoaster. Here’s the typical emotional timeline:

· Month 1: You’re fired up. Ideas are flowing. You feel unstoppable.

· Months 2–3: You’re posting online. Nothing happens. No one responds. You may even launch something — no one buys.

· Months 3-4: You start comparing yourself. Everyone else seems to be thriving. You wonder if you chose the wrong niche. Maybe you’re not cut out for this.

· Months 4-5: You have already stopped any content, even changed your business model or niche.

· Month 6: This is the critical point that most people don’t reach — because they already gave up.

Here’s the irony:

The game often begins after* Month 6.

That’s when small wins start showing up:
You find your voice. A stranger messages you.
Your first email subscribers join.
Someone pays you — maybe just $20 — but it proves the market does respond.

That’s the real beginning.
But you can’t reach it unless you’re willing to walk through Beginner Hell…

So Here’s the First Big Question For You:

Can you commit to showing up consistently for at least six months (possibly more) — even if no one claps and it feels like you are talking to walls?

If you can’t, it might be wiser not to start yet.

I used to think lack of commitment was just a discipline issue. That most people didn’t have the grit to keep going when things got tough.

But over time, I’ve learned of course, it’s not that simple.

B — THE REASONS WHY

Is It Really All About Discipline?

You’ll find bestseller after bestseller proclaiming that discipline is the holy grail.

(“Discipline Is Destiny” by Ryan Holiday, “The Mindful Athlete” by George Mumford, “Discipline Equals Freedom” by Jocko Willink — just to name a few from my recent reading list.)

Why? Because it’s simple, clear, and easy to sell.
And it’s true… to a point.

But I like to go deeper if possible so I can identify more patterns, then simplify them and add them to a sort of mind map on that topic (that I usually keep in my head… looking for a tool to download it one of these days, let me know if you know one!)

When I first asked myself why people quit before they break through, I also thought the answer was just discipline.

I still think discipline is a piece of the puzzle. But it’s surely not the only factor.

Some people have discipline in other areas, yet they still can’t persevere when it comes to their own business.

I eventually realized: Not everyone who says they want freedom and has some good degree of self discipline is actually ready for their entrepreneurial journey.

· Disciplined people abandon because they lack a clear vision

· Others never move forward because they haven’t addressed deep emotional wounds

Yet others, who may look like they lacked discipline at first - but had a fire in their soul -learned discipline on the way (that would be me with my first venture)

Coaches who preach only discipline may feel motivating at first. But my feeling is that it can become a dangerous oversimplification for too many.

Because when people inevitably stumble (and they will), they often blame themselves —
thinking they’re not “disciplined enough,” when really, they might just need a different kind of support- clarity regarding their vision, inner healing, mindset work, etc

So Why The 90%+? Is It a Question of “Being Ready”?

For those that don’t have the lack of discipline issue — maybe they don’t make it because they don’t get the right kind of help for the stage they are at.

I once worked with someone who spent two months saying, “I’m stuck.”
I gave her every exercise and test I knew of — including my OSCAR framework. Still no movement.

Eventually I realized: it wasn’t a business problem, it wasn’t lack of discipline either — it was an inner healing problem.

Which made me think of

 🎯 The 3 Stages of “Readiness” – as I perceive them

1. 🩹 Therapy Stage — You’re dealing with trauma, fear, or paralysis. You need safety and healing first.

2. 🧭 Life Coaching Stage — You’re functioning but foggy. You need clarity, emotional resilience, motivation and structure.

3. 🚀 Business Coaching Stage — You can work on your vision and you’re ready to build. You’ve got energy, basic discipline, and a willingness to show up consistently.

Once I could recognize which stage someone was in, I could better guide them — or refer them to the right kind of support.

I also want to encourage any of you who might be needing a different kind of support by saying it’s really okay to put your business on hold and prioritize yourself, if this is what feels best for your particular stage. Just remember that it’s your responsibility to try to figure where you are at, what’s stopping you and act on it at the best of your understanding.

So yes, some people may be quite disciplined but they may not be ready yet and this is why they give up before time.

Yet discipline and readiness don’t seem enough to explain that staggering percentage…

A Reality That’s Even More Complex

Based on the 3 stages of readiness one may imagine there’s a neat progression: Therapy → Life Coaching → Business Coaching. But reality is rarely linear.

Some people may need to pause and do deeper work before they’re ready to build their businesses but others actually can literally heal through their work. They just learn how to work on themselves while building their companies (that was me again…)

Finally, external factors and timing are also to consider. Because often they seem to work against us- the economy, family stress, health, life transitions, etc.

For some adverse external factors act as motivation, while for others external factors are literally overwhelming. They can slow them down even stop them entirely.

“Life is difficult” is the first line of Scott Peck’s book, “The Road Less Traveled”. And it’s true.

So yes — low discipline may be a big reason for that statistic. But so are:

• Unresolved wounds & mindset issues

• Lack of clarity and vision

• Weak strategies

• Wrong support

• No nourishing community

• Spiritual issues and confusion

• Adverse external factors

  or just

• Fear of responsibility

The truth is not everyone wants the responsibility that freedom demands. It sounds attractive in theory — but some people fear owning the results more than they desire the outcome… Therapy or life coaching can help with that for sure. But sometimes, the only way to find out is to try anyway and see what rises up.

So if you suspect you’re drifting toward the 92% statistic, pause and check in with yourself:
Where are you really? What kind of help do you honestly need? What can you do today to move even 1% closer?

On the other hand, just waiting- as in doing nothing, going with the flow & status quo- is really not the answer. Somehow you need to move toward a progress of some sort. Keeping in mind that the “perfect” conditions never happen, and the sooner you act to make progress, the better.

What I’ve seen, in both life and Scripture:

The people who move forward and get results are very often the ones who work with what they have — and trust God with the rest. What I mean is that these people exhibit agency (see 7 skills that AI won’t be able to replace), they are willing to take responsibility and act, they seek help, they somehow move on despite circumstances. They make progress one step at a time and start working on themselves as well as their skills.

So waiting for perfect conditions is futile. Not to mention that some messiness can actually be productive. Take small steps anyway.

(Disclaimer for context: my perspective is deeply shaped by my Christian worldview, which gives me deep hope and agency. But no matter your beliefs, I think the above conclusions still hold true)

C — THE SOLUTIONS

So what can you actually do to make it past the Beginner Hell phase?

My Top 3 Recommendations to Escape Beginner Hell

1 — First, Commit to at least Six Months of Showing Up Consistently and Regularly

Yes, say it out loud, post it somewhere so you can see it every day:

“I will stick with this for six months — no matter what.”

Because if you can push through that window, here’s what I’ve seen happen:

· Your first real engagement or testimonial

· Your first small sale

· A DM that says: “I love your work — can you help me?”

· And eventually… that one post that blows up and makes you think: “This is real. I can do this.”

I’ve experienced these things several times even with this new venture — and trust me, they feel great.

My belief, based on experience, is that:

If you can’t commit to show up consistently for at least six months, you may not be ready to build your freedom business.

2 — Build- & Track- Simple, Micro-Habits That Move the Needle

Focus on small, daily commitments in key areas like:

· Writing

· Creating content

· Sharing consistently

· Working on your mindset

· Connecting with others

And for your first 6 months instead of tracking your results, focus on tracking your habits.

🌱 Here are some researched backed info to help you with micro habits:

It takes 60+ days to build a lasting habit- so if you do it for 6 months, those routines will definitely become habits!

Even a very short time- like 5 minutes a day- creates momentum

Your mindset should be part of your practice — if it doesn’t serve you, make sure to train it.

What do I mean? Well, don’t fall into the big pool of people full of talent, skills, expertise yet blocked by internal patterns. As mentioned above, if you continue to feel stuck and confused you can work with a therapist, or a life coach or both. You can also work on your mindset by yourself.

Examples of common beliefs that derail progress:

·  “If this were right, it wouldn’t feel so hard.”

· “I should feel confident before I show up.”

These are lies.
Truths that can become your thoughts:

· “I take intentional steps toward my goals- even when I’m unsure, even when it feels hard.”

· “I show up and do my best until I figure it out. Goals not feelings are driving me.”

Replacing lies with truths is called Cognitive Behavioral therapy (or Mind Renewal in the Bible). Definitely what successful people practice. They also back it up with non-negotiable external habits like the ones listed above.

3 — Finally,  Follow a Proven Path

This one matters more than people think.

Don’t guess. Don’t switch strategies every week following random experts online.
Don’t waste energy trying to invent everything from scratch.

Follow a path that works. What you need isn’t just tactics.
To keep up with those 6 months you also need a few basic systems that reshape how you show up.

Conclusion

So after thinking about all of the above, and as a business coach, I won’t preach just discipline, I’ll do my best to identify the stage you are at and I will offer my very best advice if you are interested to hear.

Yet I will also hold healthy boundaries for myself. In some cases, like that person I mentioned earlier, it was important to recognize early on that it wasn’t up to me to help her at that time.

Maybe you need to work on your discipline and building better habits.
Or maybe you need healing first.
Either way, it’s okay — just know it’s your responsibility to figure it out and act.

I can help you build your future via your business. I can’t build your freedom for you. 

TL;DR

Beginner Hell is loud on effort and quiet on feedback.
I think most people quit before Month 7 because they don’t really understand all of the above, they don’t understand themselves either… It is such a pity because many from these 90%+ may be far from lazy or undisciplined.

To make it through, you need more than discipline and tactics.
You need the right mindset plus discipline, the right strategies plus the right systems that build momentum — so you can show up consistently even when it feels like no one is watching*.

[*btw this is not true- they are watching… they are just not reacting. Yet]

So know your stage. Stack micro-habits and improve your skills.
And above all — stay in the game long enough to see it work.

See you on the other side. :)

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