“Negative Energy Is Also Energy”: How to Turn Anger in a Low Period into Startup Motivation?

Problem Solving: The Contradiction and Unity between Anger and Startup Motivation

Anger is a strong negative emotion usually accompanied by experiences of setbacks, injustices, or failures. For entrepreneurs, anger during a low period may stem from real – world problems such as a broken capital chain, team betrayal, or a cold reception in the market. This emotion seems to be an obstacle at first glance, but if properly guided, it can also be transformed into powerful motivation.

The root of the problem lies in the fact that anger is a high – energy emotion, but it is often accompanied by destructiveness. How to transform this destructive energy into constructive action is the core difficulty that entrepreneurs need to solve.

Solution: Specific Methods to Transform Anger into Startup Motivation

1. Acknowledge and Accept the Anger Emotion

Anger itself is not the problem; the problem lies in how to deal with it. Entrepreneurs should first acknowledge their anger instead of suppressing or avoiding it. Accepting the emotion is the first step in transformation.

• Method: Keep a diary, confide in someone you trust, or release the emotion through exercise.
• Effect: Avoid emotional backlog and create psychological space for subsequent actions.

2. Analyze the Root Cause of Anger

Behind anger, there are often unmet needs or unsolved problems. Entrepreneurs need to calm down and analyze the specific reasons for their anger.

• Method: Ask yourself, “What exactly am I angry about? Is it the unfairness of the market or my own shortcomings?”
• Effect: Find the core of the problem and clarify the direction for improvement.

3. Transform Anger into Goals

Anger can be a catalyst for setting goals. Entrepreneurs can transform their angry emotions into specific startup goals.

• Method: For example, if the anger stems from the unfair means of competitors, set a goal like “defeat the opponents with better products and services”.
• Effect: Anger becomes the internal motivation to drive action.

4. Use Anger to Stimulate Creativity

Anger can break conventional thinking and stimulate new ideas. Entrepreneurs can use this emotional state to try breakthrough solutions.

• Method: Conduct a brainstorming session in an angry state, and you may come up with ideas that you can’t think of in normal times.
• Effect: Anger becomes a trigger for innovation.

5. Establish a Healthy Competitive Mentality

Anger can easily make people fall into a “victim mentality”, but entrepreneurs can transform it into a “challenger mentality”.

• Method: Regard the object of your anger as an “imaginary enemy” and prove yourself through action.
• Effect: Anger becomes the fuel for continuous effort.

6. Transform Anger into Team Cohesion

If the anger stems from team problems, entrepreneurs can take this opportunity to reunite the team.

• Method: Communicate openly with the team and jointly formulate an improvement plan.
• Effect: Anger becomes an opportunity for team growth.

Case Supplement: How Anger Helps Build Great Companies

Case: Steve Jobs and Apple Inc.

In 1985, Steve Jobs was ousted by the board of directors of Apple, the company he founded. This was a low point in his life. Anger and frustration pushed him into a slump for a while, but he was not defeated by his emotions. Instead, he turned his anger into motivation, founded NeXT Inc., and acquired Pixar Animation Studios.

A few years later, Apple was in trouble, and Jobs was invited back to the company. With anger, unwillingness, and a persistent pursuit of innovation, he completely changed Apple’s product line and launched epoch – making products such as the iMac, iPod, and iPhone. Anger became the energy source for him to drive change.

Case Inspiration

1. Anger Can Be a Turning Point: Jobs’ anger made him leave Apple, but it also gave him the opportunity to rethink and innovate.
2. Anger Needs to Be Transformed into Action: Jobs didn’t stay in the emotional state but proved himself through entrepreneurship and product innovation.
3. Anger Can Lead to Greater Success: After returning to Apple, Jobs used his anger to drive the company to the peak.

Conclusion: Anger Is a Double – Edged Sword for Entrepreneurs

Anger is a double – edged sword. It can destroy a person or make a person. The key lies in how entrepreneurs handle this emotion. Through acknowledgment, analysis, transformation, and action, anger can become a powerful motivation on the startup journey.

Anger in a low period is not the end but a signal of a new starting point. When you learn to transform negative energy into positive energy, the startup path will become broader.

“负能量也是能量”：如何把低谷期的愤怒变成创业动力？|创始人Q&A

• Startup Commentary”Monthly Revenue Reaches 160 Million: Another Blockbuster of This Casual Gameplay Emerges Overseas”
• Startup Commentary”Costing 30,000 yuan each, gig workers can’t afford e-bikes.”
• Chain Exploration”Crypto Week Sets the Tone for the Future: What New Opportunities Will Three Major Bills Ignite?”
• Risk Compass”Underwater diving robot in China”
• Risk Compass”Automobile whole – vehicle logistics in China”