Stop saying capital raising is hard.

I’m so sick of hearing “capital raising is hard.”

🔥Hot take - it’s not.

Every time you hear that (or say it), you’re reinforcing a negative story in your brain. You’re making your life harder, and you don’t have to.

Even worse, you’re robbing your investors - families who could use your deals to finally take that trip with grandma. That burned out executive who desperately wants to cut their hours. Parents who can stop worrying about money and be more present with their kids.

But you’re not even talking to them because you’ve convinced yourself it’s too hard.

When the stakes are high (like pitching a deal in a “tough market”), you feel pressure.

Your chest tightens.
Your voice changes.
Your mind races.

Suddenly, you’re not as sharp as you were in practice.

That’s what happens when money pressure makes you tighten up.

Pressure changes the way your brain works.

Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline flood your system. This activates your amygdala (the threat center of your brain). Blood stops flowing to your prefrontal cortex (the thinking part).

💥 And poof! There goes your clear thinking, memory, and decision-making.

When that happens, your brain powers shrink.

Instead of operating with creativity and flow, you default to survival mode.
That means rushed answers, forced energy, and a shaky presence.

And here’s the kicker: investors can feel it.

They don’t just invest in deals; they invest in people they trust.
So if you can’t stay loose when the pressure rises, you’re missing out on capital.

Most people try to fight pressure with logic:

“I just need to think harder.”
“I’ll talk about the numbers more.”
“I’ll memorize my pitch word-for-word.”

But when the prefrontal cortex is offline, logic is the first thing out the door.

Overthinking only makes it worse.

Just like an athlete choking at the free-throw line, you over-control instead of letting your skills flow.

Research in sports psychology shows that staying mentally loose is the key to peak performance.

Dr. Sian Beilock found that high performers often overthink under pressure, lowering outcomes in skills they normally do well.

Slow, deep breathing reduces cortisol and activates your parasympathetic nervous system (your body’s “rest and recover” mode).
You can literally breathe focus into your brain.

Athletes use short, consistent routines to calm nerves and summon confidence.
Think of a basketball player’s ritual before shooting a free throw.

1️⃣ Breathe before you speak.
Take one slow inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
Then, answer.
This resets your nervous system and brings the prefrontal cortex back online.
(Bonus: investors will think you’re more “thoughtful.” Double win.)

2️⃣ Create a mini-routine.
Pick a simple, repeatable action as your focus anchor. Adjust your pen, take a sip of water, or jot down one word (“calm”).
That small ritual shifts you from stress mode to service mode.

3️⃣ Practice staying loose.
Don’t just rehearse your pitch deck, rehearse your mental state.
In practice, have someone throw surprise questions at you.
Train yourself to pause, breathe, and answer slowly.

Now you’re ready to raise capital all day every day - no matter the market. Your brain recognizes your new mental patterns and holds steady. It’s literally “been there, done that” before.

Pressure is normal.
Failing is optional.

When you understand what’s happening in your brain and practice staying loose,
you perform at your best.

Even when “capital raising is hard.”

Train your brain like you run your business. The ROI speaks for itself.

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