The employee brain vs the builder brain (I was losing)

Hey, it’s Vikko.

It was around midnight.

I was sitting there frustrated, scrolling, stewing.

Another day gone.

And I hadn’t moved an inch on building my thing.

Now, I thought I had a valid excuse:

Long workday. Family stuff. Mentally drained.

But the truth?

I wasn’t lazy.

I was thinking like an employee.

That realization didn’t come out of nowhere.

It came from something I’ve been reading this week: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

If you’ve worked a 9–5 long enough, you’ve been conditioned to stay safe:

• Do what’s assigned

• Stay in your lane

• Avoid mistakes

• Only act when told it’s time

That mindset is useful when you’re an employee.

But it’s fatal when you’re trying to build something of your own.

Because building…

Whether it’s writing, launching a product, or just sending a scary DM, demands the opposite:

• Take initiative

• Embrace uncertainty

• Do the thing you’ve never done

• Risk looking stupid

And Resistance knows that.

That’s why it shows up like this:

• “I’m too tired.”

• “Now’s not the right time.”

• “I should probably get more clarity first.”

• “I’ll just do it tomorrow.”

Earlier this week, I felt all of that.

I had tasks lined up:

Post on Threads. Engage. Message leads. Write.

But none of it excited me.

I started rationalizing. Overthinking.

“What if it doesn’t work?”
“What if no one responds?”

And that’s when I caught it.

I wasn’t tired. I was avoiding.

Not because I’m weak…

But because I was still wearing my employee uniform.

That uniform says: “Only do the thing if it’s safe, clear, and guaranteed to work.”

But when you’re building something real?

None of that exists.

The shift happened a the other day.

I was tired of the loop.

Tired of waiting to feel ready.

Tired of doing mental gymnastics to avoid doing the work.

So I stripped away the logic. The doubts. The expectations.

And I just hit send.

I emailed my list about a new framework I was testing.

I messaged people about it too.

No funnel.
No plan.
No perfect CTA.

Just action.

That was the moment Resistance lost.

Not forever.

But for the night.

So if you’ve been stuck lately…

If you’re not writing, not posting, not shipping, not reaching out…

It’s probably not because you’re lazy.

It’s because Resistance is keeping you stuck in the one identity that’s rewarded in the office (but punished in the arena):

The employee.

And the longer you stay in that mindset, the longer you delay the very thing you say you want.

Because building requires discomfort.

It requires risk.

It requires you to make moves with no guarantee they’ll work.

And the magic is…

That’s exactly why it works.

I write these emails because I’m in the same fight you are.

If you’re done waiting for perfect conditions — and want to start acting like a builder...

Reply to this email with “Builder.”

I’ll know what you mean.

To your growth,
Vikko

P.S. I’m helping a few people earn their first $ online using a skill they already have — no funnels, no followers, no nonsense.

If you want in, just say “Sprint.”

Let’s move.