The ‘Addiction’ to Being Told What to Do: Simon Squibb on Relearning Self-Direction

In a recent LinkedIn post, Simon Squibb discusses a pervasive societal conditioning that he argues leaves many adults struggling with self-direction, particularly when it comes to entrepreneurship. Squibb posits that individuals are trained from a young age to follow instructions, a pattern that can atrophy their ability to make independent decisions later in life.

As Simon Squibb highlights, this conditioning begins early:

“Most people are addicted to being told what to do. They were trained for it from age 5. Sit down. Stand up. Line up. Do the homework. Take the test. Get the grade. Get the job. Hit the targets. Wait for the promotion. Wait for the pension. Wait for permission to live your actual life.”

The Atrophy of Independent Decision-Making

Squibb argues that this lifelong adherence to external direction has a significant consequence: the weakening of an individual’s internal decision-making capabilities. He likens this to a muscle that, through disuse, becomes weak.

According to Simon Squibb, the outcome of this extensive training is a diminished capacity for independent thought and action. “By the time you’re an adult, the muscle that decides things for itself has gone soft,” he writes. This softness, in Squibb’s view, makes the prospect of taking initiative, especially in areas like starting a business, feel daunting.

The Entrepreneurial Challenge: A Test of Self-Direction

The core of Squibb’s argument centers on the unique challenges faced by aspiring entrepreneurs. Unlike traditional employment, starting a business offers no predefined path or external validation.

Simon Squibb points out the stark contrast:

“Starting your own business is so terrifying for most people. Nobody is telling you what to do anymore. There’s no curriculum. No teacher. No boss saying well done.”

This absence of external guidance, while liberating for some, can be paralyzing for those accustomed to following orders. Squibb suggests that the entrepreneurial journey requires individuals to actively rebuild and strengthen the decision-making ‘muscle’ that has been neglected throughout their lives.

Relearning Self-Reliance

The process of starting a business, therefore, is not just a financial or logistical endeavor, but also a profound personal challenge. It demands a conscious effort to overcome ingrained habits of dependence and to cultivate self-reliance.

In Simon Squibb’s perspective, the fundamental task for many aspiring business owners is to reconnect with their innate ability to lead themselves. “It’s just you, deciding what matters, every single day,” he states, emphasizing the solitary nature of entrepreneurial decision-making.

Squibb concludes by reiterating that this reliance on external direction is a learned behavior, deeply embedded through years of formal and informal training. His post serves as a call to recognize this conditioning and to actively work towards reclaiming one’s capacity for self-directed action, particularly in the pursuit of entrepreneurial ambitions.