Why is it so hard to start something new… even when you know it would be good for you?

In this episode of Next Door Neuro, I sit down with Mark Heckmann - multi-business founder and entrepreneurial coach - to explore what actually gets in the way when we try to start.

Mark has built companies across industries ranging from robotics and agriculture to AI and consulting. But what makes him especially interesting isn’t just what he’s built... it’s how he thinks.

He started with almost no resources… bartering websites for things like pizza… and built momentum by taking action before feeling ready.

Now, he helps others do the same.

In this conversation, we break down:

• Why most people never take the first step,
• How your brain interprets risk and rejection
• What actually changes when you stop waiting for certainty and start taking action.

We also get into one of the most powerful mindset shifts for me personally: reframing rejection not as failure, but as data. Because you’re not even in the game until you’ve heard 100 “nos.”

If your brain fuels your life… what fuels your brain?

In this episode:
• Why starting feels so difficult (even when the idea is clear)
• How your brain interprets risk, rejection, and uncertainty
• Why waiting for certainty keeps you stuck
• How to reframe rejection as useful data
• The role of repetition in building confidence
• Why autonomy changes how you think about work
• How to start something without massive resources
• The difference between planning and actually doing
• Why most people quit before they’ve even really started

About Mark:
Mark Heckmann is a multi-business founder and entrepreneurial coach who has built and operated companies across a wide range of industries.

He is the founder of Crooked Ventures and JobBored, where he helps people launch and grow their own ventures - often starting with limited resources and learning as they go.

Connect with Mark:
Crooked Ventures: https://www.crookedventures.com
JobBored: https://www.jobbored.co
Denison Entrepreneurship Pathways Program: https://jobbored.co/denison/

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