The most difficult part of starting something new is the processing power you must allocate to compute the onslaught of issues you’ll face that have no answer. Every solution is indefinite. Every way forward is liable to become obstructed by some unforeseen impediment. As such, the leader's greatest fight is against uncertainty. You can compartmentalize just about everything, but you can't unplug from uncertainty. 

And know what? Uncertainty is a bitch. It plagues every plan you hatch, and it eats away at any attempt for peace of mind. For me personally, uncertainty caused the greatest amount of interference as I attempted to live my life while starting Behance.

I remember many occasions when I valiantly fought to disconnect - Christmas, the week of my wedding, my honeymoon, and even the birth of my daughter. And while I was "there" for all of these moments, 20 percent of my mind's processing power was preoccupied. It wasn't any specific deal or issue that stuck with me. On the contrary, it was the stuff I didn't know, the “unknown unknowns.” There was no map for the voyage ahead, so I felt the need to live and sleep with an eye on the compass.

The best among us learn to master the art of parallel processing and learn to delegate. While some on your team can compartmentalize, as a leader, you cannot. 

Start by letting go of concerns for things you already know. Over the years, I have tried to reduce my time spent "checking" things that don't move the ball forward or can be delegated to others. Daily sales, website traffic, what people are saying on Twitter, analytics for our customers, team progress on projects, and the list goes on. To create what will be, you must remove yourself from the constant concern for what already is. 

As for the uncertainty, accept the fact that it will weigh on you. Accept the burden of continuous processing. There's no shortcut to deep-thinking and crunching through scenarios in the basement of your brain. It is perhaps the most important personal investment (and sacrifice) we make. Chalk it up as a burden of leadership.  

No matter what your creative endeavor is, uncertainty will be lingering around every corner. Embrace it and channel it, and you’ll gain the confidence to lead your team down a foggy path that always changes.