Resilience is the ability to pick yourself up after failure, to keep going despite setbacks, and to come back stronger each time. Resilience is not just a trait, it’s a skill that can be developed and honed over time. With the roller coaster ride which is entrepreneurship, it is essential that you build your resilience.
Back in 2015, I was forced to sell my business. It was a tough pill to swallow. I had put so much time and effort into it, and it felt like a failure. But instead of giving up, I decided to learn from my mistakes and come back with something bigger and better.
It wasn’t easy. I had to start from scratch, with a new idea and a new team. But I knew that if I was going to be successful, I had to be resilient. I had to keep going, no matter what.
So, I focused on building resilience. I made a conscious effort to bounce back from setbacks quickly, to stay positive in the face of adversity, and to keep moving forward, even when things got tough. Now, a few years later, I am running a thriving business.
I learned that failure is not the end. It’s an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to come back stronger. And I’m not the only one who’s learned this lesson.
Resilience in Action
Some of the greatest business owners of our time have faced failure and setbacks, but have come back stronger than ever before. Let me share with you some examples of these resilient entrepreneurs.
Steve Jobs is one of the most iconic business owners of our time. He co-founded Apple in 1976, but in 1985 he was forced out of the company he had helped build. Jobs could have given up, but he didn’t. He founded a new company called NeXT, which was eventually acquired by Apple, and he went on to become CEO of Apple once again in 1997. Under his leadership, Apple became one of the most successful companies in the world.
Another example of resilience in business is Oprah Winfrey. She faced numerous challenges early in her career, including being fired from her first job as a television anchor. But she didn’t let that setback define her. Instead, she went on to create her own talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, which became the highest-rated talk show in the United States. She also founded her own media company, OWN, which has been hugely successful.
These are just a few examples of resilient business owners who have faced failure and setbacks but have come back stronger than ever before. They have shown us that resilience is not just a trait, but a skill that can be developed and honed over time. Building resilience as a business owner is crucial for success. Failure and setbacks are inevitable in business, but it’s how we respond to them that makes all the difference. By learning from our mistakes, staying positive, and keeping focused on our goals, we can bounce back from setbacks and come back stronger than ever before. So, let’s embrace resilience and let it be our guide on the journey to success.