Practical Tips for Building Resiliency in Business and Life
As an entrepreneur coach, I know how tough it can be to start and grow a business. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, and it can feel like quitting is the only option. But it’s in these tough times that being strong and not giving up really matters. This is all about building your resiliency.
In this article, we’ll talk about what to do when you feel like giving up and how to get past obstacles to succeed. We’ll take inspiration from successful entrepreneurs like Colonel Sanders, Walt Disney, Milton S. Hershey, and my own experiences to give you practical tips and advice. Whether you’re struggling in your business, relationships, or personal life, this article is here to help you keep moving forward.
First, let’s talk about what resiliency is and what it is not. This is important because I see a lot of people either white-knuckling it through their struggles or completely disconnecting from their pain. That’s not what resiliency is about.
What Resiliency Is and Is Not
First, let’s clarify what resiliency is and what it isn’t. This is crucial because I often see people either holding on too tightly or disconnecting from their pain, thinking that’s what being resilient means. That’s not it.
Resiliency Is:
Bouncing Back from Challenges: Resiliency is about how well you recover from setbacks. It’s the ability to get back on track after facing difficulties. As psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck says, “Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.”
Learning and Growing: Resiliency involves learning from your experiences and growing stronger. It’s like the saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” This means using what you’ve learned to build a better path forward.
- Staying Flexible: Being resilient means adapting to changes and challenges. It’s about being open to adjusting your plans and finding new ways to tackle obstacles. Research by Dr. Angela Duckworth shows that grit and flexibility are key components of long-term success.
Now, let’s talk about what resiliency is not. I talked about it on social media. Please click on the link to join the conversation.
Too many of us hold onto our pain as a false sign of strength and resilience.
— Denise G. Lee (@DeniseGLee) September 11, 2024
Then we wonder why we feel so darn exhausted, tired and overwhelmed with the ebbs and flow that come along with living life.😟
Releasing, unloading and decompression is a MANDATE for your healing.
Resiliency Is Not:
White-Knuckling Through Pain: Resiliency isn’t about gritting your teeth and pushing through without acknowledging your struggles. It’s not about ignoring your pain or pretending everything is fine. Learn to face your fears. As Dr. Brene Brown points out, “You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you.”
Ignoring Your Emotions: Resiliency isn’t about disconnecting from your feelings or pretending they don’t matter. It’s important to recognize and process your emotions rather than suppress them. Dr. Dan Siegel emphasizes, “The key to resilience is understanding and accepting our own emotions.”
Going It Alone: Resiliency isn’t about doing everything by yourself. It involves seeking support and connecting with others who can help you through tough times. Dr. Louise Hawkley’s research highlights that social connections are crucial for emotional resilience.
Understanding what resiliency truly means helps you embrace it more effectively and use it to navigate life’s ups and downs with strength and grace.
Truth: Building Resiliency is Not Easy!
Let’s discuss what to do when you feel like giving up. I’m not talking about when you realize a good idea isn’t as good as you thought after considering the pros and cons.
I’m talking about when you’ve spent many years, maybe even decades, working hard to improve something important in your life—trying to grow your business, get your love life together, improve your family relationships, or raise your kids. What do you do then when it feels like nothing is happening, despite your best efforts?
Feeling frustrated at times is normal goal-oriented people
How do you handle those small wins when setbacks make you doubt if it’s all worth it? Those crumbs of quick scores may not feel satisfying when all you want is to take a big bite out from the cookie.
Feelings of frustration and anxiety are real—especially if you are putting serious money on the line. Yet, in those tough moments, it’s important to remember that every great success story is built on a foundation of small victories and persistent effort.
We often praise successful people in business, but we forget about those who struggled along the way. In the next section, let’s talk about entrepreneurs who have struggled to achieve their success later in life.
There's this lie that somehow your dreams are enough to push yourself forward toward your goals. Even your goals may make you feel overwhelmed at times because they seem so grand and big. But that's when we stop looking at the hill above and just focus instead on taking one step after another. That's how you build resilience to challenges over the long haul.
Entrepreneurs would built resiliency through their failures
Milton S. Hershey (Hersheys Chocolate)
Milton S. Hershey, the guy who started The Hershey Company, had a tough time before hitting it big. Sure, he got a loan from his aunt to kickstart his caramel business, but that wasn’t all smooth sailing. He had lots of business failures and even went bankrupt a few times before he struck gold with his chocolate business.
But he didn’t give up. Despite all the setbacks, Hershey kept at it and ended up changing the chocolate game, making one of the most famous candy companies ever.
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Colonel Sanders (KFC Founder)
Colonel Harland Sanders: Before founding Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Colonel Sanders faced numerous setbacks in his career. He started his journey at the age of 65, using his meager savings to travel across the United States, trying to make a living selling food off a highway, including his secret recipe for fried chicken.
He faced rejection after rejection, with over 1,000 doors slammed in his face. Despite these challenges, he persisted, eventually finding success when a restaurant agreed to use his recipe. Today, KFC is one of the most recognizable fast-food chains globally.
Walt Disney
Before creating the Disney empire, Walt Disney faced numerous failures and setbacks. He was fired from a newspaper for lacking creativity and had multiple business ventures fail. He even faced bankruptcy at one point. However, he never gave up on his dreams of creating an entertainment empire.
With perseverance and creativity, he brought iconic characters like Mickey Mouse to life, eventually founding The Walt Disney Company, which has become one of the largest and most beloved entertainment conglomerates in the world.
There are so many other entrepreneurs who struggled for years. If these businessmen don’t inspire you, learn more about Vera Wang, Samuel L. Jackson, J.K. Rowling, or Sally Jessy Raphael. You may find out that success is not an easy path for all.
Next, let’s talk about how we can build resilience. This is important because many of us are in love with the results we seek but don’t understand the process and sacrifice needed to achieve our goals.
6 Tips to Building Resiliency
Resiliency Building Tip #1: Understand that Dreaming Big is Not Enough
Building resilience takes time. It doesn’t happen after just one or two problems. Sometimes, it takes many years of trying and failing before you finally succeed. This is why you need more than just positive words and a vision board; you need reliable tools to help you on the long journey of entrepreneurship.
There’s a myth that dreaming big is enough to reach your goals. But sometimes, your goals can feel overwhelming because they seem too big and far away. Now is the time to shift your mindset.
Instead of focusing on the big picture and feeling discouraged, concentrate on taking small, manageable steps. This approach helps you build resilience gradually and better handle challenges over time.
Resiliency Building Tip #2: Keep Focused On What’s In Front of You
Imagine you want to climb a mountain. At the bottom, looking up at the top can be scary and make you feel like you’ll never get there. Instead of thinking about how far away the top is, focus on just taking the next step.
Each step gets you a little closer, and over time, you build the strength and confidence needed to reach the top. This step-by-step progress is how you build resilience, helping you deal with obstacles along the way and eventually achieve your goal.
Mind Your Time
Too many of us get caught up in trying to be everything to everyone. We’re busy trying to look smart, sophisticated, and in-demand to people who haven’t shown they’re worth our energy. Then we wonder why we feel exhausted and want to quit before things really take off in our business.
Stop that! Being focused means being mindful of how you spend your time. With clarity, you’ll find yourself energized and excited about what you’re doing, and you’ll keep pushing forward because your actions have purpose. I talked about this in the social media post below. Feel free to join the conversation by clicking the link.
I am making it my aim to be a WHOLE LOT clearer about how I use my time.
— Denise G. Lee (@DeniseGLee) September 12, 2024
I thought I was already clear.
Now, I'm taking it up a whole new level.
✖️Shorting times I talk with prospective clients or business associates.
If we can't get it done within a certain timeframe, we are…
Resiliency Building Tip #3: Nurture Your Growth via Gratitude
Keep a gratitude list of everything you’ve learned along the way, no matter how big or small. Writing down what you’re thankful for helps you stay grounded and focused on your growth, even when things don’t go as planned. It’s a simple way to remind yourself of your progress and keep moving forward.
Resiliency Building Tip #4: Surround Yourself with Supporters
Stay close to people who believe in you and your vision. We humans thrive on connections, and being around those who support your dreams can really boost your morale. Their encouragement and positivity can make a big difference in your journey.
Resiliency Building Tip #5: Acknowledge Your Courage
Practice self-compassion with yourself during these tough times. This is how you build your confidence and tackle fears that are you preventing you from seeing success. Treat yourself with the same kindness you would give a friend who is also struggling.
Resiliency Building Tip #6: Embrace Flexibility
Learn to pivot when needed. I always tell my clients that it’s okay to reassess your goals and strategies if things aren’t working out. Being open to changing your approach is crucial for success. Flexibility helps you adapt and keep moving toward your goals.
The image before summarizes these ideas. Next, I will share my final thoughts.
Final Thoughts
Building resilience and your confidence is not a one-and-done thing. It takes effort and intention. So, which resilience tip is most helpful to you? Let me know which one seems most challenging to you. Simply click here to write me a message.
If you’re tired of trying to build your empire alone without assistance, I invite you to work with me. We will work on creating a plan that makes sense for you and your lifestyle.
And have you checked out this episode from my entrepreneur podcast? It’s full of insights designed to help you thrive inside and outside the office.
