“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston S. Churchill
The entrepreneurial journey isn’t a straight path. There are highs – moments of triumph, bursts of innovation, and outstanding customer feedback. But accompanying these peaks are valleys, daunting periods marked by doubt, challenge, and uncertainty. This complex roller-coaster ride is often termed ‘The Struggle’.
Before Elon Musk was heralded as the spearhead of revolutionary companies like Tesla and SpaceX, he wrestled with enormous setbacks. SpaceX’s first three rockets disastrously failed to reach orbit. These failures didn’t just test his resolve, they drained his finances and brought him to the brink of bankruptcy. Musk’s story reminds us that enduring ‘The Struggle’ is often an integral part of entrepreneurship.
It’s essential to understand that ‘The Struggle’ is not a declaration of your abilities. It’s not a sign that your venture is destined to fail. Instead, it’s a rite of passage, a universal experience that almost every entrepreneur faces. Those who come out the other side often do so with refined skills, a sharper vision, and a deeper sense of purpose.
Action Step: Today, take a moment for introspection. Write down a pressing challenge you’re currently facing. Instead of seeing it as insurmountable, try to identify the lessons hiding within it. Whether it’s a call to pivot, a nudge towards seeking mentorship, or simply a test of your tenacity, there’s always a way forward.
In the vast landscape of business, where change is the only constant, resilience and adaptability become our guiding stars. Embrace ‘The Struggle’, for it shapes us, propelling us towards greater heights.
To learn more about resilience and adaptability, in entrepreneurship, be sure to check out our book of the week “The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz.