Sometimes everything is terrible. Other times you wake up excited before you’ve even gone to sleep. The entrepreneurial rollercoaster is a very real thing. But it’s resilience that sets apart thriving entrepreneurs from those who fold under pressure. In business, where problems pop up as often as wins, all you have to do is stay in the game.
Lucky for you, resilience isn’t something you’re born with. It’s a skill you can learn and improve. Here’s how top entrepreneurs build their ability to handle anything their working week throws at them.
Bulletproof your business mindset: entrepreneur edition
See failure as a lesson
Failure is part of success, not its enemy. Entrepreneurs don’t see failures as dead ends. They see them as detours on the way to winning. The best do, anyway. Sara Blakely, billionaire founder of Spanx, spent years selling fax machines door-to-door, facing rejection daily before her breakthrough. Hamdi Ulukaya started Chobani yoghurt after buying a rundown factory, despite having no experience in large-scale yoghurt production.
To think this way, change how you talk. Don’t say “I failed.” Say “I learned.” Write down your setbacks and what they taught you. This isn’t just to feel better. It’s to get value from everything that happens, good or bad.
Own everything
Playing the victim kills resilience. The best entrepreneurs don’t blame the economy, their team, or bad luck when things go wrong. They take charge of everything. Jennifer Hyman, co-founder of Rent the Runway, faced numerous challenges including sceptical investors and logistical nightmares, but always focused on solutions rather than excuses.
Stop saying helpless phrases like “I had no choice” or “It’s not my fault.” When you face a problem, ask yourself, “What did I do to cause this, and how can I fix it?” Switch from reacting to acting to build better resilience.
Build your support team
The toughest entrepreneurs know they need other people. They surround themselves with mentors, peers, and cheerleaders who offer advice and sometimes just listen. Sarah Kauss, founder of S’well, credits much of her success to building a strong network of advisors and fellow entrepreneurs who provided guidance and support.
Set yourself up for success from the very start. Join groups for business owners, go to industry events, or find a mentor. Make real connections with people who can help you hire, fire, and enjoy your winnings.
Get used to stress
Don’t avoid discomfort, push the edges of your comfort zone. Successful entrepreneurs put themselves in stressful situations on purpose to build their tolerance. Leah Busque, introvert founder of TaskRabbit, consistently pushed herself when scaling her company. “I remember having this conversation with myself one day and I just said, you know what? This is not rocket science. You’re gonna figure it out,” she said.
Set some big goals but start small. Call five new potential customers a day or learn a new skill quickly. Then make it harder over time. The aim is to build your stress muscle so you’re ready when big challenges come.
Resilience in action: how top entrepreneurs build the skill
Building resilience like top entrepreneurs means preparing yourself to grow through challenges. See failure as a lesson, own everything, build a support team, and get used to stress. Set yourself up to thrive when problems hit, and breeze through every challenge like you’ve seen it before.
Setbacks make comebacks. Breakdowns make breakthroughs. Make resilience your superpower.
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