Have you ever fallen and scraped your knee while learning to ride a bike?
How did you get back up?
Did you ever get on your bike again?
The majority of us respond with a triumphant, YES!
I tried and tried until I mastered the skill, and then I rode all over the neighborhood, showing off to my friends.
We pushed through moments of pain and persevered until we became experts.
Do you take on the same approach in business?
Many will say, "no" while avoiding eye contact.
Why?
When we hit our first roadblocks in business, many of us interpret these roadblocks as personal reflections of our limitations, knowledge, skill, and acceptance. We take it personally. We beat ourselves up. We bombard our heads with toxic thoughts and begin to talk ourselves out of taking action. Then our business starts to spiral out of control, and eventually, we also begin to unravel.
While learning to ride a bike we developed resilience. We had to try repeatedly before we understood how to ride safely and effectively. We stumbled over every roadblock because we were determined to become riders and feel the wind in our hair. We viewed our obstacles as setbacks not as failures. It was not a reflection of who we were as individuals but of a skill we hadn't mastered.
As business owners, we must take our personal ego out of the development of our business. When we face setbacks, it is NOT about us as individuals. We haven't developed the necessary skills yet to expand our business. We aren't a failure when sales drop. We need to reevaluate our strategy. We aren't bad mothers when we are in the middle of a launch, and our business requires more time. We are modeling work/life balance. We aren't stupid, unmotivated, or ridiculous for starting a business. All businesses experience highs and lows throughout the years. We are HUMAN. Similar to my business, your business will face setbacks, too! The key is to not take it personally.
My first setback came immediately after setting up my account on Etsy for Coudron's Curiosities. About a month before launch day, I researched Etsy, took photos, and set up listings and advertisements. I was hopeful that they would start selling as soon as my products launched. If you've ever been on Etsy, you know this is not what happened. My shop sat idle for six weeks. Not a single sale. I was devastated and took it personally. I wasn't good enough because my jewelry wasn't good enough to buy. I wasn't worthy because I was too stupid to figure out how to sell on Etsy. The list and the sabotage go on. After internalizing this 'failure' how did I turn things around? For a while, I didn't. I wallowed in my self-pity. Then I gave myself a swift proverbial slap in the face and told myself, "These earrings aren't going to sell themselves; I need to improve how they are offered." I went out and asked others. I found eRank online and began to improve my listings slowly. Week 8, I received my first sale and was on top of the moon. A simple shift in mindset and strategy completely changed the outcome. Reminder: The key is to NOT take our setbacks personally.
My next challenge would come after moving from the US to France. I completely shut down my jewelry business to consolidate and focus on the move and being pregnant. 18 months later, I completely lost myself in the person I had become since becoming a Mother. I didn't have anything outside of being a Mother and Wife. I needed to find my way back to me. I knew I loved running my business in the US and wanted to relaunch. The only problem is that I wanted to completely change my products. I was skeptical. Those around me were also doubtful. But this time, I had built up some bandwidth of resilience. I wasn't going to let the naysayers and the doubters sway me. (Secretly, I knew I needed my business back to manage my mental health). I deferred back to the original lesson. I would try, change, and adjust whatever was necessary for my business to become successful. I was determined to pry myself out of the black hole I was suffering in. Remember: The key is to NOT take our setbacks personally.
Many business owners have been suffering since Covid came into our lives. The world sprang into chaos, governments shut down all non-essential shops, and many of us were unprepared to go online or pivot our strategy. Those who made it through did so by our pure commitment to our cause, blood, sweat, and tears. 2022 came and while more people were moving about and beginning to spend money… Most were keeping a clenched fist on their money and were anxious about the future. This led to a slump of sales for small business owners. Many could never recover and were forced out of business. Shortly following the epidemic, we fell into a price of living-crisis. My grocery bill is 40% higher than it was in 2019! As a collective, we are struggling. It is essential that we, as business owners, reflect holistically on our situation. Remember: The key is to NOT take our setbacks personally.
In the entrepreneurial journey, setbacks are not roadblocks but opportunities for growth and resilience. It's a reminder that these obstacles are not a reflection of your worth but stepping stones toward success. I empower you to navigate setbacks with resilience and a continuous learning mindset. This blog provides inspiration, encouraging you to view challenges as catalysts for innovation and improvement. So, take a moment for yourself, absorb the wisdom shared, and remember that setbacks are just temporary detours on the path to your business's greater success. You've got this!
With all the love,
Rachel Coudron
