The Resilience of Entrepreneurship: Courage to Start and Persevere
As a business founder, I have so much empathy and admiration for the startup founders and entrepreneurs I work with every day. I know what they went through — taking that leap of faith not just once, but over and over when times got tough.
Becoming successful takes more than luck and faith. It takes courage to make the initial step and resilience to persevere, handling all the obstacles that life will throw your way. But you can handle it with the right motivation, courage, and perseverance.
Be the Risk-Taker
Every family has one: that person who grasps opportunities and takes risks, often reaping great rewards. Entrepreneurs have to become that person. Sure, there are no guarantees — that’s why it’s called a risk. But when you have a clear vision, it’s easier to take the next step despite uncertainty.
I started out with an idea: bringing my marketing expertise to multiple companies that could all benefit from my experience. My time with a Fortune 1000 company had taught me so much about what tech startups needed. All I needed to do was take that step and start building my own business. The fear of failure is what holds many people back — after all, 90% of startups fail. However, you’ve just got to plan for every eventuality and believe in your business — create something based on facts, research, and a genuine market need.
Let Adversity Create Resilience
Coming up against challenges can be demoralizing, particularly if it’s the first time you’ve had to face a particular problem. You’ve got to let those obstacles spur you on and ignite your passion for what you do.
I started Arch Collective in 2019 just before the pandemic hit. I’d just closed deals with my first two clients and they felt that, in light of the crisis, they should stop investing in marketing. It would have been so easy for me to give up. But I knew that these firms would be better off if they kept channeling money into their marketing efforts.
My experience helped me show exactly why it was the right thing to do to keep focusing on marketing, to help these firms not only survive but thrive in uncertain economic conditions. Both clients agreed, leading to success for all of us.
There will be hundreds of more scary stories throughout your startup journey. Don’t let them get you down — and use what you know plus your team or network of peers to help get you through the bad moments.
Make Motivation Happen
No matter what they say, no one simply stays motivated all the time. As well as serious crises like the one highlighted above, there will be times when growth is slow, or you can’t quite see what the next step is for your firm.
Maintaining mental resilience and motivation is difficult during these times, but there are things you can do to help:
Refer back to your business and marketing goals, over and over. Make sure everything is achievable and you have steps in place for every aim.
Celebrate every milestone reached — it’s good for the mental well-being of you and your team.
Keep on learning — become an expert in your niche by making time for continuous learning.
You can end up becoming the leader that motivates others — with the right motivation techniques in place.
Final Word: Create Your Network
No founder should go it alone. Connect with peers, speak to others in your industry, and create a network of people you can talk to when times are tough. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from mentors and other leaders. After all, in time, it could be you mentoring another founder needing the courage to take their first step and the resilience to stay on the path to success.
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