The Roller Coaster of Entrepreneurship: How Resilience Keeps You Moving Forward

As the year draws to a close, it feels like the perfect time to talk about resilience. Let’s face it: being an ‘travailleur autonome’ can feel like riding a roller coaster—there are thrilling highs and stomach-churning lows. I always knew I was tenacious. But resilience is the seatbelt that keeps you safely in your seat, even when the ride gets bumpy.

This year, I’ve had my resilience tested in ways I never imagined. Two unexpected health challenges forced me to hit pause on my business. But in those moments, I learned that resilience isn’t just about gritting your teeth and pushing through. It’s about adapting, leaning on your support network, and rediscovering your own strength.

Let’s dig into why resilience is your secret weapon and how you can strengthen this vital skill to sustain your business and yourself.

Resilience Fuels Persistence Despite Setbacks

This summer, I experienced my first health challenge: Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS). Its symptoms mimic a stroke or brain bleed, but for me, it came with a surreal twist—eight hours of global amnesia. Imagine losing eight hours of your conscious life and waking up in a hospital with no memory of how you got there was disconcerting to say the least.

The doctors told me to stop working for at least a month. A month! This was sobering news. But my body left me no choice. After my month break, I decided to go half-time, giving my brain that extra rest, it needed. Just as I was regaining my footing, a back injury knocked me down again, sidelining me for another six weeks.

Here’s what these experiences taught me: Resilience fuels persistence. It’s the grit that keeps you moving forward, even when life throws curveballs. For an entrepreneur, setbacks are part of the game. Resilience helps you see them not as roadblocks but as detours—temporary shifts in your journey.

Tip: Reflect on your past challenges. What helped you push through? Identifying these sources of perseverance can serve as your guideposts when the going gets tough.

Resilience Fosters Adaptability to Change

If there’s one constant in entrepreneurship, it’s change. Markets shift. Client needs evolve. Strategies that worked yesterday might flop tomorrow. Resilience helps you roll with the punches, adapting quickly without losing your footing.

During my recovery, I had to rethink how I approached my business. I couldn’t operate at my usual full-throttle pace, so I focused on what truly mattered. I adapted my schedule, prioritized my clients, and gave myself permission to let go of nonessential tasks.

This adaptability was key. Resilience allows you to pivot with purpose, embracing change as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Tip: Build flexibility into your goals. Create short-term milestones that allow room for adjustments as circumstances evolve.

Resilience Builds a Network of Support

Here’s a secret: Resilience isn’t a solo act. The most resilient entrepreneurs build a strong support network. Whether it’s mentors, peers, or a close-knit community, having people to lean on can make all the difference.

During my health challenges, I relied on my support network to keep my business running smoothly. From offering advice to simply checking in, their presence reminded me that I wasn’t alone. This kind of connection doesn’t just offer emotional support; it brings fresh perspectives and practical solutions when you need them most.

Tip: Proactively seek out mentors or join entrepreneurial groups. These connections can become invaluable lifelines during challenging times.

The Building Blocks of Resilience

Resilience isn’t magic. It’s built on actionable steps and intentional practices. Here are a few building blocks that I learned through my resiliency training this summer.

Practice Self-Compassion: It’s easy to be your own harshest critic, but resilience thrives on self-kindness. Give yourself grace during tough times.

Learn from Failures: Every setback is a learning opportunity. Shift your perspective and treat failures as stepping stones to success.

Develop a Resilience Routine: Following some ideas from The 5 Am Club by Robin Sharma, I built up my morning habit stack by adding reading and yoga to my already established meditation and journaling routine. I believe my morning routine helps me to build the mental and physical stamina needed to face challenges head-on.

The Muscle of Resilience

Resilience may not be a trait we are born with, but it’s a skill you cultivate. Like a muscle, it strengthens with use. Each challenge you face is an opportunity to build resilience, preparing you for whatever comes next.

So, let me leave you with a question: Is resilience an innate quality, or can it be developed?

My answer? It doesn’t really matter. What matters is how you approach the obstacles in your path. Will you let them define you, or will you use them to refine you? The choice is yours—and resilience is the tool that will help you make it.

As you close the book on this year and turn the page to the next, take a moment to reflect. What challenges have strengthened your resilience? And how will you carry those lessons forward? Your business—and your future self—will thank you.