5 tips to turn setbacks into long term success

Tuesday August 29, 2017 , 3 min Read

Setbacks are a part of every entrepreneur's journey. When they strike, it's up to you what you make of the challenge that is blocking your way ahead. Will you let your setbacks get the better of you, or will you turn them into opportunities for growth? The stumbling blocks you come across might make you think that business and entrepreneurship aren't for you, but if you strive to make the most of them, you are bound to emerge successful sooner rather than later.

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Whenever you are faced with a setback, use the following tactics to overcome the challenging situation with ease:

Don't lose your nerve

It is crucial that you remain calm and collected when faced with a challenge that can upset your plans and destroy your goals. As bleak as your future may seem, never let setbacks get the better of you. If you allow yourself to suffer a nervous breakdown, your team will lose all hope too. Your response to setbacks will determine how your employees view them. Therefore, always remain calm in the face of a storm, as panicking will only make things worse.

Take a deep breath

When faced with stressful situations, most individuals’ fight-or-flight instincts take over. However, fleeing away from a challenging situation isn't the smartest thing to do. Before you make an impulsive decision that you might regret later, you should pause for a moment and take a deep breath. Remember, over-reacting to a setback will only make things worse.

Communicate with your team

Hiding things from your team members will only make the situation worse. If your company has faced a major setback, your team deserves to know. By viewing the situation from an outside perspective, they might be able to come up with a solution that has escaped your notice. As frightening as the situation may be, knowing the truth is always better than letting rumours spread like wild fire.

Don't give up

You've worked so hard to make your company what it is today, so don't give up just yet. You'll face a hundred setbacks on your way to success. Focus on finding solutions instead of feeling dejected. Did a big client just decide to leave your company? Is the lease of your office space expiring soon? Whatever the problem may be, don't accept defeat easily, and fight against the setbacks till you have nothing left to lose.

Learn a lesson

Everything teaches you something in life. Take the time to study and fully understand your setback. See what caused it, how it could have been avoided, and what you can now do to overcome it. As painful as it may be, each setback will teach you a valuable lesson which will stick with you for the rest of your life.

Stay positive and keep your enthusiasm alive, and before you know it, you'll turn your setbacks into success.