Resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, is a cornerstone of success in both life and business. For women, resilience is often an inherent trait, forged through navigating a world where gender biases and societal expectations can create additional hurdles. In business, resilience is not just a survival skill; it’s a vital component of growth, innovation, and long-term success.
As a woman in business, I’ve faced challenges that have tested my resolve and required me to dig deep into my reserves. Realizing that this venture was going to be a mix of ups and downs that would take longer than I expected, came early in my entrepreneurial journey. It has taken 3 years to get to where we are now, and we are still early in our growth trajectory. Business takes time, and when you're an entrepreneur that means having the tenacity and resilience not to give up.
I realized that resilience wasn’t about ignoring failure or setbacks; it was about learning from them and using those lessons to grow stronger. This also means turning the volume down on people or things that distract you from your end goal, and turning the volume up on those people or things that motivate or encourage you in your journey.
It wasn’t easy to admit that my initial approach wasn’t yielding the results I had hoped for, but it was a necessary step in building resilience. Before I understood the realities of product development and retail, I mistakenly thought just getting listed on Amazon was going to grow my business. Even with mentors, I didn't know the questions to ask to understand what was going to truly be needed to effectively go to market. But I believed in my product, and I learned and began asking the right questions. Now, I can see the future of PhoneSpuds through a lens of growth and possibility, knowing that many - possibly innumerable - little tweaks and twists and turns will be required to grow enough to be where I want, and that's normal and okay.
It's important to be flexible. Entrepreneurship and business in general is like a living, growing path that changes and adjusts to different environments and conditions. It’s okay to change course, to adapt when things aren’t going as planned. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a strength and resilience. To succeed, I'm finding it's more important to be able to roll with it and learn and react as you go - like improvisational theatre. While that can be scary, it's essential.
Resilience also means recognizing the importance of self-care and emotional well-being. As women, we tend to shoulder multiple responsibilities—balancing work, family, and personal life can be overwhelming. Because of the infirmities I'm left with after long covid and a debilitating head injury, I have been forced to prioritize my health more than I ever have needed to in the past. Whether it is taking time for meditation, connecting with supportive friends, or simply allowing myself moments of rest, these practices have become essential to maintaining my resilience.
As the business starts to thrive and gain traction, and I begin to see the fruits of my labor, I am trying to be continuously mindful of maintaining my health and balance. I am emerging stronger, more confident, and more tenacious. Resilience is not about never falling; it’s about continuing to try.
Resilience is a powerful tool in business. It’s the ability to transform challenges into opportunities and to see setbacks not as the end but as a stepping stone toward something greater. It’s about believing in your vision, even when the path is unclear, and trusting in your ability to navigate whatever comes your way.
In the end, resilience is not just a skill; it’s a mindset. And as women, our resilience is often our greatest asset, allowing us to turn adversity into achievement and to continue breaking barriers in the business world.
