How to Stay in Business: Lessons from Real-Life Experiences
Welcome back to Daring Made, the blog where we delve into the heart and soul of entrepreneurship, sharing stories, insights, and lessons that go beyond the surface-level strategies.
Today, we’re diving deep into the human aspects of staying in business—those unspoken challenges and triumphs that shape our journey as business owners. If you’re aiming for business thriving and long-term success, this blog post is for you.
We’ll explore some crucial business lessons that don’t just impact your bottom line but also your personal growth and sustainability as an entrepreneur.
The Human Side of Staying in Business
Staying in business is about more than just financial stability. Sure, the numbers matter, but there’s a personal, human element that often goes unnoticed—yet it’s just as crucial for long-term business success.
It’s about resilience, emotional intelligence, and the ability to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship with grace and grit.
In this blog, we’re getting real and raw. We’ll share some personal stories and lessons that have shaped our journey in business, touching on everything from embracing discomfort to slowing down when needed.
These lessons aren’t just about making your business work—they’re about making your life as a business owner more fulfilling and sustainable.
Lesson 1: Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
One of the first and most important business lessons I learned was the need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Entrepreneurship is filled with uncertainty, challenges, and moments of doubt.
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to shy away from discomfort, to avoid anxiety, sadness, and failure. But here’s the truth: discomfort is where growth happens.
By allowing yourself to fail fast and learn from those mistakes, you open up a new perspective on what it means to thrive in business. It’s about resilience and the ability to bounce back stronger after every setback. Instead of fearing failure, embrace it as a necessary part of your journey.
This mindset shift will not only help your business grow but also build your character as a leader.
Real-Life Example: Think of some of the most successful entrepreneurs—people like Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. She often talks about how her father encouraged her to fail and even asked her at the dinner table, “What did you fail at today?”
This mindset helped her see failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than something to be feared.
Lesson 2: Don’t Mother Your Team
As entrepreneurs, it’s natural to want to take care of our teams, to ensure everyone is happy and thriving. But there’s a fine line between being a supportive leader and over-nurturing to the point of burnout.
Overextending yourself to take care of everyone can lead to resentment, exhaustion, and ultimately, a less productive work environment.
The key is to strike a balance. Support your team, but also recognize when it’s time to step back and make tough decisions for the greater good of the business.
Not every team member may be the right fit, and that’s okay. It’s better to make necessary adjustments than to hold onto situations that drain your energy and hinder your business’s progress.
Business Lesson: Leadership isn’t about being everyone’s best friend—it’s about making decisions that are in the best interest of the business and its long-term success.
This might mean having difficult conversations, setting clear boundaries, and sometimes, letting people go.
Real-Life Example: Take the example of Steve Jobs at Apple. Known for his sometimes tough leadership style, Jobs made decisions that weren’t always popular but were necessary for the company’s success.
He focused on building a team that was aligned with Apple’s vision, even if that meant making difficult choices.
Lesson 3: Don’t Overcomplicate It
In today’s world, we’re bombarded with information, strategies, and tactics—each one promising to be the next big thing that will revolutionize your business.
But here’s a secret: success in business often comes down to simplicity. Overcomplicating things can lead to overwhelm, confusion, and paralysis by analysis.
Instead of trying to do everything at once, focus on the core of your business. Who is your target audience? What problem are you solving for them? How can you do it in the most effective and straightforward way possible?
By stripping away the unnecessary complexity, you can achieve greater clarity, efficiency, and growth.
Business Lesson: Keep it simple. Focus on what matters most—your customers, your product, and your unique value proposition. Everything else is secondary.
Real-Life Example: Consider In-N-Out Burger, a fast-food chain known for its simple menu. Instead of offering a wide variety of items, they focus on doing a few things exceptionally well—burgers, fries, and shakes.
This simplicity has allowed them to build a loyal customer base and thrive in a competitive industry.
Lesson 4: Take Action and Learn Along the Way
Waiting for the perfect plan, the perfect moment, or the perfect set of circumstances is a trap many entrepreneurs fall into. While seeking advice and guidance is important, there comes a point when you need to stop planning and start doing.
The truth is, you’ll never have all the answers before you begin—and that’s okay.
Action breeds clarity. By taking steps forward, even if they’re small, you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t. You’ll gain insights that you could never have predicted from just planning.
This approach allows you to pivot, adapt, and grow based on real-world experience rather than hypothetical scenarios.
Business Lesson: Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back. Take action, and trust that you’ll figure things out as you go.
The best entrepreneurs are those who are willing to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them.
Real-Life Example: Consider the story of Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, who famously said, “If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.”
Hoffman emphasizes the importance of launching quickly, learning from feedback, and iterating on your product or service.
Lesson 5: Slow Down to Speed Up
We live in a culture that glorifies the hustle—where speed and constant activity are seen as the hallmarks of success.
But here’s a counterintuitive truth: sometimes, the best way to speed up your progress is to slow down. Slowing down allows you to gain clarity, reduce friction, and avoid burnout.
Taking time to reflect, rest, and rejuvenate isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a strategic move that can lead to greater focus and productivity in the long run. When you’re constantly in motion, it’s easy to lose sight of your goals and get caught up in the busyness of day-to-day tasks.
Slowing down gives you the space to realign with your vision and ensure that your actions are leading you toward your long-term objectives.
Business Lesson: Don’t confuse activity with progress. Make time for reflection, rest, and strategic thinking. This will help you avoid burnout and stay aligned with your long-term goals.
Real-Life Example: Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post, famously collapsed from exhaustion in 2007. This experience led her to prioritize sleep, rest, and well-being—an approach that she now advocates for in her book, “Thrive.”
Huffington’s story is a powerful reminder that slowing down is essential for sustainable success.
Lesson 6: The Power of Long-Term Thinking
In a world that often prioritizes short-term gains, long-term thinking is a superpower. Building a long-term business means making decisions that may not pay off immediately but will set you up for sustainable success in the future.
It’s about playing the long game—investing in relationships, building a strong brand, and focusing on quality over quantity.
Long-term thinking requires patience, discipline, and the ability to see beyond the immediate results. It’s about creating a business that will stand the test of time, one that continues to grow and thrive even in the face of challenges.
Business Lesson: Focus on the long game. Make decisions that align with your vision for the future, even if they don’t yield immediate results. This approach will help you build a resilient and thriving business.
Real-Life Example: Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, has always emphasized long-term thinking. From the very beginning, he made decisions that prioritized long-term growth over short-term profits.
This strategy has paid off, as Amazon has become one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a business model that continues to evolve and expand.
Conclusion: Thriving in the Long-Term
Staying in business is not just about surviving—it’s about thriving. It’s about building a business that grows, evolves, and makes a lasting impact.
The business lessons we’ve discussed today—embracing discomfort, balancing leadership, simplifying your approach, taking action, slowing down, and thinking long-term—are all essential for creating a business that doesn’t just survive, but truly thrives.
Remember, there are no awards for just showing up or being the first to market. The real rewards come from building meaningful connections, learning from your experiences, and staying committed to your vision.
So, as you continue on your entrepreneurial journey, keep these lessons in mind, and let them guide you toward long-term success.
If you enjoyed these insights, feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with us on Instagram at @sashafedunchak. We’d love to hear from you!
Thank you for joining us on this journey, and we’ll see you in the next blog.
How to Stay in Business: Lessons from Real-Life Experiences