Entrepreneurs are no strangers to getting it wrong sometimes. In fact, you could say the lows are part of the process when you’re pursuing your passion. Let’s face it: if it were easy, everyone would own a successful business.  So, if you’ve experienced a setback or two, you’re not alone. Yes, sharing our success stories makes more comfortable conversations, but we can learn more from talking about where we went wrong. 

It’s About Time We Talk About Setbacks, Upsets, and Failure

The latest podcast episode of More Details, Please, continues to focus on this season’s theme of ‘time’ to help you turn your passion into purpose and achieve your goals. Angela and Emmanuel Williams share advice on how to bounce back from failure, drawing from their 20+ years of experience building a successful franchise and mobile cleaning company. Dr Theron Williams joins the conversation. A pastor, author, educator, and founder of The Bible is Black History Institute, Dr Williams reminds us that failure is a teacher, not an excuse to give up.

Don’t Ignore the Problem

Angela says to think of a setback as an opportunity for a comeback. Yes, it is tempting to ignore the problem or setback, but this doesn’t make it go away.  She shares a memory of when a business deal didn’t go to plan. ‘It was a really painful experience. I cried and I prayed and I cried and I prayed. Then I got up, dusted myself off, and said – alright. Back to the basics.’ And this meant acknowledging what had gone wrong and learning from this major upset. Listen to the episode to discover the three steps Angela took to get back on track and turn in the direction she wanted.

Figure Out How to Pivot

‘Setbacks happen. Things happen in your life. You have to figure out how to pivot and focus on something else. That’s exactly what I did,’ says Angela.  If you want to know how to bounce back from failure, you’ve got to figure out how to pivot. Focus on something else. Instead of fixating on failure, use some quiet time to plan what you are going to do next. As well as listening to what Angela has to say on this matter, you can also do the following:

• Stay curious and be willing to learn. What new skill or mindset do you need to develop to take you in a new direction?
• Talk to someone who can help you expand your opportunities. A mentor has already made their mistakes – and they’re willing to share their tips to help you avoid more setbacks. See entrepreneurs share their secrets and tips.
• Get uncomfortable. Figuring out how to pivot brings uncertainty – but also growth and opportunities.

Practice Meditation to Come Back Stronger

Facing a setback often brings up a hundred negative thoughts that can mess with your head. And you can’t figure out how to reboot your mindset and move on because there is too much to think about. If this sounds familiar, Emmanuel has some advice: practice meditation to come back stronger. ‘Meditation means your ability to be able to focus. Or we say meditation and prayer is the ability to become more familiar with something. The stories we tell ourselves and the emotions that are triggered as a result – that’s what we become more familiar with.’

In the pressurized world of entrepreneurship, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the upsets and internal doubts. But meditation can be life-changing, according to Emmanuel. ‘When you become more familiar with the stories you’re telling yourself and the way that’s making you feel emotionally… that’s like a car traveling a hundred miles an hour, and you slam on the brakes. It brings the light of awareness into your dark space.’

Redefine What Success Is

In a world that constantly tells us to do more, earn more, and be more, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that success means becoming famous, rich, or forever climbing some kind of career ladder. But learning how to bounce back from failure can start with a simple step: questioning what success or failure means to you. ‘If money and fame define success, then Jesus was the biggest failure who ever lived,’ says Dr. Theron Williams. 

Jesus didn’t have great wealth. He focused on compassion, helping others and inner truth, and his impact has lasted for thousands of years. Whether you’re religious or not, the point stands. You must redefine what success is. Again, this is where meditation can come in. It is a simple tool that can help you reconnect with what really matters. Even 5 minutes of meditation a day can help you reconnect with yourself. You can also put these steps into practice:

• Dr. Williams encourages you to ask: How is your life impacting people in your community? 
• Write down success in your own words. Make it personal. Maybe you want to start living life with purpose – doing work that feels meaningful. Or perhaps you want to do more for people and the planet through sustainable work. 
• Focus on what energizes you instead of what looks good on paper.
• Be honest and ask yourself if you are making the most of your time. Does how you spend your time align with what you care about?

Trust in Yourself

To sum up, bouncing back from failure is not impossible, even though it might seem like it at the time. You’ve got to trust that what you do next – your plan – is bigger than your problem. Moreover, your comeback starts with your mindset, your support system, and your faith. Furthermore, faith doesn’t have to mean a religion. It can also mean trust in yourself while believing in the process, the pivot, and the idea that the best is yet to come. 

Angela and Emmanuel have lots more to share on the subject, including more inspirational advice from Dr. Williams. Tune into the podcast to discover why it’s about time we talked about setbacks, upsets, and failure. This conversation could be all you need to set you on the path to growth and achieving success on your terms. 

WATCH THE FULL PODCAST EPISODE:

Want to join more conversations with Angela and Emmanuel? Subscribe to our ‘More Details, Please’ podcast and join the Williams as they talk to more go-getting entrepreneurs and motivational people who want to help you succeed.