When the Wright Brothers were planning to put their plans for aviation to the test, they wrote into the Weather Center and asked for a list of America’s windiest cities.
Of course, Chicago was at the top of the list. But, the brothers knew it was too populated (and who wants a crowd when you are trying to invent something, right?).
They ran down the list until they hit #6, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
During the winter, spring and summer months, the brothers were successful bicycle shop owners in Ohio, earning enough to fund their aviation dreams back in North Carolina in the fall.
But the Outer Banks at the turn of the century was almost completely isolated, making their work and home life far from comfortable.
In 1901, Wilbur said, “We doubted that we would ever resume our experiments. Although we had broken the record for distance in gliding…When we looked at the time and money expended, and considered the progress made and distance yet to go, we considered our experiments a failure.”
Just two years later, they would go on to make history and seismically change the world.
Success!!
Yes–Grit, mental toughness, is the characteristic is most closely linked to success, and what we must have as business owners.
It is impossible to not think about how things would be different had the brothers given up when their discouragement was so loud.
So that moment when Wilbur said he was totally discouraged? The startup world calls this the ” Trough of Sorrow.” The moment when you hit a setback and the novelty of what you are doing has worn off, you feel weighted down by the time, money and expense of moving forward.
In fact, history is filled with these moments…battles, wars, art and, of course, business.
Here are some tips to increase your mental toughness so that your business will thrive.
1. Get Sleep!
I have to include this as my top recommendation because things always feel worse at night. Each morning is filled with hope and possibility.
2. Step Away
Don’t allow yourself to loop on negative experiences. Work from a different location. Take a weekend trip. Take a trail run. All of these things will bring the problems into perspective, and try not to make a decision until you. Most of all–do not go on social media if you are really upset.
3. Do uncomfortable things
If you want strength, you have to forge that through discomfort. I am a huge fan of cold showers, exercising often and sometimes just doing things I don’t want to do because it will make me better/faster/stronger.
4. Reassess your assets and strengths
Make sure that you take a good look at how far you have come, and what connections and goodwill you have generated over the years. Chances are, you have more available to you than you realize.
I will end this with the reminder that if you were given the desire for your business, then you will be provided the path to see it through.
XOXO,
Amy
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