Prosper Spring

you succeed. First, you need to reject myths
about resilience. That it is a characteristic
you’re born with; that there is a sure-fire
recipe for attaining it; or that resilient
people always power through stressful
situations with ease.
In fact, building resilience is more of a
practice, requiring mindful application. It
involves cultivating the self-awareness to
understand stressors; reframing thought
patterns; and building social support
networks to help emotionally navigate the
spectacular highs, as well as the unexpected
lows.
So, everybody stumbles. What matters is
that when you’re knocked down, you get
back up, you carry on, and you take valuable
lessons into the next part of your journey.
2. Connect with, and lean on, a peer
group
Being at the helm of a business can be a
lonely experience. It is therefore key to find,
connect with, and learn from those who ‘get
it.’ The importance of developing
connections as a way to enhance resilience
has been an important lesson and it’s how
we work in the Start Up Business Club.
By creating networks and communities of
dependable, supportive peers, you will learn
valuable lessons and draw strength from
those who are on the same rollercoaster ride
as you.
3. Find trusted mentors
While this might be your first entrepreneurial
venture, many have gone before you. Find
those experienced mentors willing to share
their insights; challenge your thinking; help
you identify creative solutions and motivate
and encourage you to take calculated risks.
There are many routes to finding trusted
mentors. Through investors; business
incubators and accelerators; industry events;
professional associations; or simply by
approaching those you personally admire in
business. It’s vital to be clear on what it is
you’re looking for, be bold, and ask for
advice.
As your business grows, you may need
‘‘
Minding the mind is hugely
personal, but by making it
part of your routine along
with your work, is a great
investment in both personal
and business performance.
‘‘
‘‘
Everybody stumbles... what
matters is that when you’re
knocked down, you get
back up and carry on, and
you take valuable lessons
into your journey...
more than one mentor, and they may
change over time. Remember, mentors are
different from coaches and therapists, and
they don’t typically seek payment for their
advice and guidance.
4. Prioritise mental fitness
The entrepreneurial rollercoaster can be
extremely stressful, and the mental load is
often immense. In this context, keeping your
mental health in top shape is as important
as exercising the rest of your body.
Many successful leaders are taking
positive steps to understand their own
thought processes and behaviours, using
tools and adopting routines to help them
maintain peak performance.
Minding the mind is hugely personal, but
by making it part of your routine, alongside
your work commitments, constitutes a great
investment in both personal and business
performance.
5. Know your strengths, and
play to them
Growing a business might make you feel
like you are expected to be a jack-of-alltrades.
But no one is good at everything, so
save time trying. Knowing where your
strengths lie, but also where your
weaknesses are is vital to ensure that both
you and your business thrive. Focus on the
stuff you’re good at rather than spreading
yourself across everything.’’
While you might not yet be in a position
to delegate all essential responsibilities and
tasks, it pays to assess your skills and the
impact of trying to ‘do it all.’ It could make
all the difference.
Delegate or outsource the jobs that you
dislike, the ones that you keep putting to
the bottom of the pile as they take up most
of your time. Your time is money.
Outsourcing will free up your time so you
can spend that with your family, or just get
some ‘me’ time. Remember, this is why you
probably started your own business in the
first place; get back your quality time.
6. Celebrate the wins
In the fast-paced world of a scaling
business, the to-do list is never-ending, and
the highs and lows are often moments
apart. In this context, it’s important to take
time to recognise, and celebrate success.
Achievements come in all sizes, so this
isn’t about waiting to celebrate the ‘big
wins’. Acknowledging small
accomplishments motivates and inspires, it
relieves stress, and it gets organisations
through rough patches. Make a habit of
reflecting on success. Appreciate and share
the achievements.
And remember, taking time to do so will
benefit you and the wider business.
Set yourself SMART Goals – Specific,
Measurable, Achievable, Realistic,
Timeframe.
Work on 90-day goals and celebrate
those small wins and achievements.
PROSPER SPRING 2023 27
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Start Up Business Club Events coming up…
20th April:
18th May:
15th June:
Customers Journey: Customer Services & Upselling
Sales Training: Presentations, Handling Objections,
Closing the sale
HR & Employment Law
If you are not a member of the Start-Up Business Club and would like to
book your place, please email AlisonTrinder@blackcountrychamber.co.uk
or call her on 07980 906921
Events are £25 +VAT for non-Start-Up Business Club members
FREE to Start-Up Business Club members only
Location: All events are held at
Black Country & Marches Institute of Technology,
Zoological Drive,Dudley, West MidlandsDY1 4AL