How To Use The Tough Times In Business To Become Stronger

Kevin Arrow

We often talk about business growth in terms of learning through courses, books, or seminars, but one of the most powerful forms of growth comes from experience—especially during challenging times. Whether the change is something you choose or something that's forced upon you, difficult periods in business can lead to significant benefits. These times, while stressful, provide a real opportunity to transform into a stronger, more resilient business owner.

Challenging moments in business are not simply hurdles; they are lessons that shape us personally and professionally. Let’s explore how the tough times you face can be the making of you, your business, and your leadership skills.

1. Self-Reliance: The Foundation of Resilience

Difficult times push you to depend on yourself. While it’s comforting to have a team or advisors around, there are moments when you need to make tough decisions independently. Whether it’s navigating a cash-flow crisis, handling a problematic client, or managing operations through staff shortages, these moments test your ability to steer the ship alone.

Example: The Solo Decision-Maker

Imagine a small business owner faced with the sudden loss of a key client that provided the majority of their revenue. It would be easy to panic, but the most successful business owners recognise that they must rely on themselves to resolve the issue. They might initially consult their advisors, but it’s ultimately their responsibility to find the next client, renegotiate terms with suppliers, or pivot their offering.

Why self-reliance is important
During these times, you build self-trust, learning that you are capable of weathering storms. This isn’t about becoming isolated; it's about developing the confidence to know that when push comes to shove, you can handle the pressure. You are the constant in your business, so strengthening your ability to rely on yourself makes you stronger for the future.

Practical Tip:

When faced with a tough situation, take a moment to reflect on past challenges you’ve overcome. How did you make it through those times? Often, we forget the solutions we’ve already applied successfully. Drawing on your own experience will remind you of your capability.

2. Gratitude: Turning Losses into Gains

Business challenges often come with loss, whether it’s losing clients, money, or momentum. But with loss comes an unexpected opportunity: gratitude. This might sound counter-intuitive when you’re grappling with a dwindling revenue stream, but taking a step back to appreciate what’s left can shift your mindset dramatically.

Example: The Disappearing Client

Let’s say your business loses a long-standing client. The immediate response may be frustration or even fear about replacing that income. However, through this loss, you may find that you can better serve your remaining clients by investing the extra time into providing a higher level of service. Perhaps you also gain insights into why the client left, which can inform future business improvements.

Why gratitude matters
Gratitude is not about dismissing your losses but learning to appreciate what remains and what the challenge can teach you. Studies have shown that practising gratitude improves mental resilience, which is crucial during difficult times . Rather than focusing on what's lost, being grateful helps you recognise the strength you’ve built through the experience.

Practical Tip:

At the end of each week, write down three things that went well for your business, even if they seem minor. This helps develop a habit of gratitude, which will serve you well during more challenging periods.

3. Self-Improvement: Learning from Mistakes

Mistakes are inevitable in business, but instead of being discouraged by them, successful business owners see them as learning opportunities. Whether it’s missing a deadline, sending the wrong product to a customer, or misjudging the market demand for a new service, each mistake provides valuable insights.

Example: The Missed Opportunity

Picture a business that launches a new product only to find that the market response is lukewarm at best. Rather than viewing this as a failure, the business owner could dig into customer feedback and data to understand where the disconnect happened. Was it the marketing strategy? The pricing? The product itself? By investigating and making adjustments, the business can re-enter the market with a stronger, more tailored approach.

Why self-improvement is key
The process of refining your business practices after a mistake builds resilience and adaptability. Mistakes become stepping stones towards improvement rather than sources of frustration. In the end, your ability to learn and adapt will be the determining factor in your long-term success.

Practical Tip:

When a mistake occurs, take time to conduct a “post-mortem” analysis. Ask yourself and your team what went wrong, how it can be avoided next time, and what specific changes you can make. A structured approach to mistakes prevents emotional reactions from clouding better judgement.

4. Attitude: The Power of Positivity

It’s natural to feel angry or discouraged when things don’t go as planned. However, dwelling on negative emotions can trap you in a mindset that hampers progress. Successful entrepreneurs often share one trait in common: they maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity. This doesn’t mean ignoring challenges but choosing to see them as opportunities for growth.

Example: The Client Complaint

Consider a business that receives a negative review from a disgruntled client. Instead of reacting defensively, the business owner uses the feedback to address the problem and improve customer service. By responding calmly and constructively, not only is the relationship often salvaged, but the business grows from the feedback.

Why attitude is everything
A positive attitude allows you to see potential solutions where others might see only problems. It transforms obstacles into opportunities for learning and keeps you forward-focused rather than stuck in regret or frustration.

Practical Tip:

When faced with a problem, try reframing your initial emotional response. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” ask, “What can I learn from this experience?” This shift in mindset can help you find solutions more quickly.

5. Adaptability: Evolving with Circumstance

Tough times often require you to change your approach. Whether it’s shifting your business model, adopting new technology, or rethinking your marketing strategy, adaptability is essential to surviving and thriving through change.

Example: The Pandemic Pivot

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many businesses were forced to pivot. Restaurants became takeaway services, retail shops moved online, and consultants embraced virtual meetings. Those that adapted quickly managed to stay afloat and, in some cases, discovered new, profitable ways of doing business.

Why adaptability counts
Adaptability isn’t just about reacting to external circumstances; it’s about being proactive in finding new opportunities and adjusting your strategy to meet current needs. The more flexible you are, the more resilient your business becomes.

Practical Tip:

Build regular “what if” scenarios into your business planning. By considering potential future challenges, you can start identifying ways to adapt before they hit. This will make transitions smoother when external changes arise.

6. Collaboration: The Strength of Your Network

It’s easy to feel isolated during tough times, but it’s essential to lean on your network. Whether it’s your internal team, industry peers, or mentors, collaboration often opens the door to new perspectives and solutions.

Example: The Peer Support

A small business owner struggling with financial issues might reach out to a mentor who has navigated similar challenges. Through this relationship, the mentor offers advice on cost-saving strategies, provides introductions to new clients, or helps the business owner apply for relevant funding.

Why collaboration matters
By collaborating, you leverage collective knowledge and experience, turning potential isolation into a source of strength. In difficult times, having trusted people around you allows for more innovative and informed decision-making.

Practical Tip:

Make an effort to build relationships with other business owners and professionals in your field. Having a strong network means you can tap into their expertise when you need advice or support.

7. Perseverance: The Key to Long-Term Success

Perseverance might be the single most important trait of a successful business owner. The ability to keep going when the path ahead seems impossible is often what separates those who survive tough times from those who do not.

Example: The Long Road to Success

Many successful businesses were built on a foundation of perseverance. Think of Dyson, which took over a decade to develop a commercially successful vacuum cleaner. James Dyson faced failure after failure, but his perseverance paid off. His company is now a global success story.

Why perseverance wins
Tough times are temporary, but the strength you gain from persevering through them lasts. Those who continue pushing forward, even when it seems easier to quit, often find that the challenges they face become the stories of their success.

Practical Tip:

When you feel like giving up, set short-term goals that are easier to achieve. Break down larger problems into smaller, more manageable tasks. Each small victory will build momentum and keep you moving forward.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Tough Times

Challenging times in business are inevitable. But instead of dreading them, see them as opportunities to grow stronger. Whether it's developing self-reliance, learning from mistakes, or adapting to new circumstances, each difficulty you encounter offers valuable lessons that will serve you for years to come.

By embracing these tough times, you'll not only become a better business owner but also a stronger leader. Remember, the path to success is rarely smooth, but the resilience you build along the way will be your greatest asset.


If you're looking for support during tough times in your business, consider joining the Business Success Dojo Club, where like-minded individuals share experiences, advice, and encouragement on the road to success.

Kevin Arrow
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Written by Kevin Arrow

Kevin Arrow is the CEO of the Online Visibility Academy where ethical entrepreneurs can train in digital marketing skills


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  • Sheer stubbornness, I can relate to that Kevin! Experience is the key, You have to DO something. Getting stuck in a seditary learning mode doesn’t do much for you. Pushing through the fear and taking action will always offer a type of learning and knowledge that you cannot gain any other way…even if that experience is a failure!

    • We have to move forward and make choices to gain experience. I have never failed its a word i particularly dislike as we ALWAYS get something from every move we make even if it’s not the result we were hoping for

  • I agree, Kevin. Even if the world has tumbled around you, remember the experience you have gained from what you have done in the past.

    If you’ve messed up, learn how not to do it again. If you’ve missed an opportunity, put in place processes to prevent this happening again. If you’ve totally lost the plot, you should definitely start again from a clean sheet.

    Regular review of your business and how it works is not only a good thing, but therapeutic. It gives you the chance to look at what you do from a different slant, and getting a third party’s advice can be the difference between make or break in some instances.

    • I couldn’t count the amount of opportunities we have missed, though looking at it they probably weren’t right for us then. People frequently ask how often they should review their business plan, the answer is always as often as you need to every business owner will review it differently.

  • Music to my ears! It’s totally true the issue isn’t really what curveballs or crossroads we experience but how we deal with them. Staying resourceful in the first place is obviously a great place to start so we can better anticipate things and quickly deal with them before we descend onto a deep and dark pit of despair. And even if we do find ourselves there…there’s usually gold to be found in the mud!

    • haha hi colette, i agree totally, the gold in the mud may not even be financial, what is guaranteed is that every turn and decision made always leads to experience and that is golden

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