Do setbacks really SET you back?

I’m sure many of us have experienced a setback at some point in our business. Either it was financial, emotional, a relationship, a series of bad days – something that sets your day back. And by that I mean, you are thinking to yourself "why did I even get out of bed"?

The month of June (yes, the entire MONTH) has been like that for me. Every time I go one step forward, I seem to go about five steps back. Either the email system isn’t working, my computer shuts down, the website won't update, I get locked out of online banking, or I simply make a human error that takes me hours to fix.

So, I’m going to share with you one thing I’ve learned through this mess of a June.

It’s OK to have a setback.

There, I’ve said it and I’m going to repeat it.

It’s OK to have a setback.

Setbacks happen – they aren’t really something you can avoid. The key is how you handle them.

Do you blame the system, tool or process? Do you complain to anyone who will listen? Do you need a little cheese with your whine??

Or, do you look at a setback as a chance to improve.

I know for me, I learned a lot more about our email software this past month than I have in the past 6 months. And it’s because of the setback. I also know exactly who to call when I lock myself out of our fancy-schmancy online business banking. I didn’t know that there was a direct line, but now I’ve added it to my emergency phone number’s list.

If setbacks are going to happen anyhow (and trust me, they eventually will), use them to your advantage. Learn from them, implement something so that the next time a setback happens – it only steals 30 minutes of your time instead of 5 hours. You are able to see a solution immediately – and voila, no more problem.

I’ll leave you with this. Ranked by scholars as one of the greatest presidents of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. said, “Complaining about a problem without proposing a solution is called whining.”

Touché, Teddy, touché.

What are some ways to overcome setbacks in your business?

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Donita Fowler is a Content Producer, Social Poster, Secret Weapon, and Former News Junkie. (Ok, no more 3rd person) I reside in Calgary, AB, with my husband and two children. I work with small business owners and entrepreneurs who don’t have a consistent online presence. Together, we create a digital footprint through blogging, social posting and website content.

Fowler branded companies - Vested Interest Group | The Measurable Difference

Facebook: Donita Fowler Twitter: @DonitaFowler