The Golden Scars of Business

Years ago, I was browsing in an antique store when a beautiful small ceramic bowl caught my eye. The bowl was smooth with golden veins across its surface.

Intrigued, I picked it up. The gold lines were made when the bowl was repaired using Kintsugi, the ancient Japanese art of mending pottery. This bowl had been given new life.? Its imperfections were charming and a testament to its resilience.

Kintsugi is a centuries-old technique of repairing broken pottery with precious metals like gold, silver or platinum.? Instead of hiding the cracks, Kintsugi transforms them into iridescent lines.? This technique offers a unique metaphor for navigating the inevitable bumps and breaks in the business journey.

Just as a perfectly crafted ceramic can be shattered in an instant, unexpected events can disrupt even the most well-planned business operations.? When faced with an unexpected setback, like a lost client or a market downturn, the initial reaction might be discouragement.? Faint not. Here are five steps you can take to repair what’s broken and emerge even stronger.

Don't Ignore the Cracks

The first step in Kintsugi is acknowledging the break. In business, addressing the setback is also crucial. Analyze what happened and identify contributing factors.? Ignoring the break will delay the opportunity to reroute your team on a more successful path.

Assess the Damage

Kintsugi involves methodically examining the damage to determine the best repair method.? Businesses facing challenges can learn from this by conducting a thorough assessment.? Look beyond the surface and seek the root causes.? Was it a faulty marketing strategy? A miscommunication with a key partner?? Identifying the problems allows for targeted solutions.

Repair with Purpose

Interestingly, Kintsugi does not just mend the break. It enhances what existed before.? Essentially, it transforms fractures into opportunity.? Businesses facing setbacks can adopt a similar approach. It’s important to learn from what caused the problem so that you can avoid it in the future.? Look for new market opportunities, refine your product offering or consider re-evaluating your target audience.

Celebrate the Journey

The finished Kintsugi piece celebrates its history, revealing the cracks as golden lines.? Likewise, acknowledging your past struggles can strengthen your team. A team member that takes the lead on devising creative solutions to your challenge should be acknowledged for their contribution. This not only celebrates their work, but also creates a culture where learning from past difficulties is valued, leading to a more resilient team.

Build Resilience for the Future

A Kintsugi piece is often considered more valuable than its original form due to its unique history and strength.? A business that has weathered storms and emerged stronger is better equipped to handle future challenges.? The lessons learned from navigating setbacks build resilience and create a more adaptable organization.

The Kintsugi approach encourages us to see setbacks not as roadblocks, but as opportunities for growth.? Handled with care, the cracks in your business journey can become the golden seams that lead to future success.

?#businessresilence #marketing

Katherine Hunter-Blyden is a CMO Partner at TechCXO. She is a senior marketing executive with P&L management experience. As a full-stack marketer, Katherine's experience includes brand strategy, advertising, digital marketing, sales promotion, product management, pricing and market research. Katherine helps businesses meet their goals with data-driven, quantifiable results.