How do you turn a "setback" into a springboard?

↓

Setbacks are an inevitable part of life and business.

Whether it’s an unexpected injury, the resignation of a key team member, or the loss of a contract, these moments can feel like a punch to the gut.

But the truth is, setbacks can be springboards to a bigger opportunity, not dead ends.

They can become a means to something even greater when you know how to channel your energy in the right way.

So how do you do that? Here are three steps:

Step 1: Move Your Energy: Don’t Stuff the Emotion

After something challenging happens, the first instinct is often to push through and ignore the discomfort or do a "spiritual bypass" and attempt to find the positive too quickly.

But suppressing emotions can leave you stuck or even send you in a tailspin backwards. To turn the challenge into an opportunity, it's a must to allow yourself to move the emotions that come with the challenge.

While you were growing up, were you taught how to move your emotions? Likely not.

It's an area of discomfort for most of our entrepreneur clients at Ascend Leadership Co. I believe it doesn't need to be hard or mysterious. Moving emotion is really about moving energy. And physical movement is one of the easiest ways to move energy.

Simply put your head phones on, pick a song, and move your body. If you're feeling sad, choose some sad music. If you're feeling frustrated and angry choose something like AC/DC. Once you feel a shift, pick another song. Perhaps you end on an uplifting song.

Let your body move to the music. You know the saying: "Dance like no one is watching?" Try it out.

Step 2: Get Clarity on a 90-Day Vision

Now that you've moved some energy and not stuffed your emotions, it’s time to shift your focus forward.

You must make a very intentional decision that you'll come out of this better than you came into it.

Before you start thinking of an action plan of what to do, first get clear about what you want to create. Write down the date 90 days from now and fill in the blank:

It's now _______ [insert date 90 days from now]. As I look back, back to today, what has to have happened during that period, both personally and professionally, for me to feel happy about my progress?"

Get ruthless with what matters most to you. Don't allow yourself to settle. What is the real opportunity here? Name and claim what you really want and get it down on paper.

This helps you shift from a reactive mindset to a proactive one. It’s not about what happened to you—it’s about what you are going to create next.

Step 3: Revisit Your Outcomes & Take Brave Action

Each morning over the next 90 days, read your 90-day outcomes out loud and ask yourself what are one or two brave actions that you can take that day to move your vision forward.

It might be a difficult conversation or taking a risk you’ve been avoiding. Brave actions create momentum and empower you to transform setbacks into breakthroughs.

Setbacks can be a huge catalyst for growth when you move your energy, create a vision, and take bold action. If you're ready to have coaching support to come out of a challenge better than you came into it, let's talk.

Book a get-to-know-you call with me here: https://www.ascendleadership.com/call.

Here's to business with breathing room!

Nadine Nicholson, Co-founder, Ascend Leadership Co.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Ascend Leadership Co. is a premier leadership coaching company dedicated to helping powerhouse, high-earning entrepreneurs to become more powerful, productive, and present leaders. Nadine and Derek Nicholson help clients break free from the Middle Zone of time stress, guilt, and burnout—so they can take back their time, energy, and joy (while climbing to never-before-seen levels of business success. They realize their “someday” dreams NOW and make the next year and decade their best yet. Learn more at: https://www.ascendleadership.com/.