Every entrepreneur goes through tough times.

 

It all starts so excitingly! The dream is big, the energy is high, the people are with you, how can you fail when everything feels so right?

 

Then, BOOM!

 

 

No money, no prospects, no light at the end of the tunnel. You can hear a faint sucking noise and can picture you, your money, and your dreams going down the tubes…

 

Shit happens. As bright a vision as you had at the beginning of your journey, it can’t erase the hard reality of that moment when you realise you are out-gunned, out-numbered and out-of-energy.

 

The first instinct is to blame someone, anyone. There must be someone you can deflect to and in some way limit the damage to your reputation and bank account.

 

The second reaction is to start doubting your own ability. “Am I good enough?”

 

The third knee-jerk is to panic. “Aaaaaaaaaaaah! How do I get out this mess?”

 

 

This is the real test.

 

Do you truly believe in what you’re doing? Do you feel it is a worthy dream? A dream worth risking your child’s education?

 

If the answer is no: Game over. Insert coin.

 

If the answer is yes: You must make the magic happen.

 

 

Count your blessings, say some prayers, put on your game face and fake it till you make it.

 

Its easier when you have a partner. Being alone can be anti-depressant-addiction inducing.

 

The more people swimming in your direction the more likely you are to reach the other side.

 

Every successful person in the world has a story. You see the good stuff, you don’t see the bad stuff. Read the biographies of people like Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela and Benjamin Franklin. Turns out their trajectories were not a straight line upwards. Most stories look like this:

 

 

Because it looks so easy from the outside you start feeling like the world is unfair.

 

The world is not unfair. It just is.

 

Business is rough and tumble.

 

The downs are inevitable. Suck it up and push through. Yes, it’s hard, but it’s a lot easier when you realize you’re not the first to hit a sticky patch.

 

If all else fails, remember this:

 

When you find yourself going through hell, keep moving.