4 Stoic Strategies for Entrepreneurs: Navigating Challenges with Resilience

Embrace Virtue in Business: 

_{How do you showcase virtue in your actions and decisions? How do you prioritize integrity and excellence in everything you do? Whether you're a solopreneur or an entrepreneur, leading a small company or a massive corporation, how you behave as an individual or a company will reveal your true character to your team members, clients, and colleagues.}

_{Remember, your choices will ultimately shape your path, whether it's one you'll love and embrace or one you'll look back on with disappointment and regret. In Meditations 9.4, Marcus Aurelius makes an insightful point: when we act unjustly or unkindly towards others, we only rob ourselves.} 

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_{‍“The person who does wrong does wrong to themselves. The unjust person is unjust to themselves — making themselves evil.”   -Marcus Aurelius}

_{Your kindness exemplifies your brand in your actions and everything you do. One of my fondest childhood memories is watching Mr. Rogers's Neighborhood.}  

_{I remember sitting quietly, playing with Duplos on the coffee table while my mother slept on the couch from her late-night job watching hours of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. I couldn’t possibly know then the master class of etiquette, kindness, courteousness, humility, or forgiveness this man would teach me in my living room on public television.} 

_{Even in the name of his show, he demonstrated extreme virtue. This wasn’t just any neighborhood. This was HIS neighborhood. He made it great. He was the influence of integrity, and he didn’t stop at the edge of his driveway millions of children were instructed and taught how to be successful in life.}   

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_{‍"There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind."  - Fred Rogers.}

_{Mr. Rogers's brand, life's mission and purpose were to be kind, show kindness, and instruct everyone around him how to do the same. How do you illustrate virtue in your actions and decisions? Be like Mr. Rogers.} 

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‍Mastering the Entrepreneurial Journey: 

_{Embarking on starting something new can be quite the rollercoaster ride. Trials and tribulations will pop up along the way, testing your resilience. The market may only sometimes go in your favor, and family issues can add extra stress.} 

_{Remember, you will have unexpected hurdles, a company purchase gone wrong, or a book deal that falls through. To make matters worse, someone might even start selling your product on Amazon without your knowledge! (I can help with that).  And let's not even get started on late shipments or unreliable banks. The list of potential obstacles is endless!}

_{But fear not! How do you overcome these inevitable challenges and keep pushing toward your goals? Well, here's a nugget of wisdom from the stoic philosopher Epictetus: categorize these events as internal or external. This simple shift in perspective can help you gain clarity and take control of the situation.}

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_{‍"The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control."  - Epictetus}

_{What can you control, and what is out of your control? Divide it up and make a list. See what is actually in your control and act on that. Worry about that task. Place all others that are out of your control aside. Don’t fret or lose sleep on things you can’t change.}  

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‍Resilience through Stoic Mindset: 

_{Negative things happen. Mistakes, misunderstandings, and neglect are a part of life and are especially prevalent in business. With only two ways to learn, whether by our own mistakes or the mistakes of others, we are bound to have a learning experience.} 

_{Developing resilience to these hardships can make or break us. Sometimes the only way through an obstacle is to dive right in and move it. To reframe the challenges instead of viewing them as obstacles, see them as opportunities for growth and learning. Remember that adversity is a chance to practice patience, courage, and resilience.} 

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_{‍"The obstacle is the way." - Marcus Aurelius}

_{I love this sentiment. It is even better with Ryan Holiday, an influential, stoic author who wrote a book about this concept. I owe my stoic interest to Ryan. His books have opened my mind to a world of stoicism. I would not have encountered it otherwise. Thank you Ryan!} 

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Mindful Decision-Making and Discipline: 

_{Before panicking or sending that spiteful email, stop and reflect. Take a deep breath and divide the task into internal and external. Then consider the long-term impact by visualizing the best outcome.} 

_{I had this opportunity this week with one of my clients. I was frustrated. They were frustrated. Communication had broken down, and we wanted something else. In an email, I felt accused and blamed for the issue. My knee-jerk reaction was to fire off an email explaining all his errors.} 

_{But that’s not very mindful or disciplined; instead, I stopped. I reflected on what was good in our relationship. I returned to where we were working well together and started dividing the tasks into what I could control and couldn’t.} 

_{Once I visualized the best outcome, I asked how I would want to be informed of an issue. I made a video email—one where I could take my time. Record as many times as needed and explain calmly and caringly the problem by showing my hardship. In the end, we forged a connection by fostering kindness.}

_{Practicing stoic strategies can help your brand and your business. They help us navigate the trails and deliver us with our resilience.  I hope where ever Mr. Rogers is that he knows he made a difference in my life and can be proud of me as I try to show kindness in everything I do.}