Resilience is multidimensional. There is no single, universal recipe that works for everyone, but there are a few elements (or contributing factors) that we can focus on in this work.

Each person has different strengths, and different areas will be the most impactful for their particular situation.

Support systems

Having an external support system is critical for the majority of people. I see it as almost a kind of umbrella that shields and protects you. These are your mentors, founder communities, and personal relationships. They can provide their perspective, feedback, advice and emotional support when things are tough. Do you feel you have the right people in your corner? Or does opening up to others and being vulnerable feel very uncomfortable?

Purpose

Your purpose is like the north star that sets your direction. It guides you to make sure you’re on the right path and that your environment is aligned with it. Reminding yourself of your purpose and mission and what actually pushed you to start your company can definitely help you find the motivation when things get tough.

Identity

Every challenge will feel almost existential if your self-worth is linked to the success or failure of your business.

Separating yourself from your company really helps to keep things in perspective. Remember, there is a world outside your office, and being a founder is not your only identity. Ask yourself: if the company fails or is not doing very well, how does that affect how I see myself?

Dealing with uncertainty

This is non-negotiable for founders, and if it doesn't come naturally to you, it's time to do some work. How comfortable are you with uncertain circumstances? How well can you make decisions in the presence of ambiguity? Can you take action without having complete information? Or does it lead to procrastination and/or "analysis-paralysis"?

Growth mindset

It goes without saying that it's necessary for everyone, not just for founders. But it may be easier said than done when the stakes are high and when something close to your heart is at play.

How well are you able to focus on learning and the path towards your goal rather than actual outcome? Are you curious enough to challenge your perspective and assumptions? How easy is it for you to broaden your perspective and the way you view situations and problems? Do you actively seek different points of view? How well are you able to pivot and adapt?

Emotions

Emotions are part of being human, and suppressing or ignoring them is not a long-term strategy. Coaching can help you uncover emotional patterns that drive your thoughts and behaviours. Being able to step in, recognize and understand what triggers you can help manage emotions, rather than being carried away by them. Self-awareness and self-regulation are important elements of emotional intelligence, and will help you in your relationships with others.

Thoughts

During a coaching process, you will examine your thinking patterns and underlying beliefs that you carry about yourself and the world. These are often deeply rooted, since we developed them as part of our lived experience. They serve as a kind of filter to define how we view ourselves and others, and influence the expectations we put on ourselves and others. Many of them don’t serve us and, in fact, have quite the opposite effect. As they feed into what our inner voice is saying to us, they can trigger doubts about our capabilities.

Understanding thinking patterns that hold you back can help strengthen a sense of agency and self-efficacy.

When you are aware of your blind spots, it will be easier to step back and clearly distinguish facts of a situation from your perception.

Behaviours

Our emotions and thoughts influence our behaviours, and vice versa. Uncovering those links is critical if you want to introduce a lasting change. We attach meaning to the way we act, what we do, and don't do, and judge ourselves and others based on actions.

Our behaviours can be in contradiction with the "kind of person" we think we are, or want to be. Often, we already know what we should be doing (sticking to our boundaries, prioritizing mental and physical recovery, etc.), but somehow something is getting in our way. We need to uncover what's missing to make the shift.