How can you expect your business to thrive during tough times if you’re not investing in yourself as a leader?
During my toughest business period, I still invested in my own leadership development. Counterintuitive? Yes. Essential? Absolutely.
In entrepreneurial life, there are inevitable periods when we’re struggling. Maybe the business is facing challenges, or we’re dealing with personal difficulties. But these are precisely the times when investing in ourselves becomes most crucial.
So even when I was navigating difficult business periods, I still made time for Entrepreneurs’ Organization events and Forum meetings. It might seem counterintuitive – spending money you may not have, using time that feels scarce – but it’s actually an essential investment.
Why?
Because in any relationship – work, family, or personal – you first show up as an individual. My years in EO taught me this fundamental truth about presence.
Showing up for myself, especially during difficult times, provides exactly what I need most: perspective, support, and often solutions I wouldn’t find in isolation.
The fellow entrepreneurs I’ve grown alongside in EO understand this balance intuitively. We’ve learned together that stepping away from immediate challenges to invest in their growth isn’t a luxury – it’s a strategic necessity that ultimately improves how they approach every challenge.
When you’re in the middle of your darkest day, connecting with peers who understand your journey can be the difference between merely surviving and finding a path to thriving again.