Throughout life and business, one truth remains constant: things don’t always go to plan. Markets shift, financial pressures arise, and unexpected roadblocks can throw us off course. The key to long-term success isn’t just having a solid strategy—it’s having the adaptability to pivot when necessary and, most importantly, to stay in the game.
A Lesson in Adaptability
I’ve been running a business for over 13 years—11 of those as a limited company. Like any entrepreneur, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges, but one particular period stands out. A number of years ago, my company hit a major cash flow problem, and for the first time, I couldn’t see a way through. But I knew one thing: I wasn’t ready to walk away.
So, I did what I had to do. I reached out to a friend who ran a building company and asked if he had any work available. His response? “We need a labourer—think you’re up for it?”
It wasn’t a role I’d ever aspired to, but I said yes. For 12 weeks, I worked on a construction site, doing everything from carrying roof tiles and plasterboarding to packing skips (which, by the way, is an art form in itself). I learned just enough about wiring and building, to be “dangerous” if left to my own devices (I wasn’t left unsupervised just to be clear!)—but more importantly, I learned what true adaptability looks like.
Why Adaptability Matters
During that time, an opportunity came up with a client that ultimately helped rebuild my business cash flow and became a long-standing and important client relationship. Because I stayed in the game, I was able to step back into my work stronger than before. Since then, business has had its ups and downs, but ultimately we’ve continued to grow.
This experience taught me two key lessons:
- Adaptability is at the heart of resilience. You won’t always have control over what happens, but you do have control over how you respond.
- Staying in the game is what matters. Sometimes, that means stepping sideways, taking on something temporary, or shifting focus—but as long as you keep moving forward, you’ll find a way through.
What Does This Mean for You?
Think about a time when you had to adapt to a difficult situation. How did you handle it? What did you learn? The next time you face a challenge, remind yourself that you’ve done it before—and you can do it again.
If you’re going through a tough period, ask yourself: What is the most important thing to me right now? Identifying that core priority will help you make the decisions needed to push through.
Life and business will always throw challenges our way. The question is: will you adapt, or will you give up?
Here’s to staying in the game!
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