Building a business is hard. Despite what social media would like for you to believe, it is not an easy thing to do. It takes years to become an overnight success. Of course, there is an exception to every rule. While those exceptions are hyper-visible, it is not the norm.
I love reading and learning from real stories. I can relate to the person that has had to build from loss or setback because that is my journey. I celebrate those who have it easy, and things just come. That's not my story, nothing has been easy, and nothing comes for me. I have to put in the work and face loss.
I have learned in life and through entrepreneurship the distinct difference between losing and taking a loss. Taking a loss is an art; it is about how you failed, was set back, the learnings you take, how you recover and most importantly, how you apply what you have learned as you move on. Losing is stagnant.
When Antony Joshua got knocked out by Andy Ruiz and lost the heavyweight title in the process, the world, Joshua and Ruiz were shocked. I wasn't because, from experience, I know the most lethal person is the one with nothing to lose.
My respect for Joshua as a boxer grew tenfold after that fight because he took the loss. There were no excuses; he respected his opponent, went into the lab, came back, and dominated the heavyweight division.
Taking a loss is never easy. It is temporary, but when you master the art form, everything changes.