Failed in a Business Venture? Here’s Why You Need to Try Again
Updated: May 5, 2021
I can’t even begin to count the number of failed ventures, partnerships, marketing campaigns, and product launches I’ve had in my entrepreneurial career. Since 2005, I’ve been collecting the failures, analyzing each one, and building something better the next time.
But there are times I want to hang up the hat, call it quits, and head back over to a comfy 9-5 where, at this point in my career, I could be making well over $500K with bonuses and stock options.
Any entrepreneur who has failed in a venture will immediately agree that business ownership can hurt. But after the wound has healed a little, they will also be the first to try to do it again and again because of the joy it brings.
I remember my first business, Creative Complex. It was immature, painful, wonderful, and hopeless all at the same time. When it failed, I could have just given up on business or learned from it and looked harder for a better, more satisfying business next time.
I chose the latter and I’m so glad I did. Several years later I found my purpose and passion in business and now I’m married to my calling – my ‘born to do’ identity. It has not always been easy. In fact, there have been moments when my wife has wondered how she could have married someone with such financial instability. But those thoughts were only momentary and the shared joys of her being able to stay home with our child and not work have been immense and overflowing.
I’m not the best business person in the world, but the marketplace seems to love me through thick and thin. Its honest advice may hurt sometimes, but I can always depend on it. Wisdom has given me everything it has to give, and together we move forward to bring visions to life.
The Bible says:
"Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly". Proverbs 3:13-18 NLT
Entrepreneurship hurts—but it is well worth the pain and sacrifice. Next to my family, nothing has given me more reasons to live for than the passion of pursuing my calling. And since I’ve put God first in my business, He’s the one closest to me, and no matter what happens, I can trust in the spirit with my life.
Look for your calling in business, live for what you were born to do, and you will find it. But in order to keep the business, you must give it away. Give it to God.
We Godpreneurs give ourselves to their entrepreneurial calling; trust in God to be faithful and accept his holy spirit wisdom into our ventures.