What Veterans Can Teach Us About Business Resilience
When people think about military service, they often picture discipline, fitness, or bravery. What is less often discussed is resilience. For me, resilience is the single biggest lesson I took from my nine years in the Parachute Regiment and Special Forces Support Group.
Resilience is the ability to keep going when things do not go to plan. In the Army, missions rarely unfold exactly as expected. You adapt, you make quick decisions, and you carry on. That mindset has been invaluable in business.
Every entrepreneur will face setbacks. A project might fall through, a client might cancel, or the economy might turn against you. What matters is how you respond. Do you give up, or do you adapt? Do you see failure as the end, or as feedback that helps you improve next time?
Veterans learn that resilience is built, not born. It comes from repetition, from facing challenges again and again until they no longer stop you. That is something every business owner can learn from.
I believe resilience is not about never failing. It is about knowing that failure is not final. It is about staying calm, keeping perspective, and moving forward one step at a time.
For any entrepreneur reading this, my advice is simple. When you face your next setback, take a breath, look at what you can learn, and then keep going. The ability to carry on is what separates those who succeed from those who stop too soon.