What Turnarounds Teach You About Yourself (and Life)

There’s that moment in the turnaround when you realize just how bad things really are. Maybe it’s the moment you see the numbers in red, the customers ditching, or the team losing faith. It’s that gut-punch telling you — this isn’t working! And it can feel utterly paralyzing.

As you scramble for a solution in your head, every possible move you think of leads to a dead end. The weight of the moment can be crushing. I’ve been there. Many times.

For me, what has helped is thinking of it as the starting gun at a marathon. I use it to signal the first step, which is often the hardest — accepting that something is very broken.

Acceptance shifts your mindset. You’re no longer in denial mode (or worse, “sugarcoating mode”). Instead, you’re thinking creatively and constructively about the next small step towards fixing the situation. This transition is incredibly empowering. It lifts that crushing weight off your shoulders and gives you the much needed boost to start moving — to start fixing.

Evolving your thinking in this way can teach you a lot about yourself, and how you handle crisis situations — whether in business or life. It is a reflection of your ability to stay composed and thoughtful, and demonstrates your emotional intelligence and resilience.