How Do You Bounce Back When the Hustle/Biz Fails?

By Naomi Muthoni

I’ve been there too. I poured everything I had into my online clothes store, but the competition from bigger businesses and low sales forced me to hit pause and rethink my hustle.

A few years later, I understand that not every hustle pays off at first, but resilience and a clear bounce-back process are what lead to success in the end.

Here is a 6-step process that can help you bounce back when the hustle fails.

Ni sawa! Najua hustle imefail na unaskia kama its the end of the road. Emotions ni mob! Uko sad coz dream yako ya kibiashara haikuwork as you expected.

You're afraid that hutaweza kujiprovidia ama kuprovidia familia yako. All these emotions are valid💯!

Sahii, the most important step on the bounce-back track ni kupause! Funga stall yako na upeleke stock home.

Kama ni online business, acha kupost. Just take a break. Breathe! Jipatie some time off—inaweza kuwa a week or two, ata one month kama uko na some savings zinaweza kusustain.

During hii pause phase, keti na thoughts zako na emotion zako.

At least once a day jiulize, “How am I feeling today and why do I feel that way?” Alafu, write about your thoughts and feelings in your Notes/Keep app or in a book/journal.

Hii activity itakusaidia kuprocess thoughts zako na emotions zako🫂.

👉 Download the App on Google Play Store. Ni 2MB

At the reflect phase, anza na kusoma zile thoughts na emotions umekua ukirecord during the pause phase.

Then, jiulize, “How have my thoughts and feelings changed over time?” Ukinotice umeanza kufeel hopeful after some time, uko ready for the next stage of the reflect phase.

Lakini, kama bado most of your thoughts and emotions ni fear na disappointment, you should take a little more time in the pause phase.

The next stage kwa hii step ni reflecting on your business.

Unaweza anza process kwa kujiuliza, “Why do I think my business failed?” Fikiria about business processes zote ulikua unatumia starting from kwenye supply ilikua inatoka to delivery methods zako.

Alafu, write a list of what you think contributed to hustle yako kufail. Hizi ndio weaknesses za biz yako.

Next, jiulize, “What went right? What kept my business running before it failed?” The truth is, ata kama hustle imekunywa maji after a few months, kuna vitu fulani zilienda vizuri during io time biashara ilikua open.

For example, kila customer ulipata alisema viatu ulimuuzia ni good quality. Andika hio list ya strengths za biz yako.

Ukiingia learning phase utakua na list ya weaknesses na strengths za biashara yako.

Hizo, zitakupea a good idea ya the things you need to fix to improve your chances of success when you re-open the business.

Pia, zitakuonyesha zile vitu unafaa kuendelea kufanya the same way because zilifanya specific things in your business zirun successfully.

The most important thing to do kwa hii phase ni kujiuliza, “What can I do better to help my business succeed?” Answering this question can help you come up with a list of strategies to address the weaknesses your business had.

Ukiapply hizo strategies when you reopen the business, chances zako za kusucceed zitaincrease📈.

So far, umekua on the solo journey ya kupause, kureflect, na kulearn.

Hii next step itakua different kiasi coz itahitaji you include other people in the bounce-back process.

Kwa hii stage, your friends, especially wale wanafanya biashara kama yako, can be very helpful. Pia, hii community ya MESHers inaweza come in handy.

For example, kama your failed hustle ilikua shop ya kuuza thrifted dresses, you can reach out to a friend with a similar and thriving business umuulize, “What is one thing I could have done better to get more customers like you?”

You can do the same here on MESH. Uliza MESHers “Mnatumia strategies gani kufanya thrift businesses zenyu zithrive?” Add the answers you get kwa ile list ya strategies ulitengeneza ukiwa in the learn phase.

Feedback itakusaidia kulearn zile strategies other business people wanatumia kufanya biashara zao zithrive.

As you listen👂🏾to the feedback, usisahau kufocus on the positives—the new things you’re learning from other business owners.

Now, it’s time to act based on everything you have learned so far.

Unakumbuka ile list ya strategies ulitengeneza during the learn phase na ukaongezea content during the feedback stage?

Hio ndio action plan utatumia sasa! Kumbuka, goal ni kurevive hustle, not start a new one.

At this stage, unaweza relaunch biashara yako. For example, you can announce that you are back on your social media pages.

Kama hustle yako iko offline, unaweza text ama WhatsApp some of your regular clients uwajulishe umerudi—bigger and better💪🏾!

Alafu, anaza kuimprove weaknesses zenye zilifanya hustle yako ifail using ile list ya strategies ulitengeneza.

For example, kama one of the weaknesses biashara yako ilikua nayo ni kuwa na supplier expensive, tafta supplier ako na bei nafuu ndio uweze kutengenezea kastomaa bei🏷️.

On the other hand, usisahau kuboost strengths za biashara yako as you fix the weaknesses.

Kama customers wako walikua wanapenda customer service yako before hustle ifail, usiwadisappoint ukirudi round 2!

Endelea kuwapea top-notch customer service na uwatengenezee ile bei walikua wanalia kuhusu uone venye kubounce back itakua rahisi!

As you adjust and improve your business, some days may be harder than others. Results za ile effort unaweka zinaweza kosa kuonekana immediately.

Ni muhimu you stay positive! Focus on what is working and keep finding ways to improve what is not.

For example, umepata 4 customers leo na jana ullikua na wawili pekee.

That’s a win! Celebrate it ata kama target yako ilikua 10 customers leo.

Then, figure out what helped you get two more customers today compared to jana.

Tumia hio knowledge kucreate strategies zitakusaidia kuendelea kuvuta more clients💡.

Ukiwa kwa bounce-back process kuna katemptetation kanaweza tokea.

Unaweza feel like it’s best kuimplement changes/improvements zote mara moja—ufanye kazi ya kuondokea ndio ujue once kama biashara itawork ama haitaweza. Resist the temptation to rush!

Patience🙇🏾‍♀️ is key kwa hii process. Acha improvements zako zikuje one step at a time.

For example, kama this week unafocus on improving delivery times, focus on hio pekee. Make sure all orders are delivered in the shortest time possible.

Alafu, create a delivery plan yenye utatumia moving forward to make sure all clients receive orders in the shortest time possible.

Once that business process imekua efficient, move on to improving the next one.

Unajua, Rome was not built in a day❗ Utahitaji kupea hii bounce-back process some time ndio iwork. Take it slow and celebrate the small wins to keep yourself going.

Alafu, engage in some no-cost/affordable self-care—cheki tips hapa—to keep your mind and body strong 💪🏾as you work on rebuilding your business.

Hustle ni marathon, si sprint—ukidunda, simama uendelee!🏃🏾‍♀️ Ikifail, tumia zile lessons utalearn as capital 💰for a comeback. Usiache dream yako ipotelee💪🏾!

Ushawi kua na hustle ilifail❓ Ulibounce back aje❓Share below 👇🏾.

Keep going! You can do this!

Bounce Back Biz Tips

Bounce Back Biz Tips by Eva