How to Turn Setbacks into Your Next Source of Momentum.
We’ve all heard the phrase “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
But what if we took it one step further?
Don’t just make lemonade—build a juice stand.
Set up shop, start something, and turn that setback into a source of income, impact, or momentum.
Whether it’s losing a job, launching a product that flops, or facing personal burnout, life has a way of handing us moments we didn’t ask for.
But hidden inside those hard times is often something unexpected: opportunity.
Sometimes it’s the opportunity to start fresh.
Sometimes it’s the chance to reinvent what was no longer working.
Sometimes it’s the push we needed to build what we’d been putting off.
Here are three ways you can use life’s setbacks as a launchpad:
A job loss or stalled project can open up space to explore an idea that’s been on the back burner. Whether it’s freelancing, starting a side hustle, or learning a new skill, adversity often creates the urgency to take that first step.
Sometimes, challenges force you to pause and ask deeper questions: Is this still the life or work I want? That reflection can lead to healthier boundaries, more aligned goals, and a definition of success that actually fits your values.
Failures can be frustrating, but they’re also feedback. Use the data from what didn’t work to improve your next move. That failed pitch, event, or campaign might just hold the key to your next breakthrough if you’re willing to listen and adjust.
Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back.
It’s about building forward.
Sometimes, the juice stand you build after the storm is the thing that changes your entire trajectory.
What about you?
What “juice stand” have you built from a hard situation?
Hit reply, I’d love to hear your story.
Chris M Wilson
Chris Wilson is a motivational keynote speaker, aviator, and entrepreneur from Vancouver, BC, Canada. He helps leaders turn change into momentum with speaking, coaching and community.
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