Can Your Business Take A Punch Like Rocky?

At the beginning of January, subscribers to my weekly Sound ADvice newsletter received the information I’m about to share with you today.  If you’d like to receive this in your email inbox, email me and ask for a free subscription.  Scott@ScLoHo.net.

It was 39 years ago that Rocky Balboa fought Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. It was a knock-down drag-out fight with Rocky taking punch after punch and hit after hit, only to get back up time after time and ultimately win the fight!

Rocky was always getting the snot kicked out of him. Intentional or not… it was his style. His opponents would eventually wear down because Rocky could take a hit. And take a hit. And take a hit. 

Sound familiar?  Your business taking hits?… 

…Sales slumps due to the economy, employee troubles, hiring struggles, increased costs, a terrible review, or any other lightning-fast jab, monster hook, or sucker punch.

That’s part of the game though, isn’t it? Getting hit, and always getting back up? Like the Japanese proverb that says, “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”

But Rocky added a couple of things to that…

“Let me tell you something you already know.  The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.  You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.  That’s how winning is done! Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not point fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that, and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!”   – Rocky Balboa

Did you catch them? 

1) It’s about how hard you can get hit, and 2) keep moving forward.

We’ve all been hit. We’ve all been hit HARD. And if you’re reading this… you picked yourself back up.  But did you move forward?  

Step #1 to recovering from a major punch is, Acknowledge and Accept It.  

Acknowledge the issue that caused you to get “hit”, analyze what went wrong, identify the cause, make a plan to ensure it doesn’t happen again (or as severely), and LEARN from it.

Every negative has the potential to produce a positive.  It might not be immediately obvious, but it’s there. If you always have a “move forward” attitude, pretty soon the hits won’t seem so bad, and you’ll find ways to learn from them and capitalize on them sooner.

Oh sure… easier said than done, right?  Absolutely.  Sometimes, it’s not easy to say to yourself that “everything’s gonna be ok”.  But it’s a mindset.  It’s practice, determination, and an attitude. You might not get the big wins every month or every year… but depending on your industry and what’s happening around us, maybe just staying afloat and weathering a storm is also a big win.

If and when your business takes a punch, click here to see seven steps that can help you get back up and keep moving forward.

 And let me be one of the last to wish you a Happy New Year!  2025 will be ripe with opportunities to grow and learn. For me, for you, for everyone.