10 Tips for Turning Setbacks into Success

With the global economy in the stinker, and unemployment at nearly 10% nationwide, it’s safe to say that a lot of people have experienced setbacks recently. And yes, it absolutely sucks to find yourself feeling like an unfunny version of George Costanza, but it’s an awesome opportunity to regroup, and make like Steve Jobs. This is where it can get ugly or interesting, and how you deal with it will define your shot at success.

While I don’t claim to be an expert at creating success, I do have a little experience with setbacks. My last major setback happened during the height of the dot.com bust when I lost my job at Coremetrics. I decided that my new full-time job would be to pursue my life-long dream to live and work in Europe. I had zero international experience and an equal number of contacts, but I gave it my best shot. I woke up at the crack of dawn every morning to cold call recruiters and companies in Europe, and reached out to my network for help. Five months later, with laser focus and sheer determination, I landed an amazing European-wide business development role based in Germany with SAS.  Success!!

Fast forward to the present, and here I am again, upping the ante in setbackland. Earlier this year, I lost my job at Mochi Media, an online games startup I adored. A month later, my fiancé and I split up. It’s never about how far we fall, what defines us is how we pick ourselves up.

Three months have passed since then, and I am astonished by the turn-around I’ve forged. The new experiences I’ve jumped into head-first include: joining the board of Girls in Tech, organizing a sold-out event on The World of Casual and Social Games, and blogging for the high-profile Geeks on a Plane tech and startup tour through Japan and China. These opportunities all grew organically as I pounded the pavement and welcomed new challenges. Had I ever sat on a board before? No. Organized a big event? No. Blogged? Barely.

I don’t have a new job or a new man yet, but I’m considering several attractive offers!  Life is a work in progress, and I hope these tips will help you with your turn around, as they have in mine.

10 Tips for Turning Setbacks into Success

1. It’s not about them, it’s about YOU. Learn from your mistakes and move forward. Fight the temptation to focus on your old company or those involved with your setback, focus your energy on the future.
2. Take it easy on yourself. It takes time to build the inner strength to overcome setbacks. Give yourself a break. And hold your head up high.
3. Lean on your loved ones. If you don’t have any, see the next seven tips.
4. Network like crazy, but do it thoughtfully. Strengthen the bonds you already have while forging new ones. You might not feel like meeting people right now, but it’s important to get out there.
5. Lunch time is the right time. Have a lunch appointment everyday so you are getting out of the house, immersing yourself in the community around you, eating (very important), and growing your network.
6. Help others. Take the focus off yourself, volunteer with causes that are close to you, and gain a new appreciation for the things you do have.
7. Do the things that make you happy. Travel, shop (within reason), visit friends and family, take up an old hobby and explore new interests.
8. Play sports, get to the gym or find a physical outlet. Physical activities help you stay balanced and keep depression at bay.
9. Embrace change. It’s all about mindset. If you think you can, you’re more than halfway there!
10. Make it happen. Identify the comeback you want to achieve, create an action plan, and give it everything you have.  Be resourceful, be resilient, and be bold.

Finally, trust that everything happens for a reason, even if you don’t know what it is at the time. I’d love to hear your comeback stories – feel free to add a comment if you have one to share.

Girls in Tech Presents: The World of Casual and Social Games

Original post: May 15, 2009

During this down economy, one of the few industries that have continued to grow is casual online games. Women are a dominant force in this industry, making up 75% of the population that pays to play. It’s no wonder that casual games have become so popular – they’re easy to play, provide a quick hit of fun, and are highly social and viral in nature.

Have you ever wanted to know how to get involved in the super-hot gaming space? Are you curious as to what the job opportunities are in games? Do you want to get a sense of who the big players are and how they make money? Or maybe you’re just asking yourself, what is the big deal with games – and why is everyone playing them and talking about them?! If any of these questions apply to you then Girls in Tech has the perfect forum for you.

Girls in Tech Presents: The World of Casual Games
An online casual games panel featuring
Zynga, Mochi Media, SGN, and Super Rewards

Event Details:
Thursday, May 28, 2009
6:30pm Networking & wine
7:00pm Panel start
Location: ngmoco:) Office — 118 King St. 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA