The Psychology of Resilient Entrepreneurs, How they find strength through uncertainty and trauma

Learn true story of how Santiago rose from crisis, navigated through personal trauma and business, and came back stronger as a resilient entrepreneur with an unshakable spirit.

Entrepreneurship is typically envisioned as a path to wealth, flamboyance and freedom. Thanks to how social media has crafted an image of what life of business owners may look like. But what’s not spoken about this apparent “success” is the struggle that it takes to overcome adversity, challenges and at times, personal trauma.

Entrepreneurship and Personal Trauma:

Professional journey for entrepreneurs is not just shaped by their businesses. It is also the resilience they build by going through life’s toughest moments. Those who are able to comprehend the challenging intersection of trauma and entrepreneurship can transform personal loss and hardships into the driving force behind their success.

Case in Point (Resilient Entrepreneurs):

A convincing case of reference is of a young Colombian entrepreneur, Santiago Arenas Henao. His journey from a young boy who experienced several traumatic events in his life to the man who took every challenge in his stride and came out thriving is empowering enough for aspiring entrepreneurs to keep going.

Santiago’s journey not only focuses on how he found strength in entrepreneurship, but also emphasizes on the need to address mental health concerns in the “unpredictable” world of entrepreneurship.

What may also inspire you from his life is how sudden but inevitable circumstances drove him to become a man who came out with fortitude and success in both his personal life and entrepreneurial journey.

From tragic demise of his brother to his parents’ separation that disrupted the stability of his household, and then battling with cancer, he has experienced some devastating events which could have derailed any life, but for him became unexpected source of strength and motivation. Determined not to let these hardships define his life and future, he decided to respond with resilience and come out with victorious.  

First Business Experience:

For Santiago, entrepreneurship was not a fancy professional endeavor that he always wanted to pursue, but at one time, was the only option to rebuild his and his family’ life. The first time he experienced a “business activity” was when he started selling eggs to make ends meet.

This early exposure to the world of business planted the seed of entrepreneurship in his life. Also, it was not just the financial need that pushed him forward in his journey, but his understanding that being self-reliant and taking control of his own life is the way to overcome trauma and helplessness that he endured as a child.     

From Trauma to Triumph:

With every overwhelming personal challenge, Santiago’s entrepreneurial spirit kept growing. By his twenties, he was running a business that not only provided him financial relief, but also advocated of a profound social and environmental impact.     

His company specializes in selling urban beehives with stingless bees native to Colombia that aims to increase environmental awareness and support local biodiversity.

Now that he is doing well for himself, he is working to create a positive legacy. His journey from a young child to a successful purpose-driven entrepreneur has to offer thoughtful wisdom to those who are dealing with same or similar situations.

He shared four insightful lessons on how personal traumatic incidents shaped his approach to entrepreneurship/business which later contributed to his success.

We need to fight for the people we love:

While going through these tough times, it was not only him that suffered but also his family. And that became his strength in the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey as he believes that no matter what

“We still need to fight for the people we love.”

Enjoy the journey:

Work along with struggle for survival can be extremely strenuous especially when you are dealing with personal trauma. But through his experiences, he asserts on the importance of enjoying the journey.

“There is always time to go the gym, share with family, close friends, travel and at the same time manage team and a business.”  

Take the risk:

If you want to gain something in life, you need to be brave enough to take risks. Initially what seemed like an obstacle later became a source of strength for him.  Not having support to pay for his education was the setback that became turning point of life. At that time, leaving education and taking entrepreneurship was a risk that empowered him to take charge of his present and build his future. And risk was worth it.

“Take risk in order to gain, to do something different.”

Embrace Change:

While still grappling with the weight of personal trauma and simultaneously trying to keep his business afloat, Santiago encountered a health crisis that came as another setback where he found himself balancing the pressure of work while taking care of him.

But Santiago found a way to persist, drawing lessons from his past experiences that adapting with the situation will help him gather strength and find a solution even when life seemed on the brink of collapse.

“I learnt to adapt easily, to embrace change and constant evolution.”

The Psychology of Resilience in Entrepreneurship:

Santiago’s entrepreneurial journey is a reflection of many entrepreneurs’ work life who are struggling with personal trauma on different levels. Yet they find ways to turn their struggles into a catalyst for their professional success. Whether it is loss of a loved one, health crisis or financial instability, many entrepreneurs are dealing with personal trauma on different levels.  

And that’s where the role of psychological resilience come into play where, your ability to come back from adversity, no matter how hard it is plays a significant role in your entrepreneurial success.

Reflection to leave with:

Santiago’s journey from trauma to triumph is a powerful reminder for everyone that resilience is not a skill you are born with, you have learn and master it through your life experiences. Learn to embrace your challenges, adapt to changing situations, and maintain a deep sense of purpose.

Things won’t always work in your favor. Leading a business can be an unpredictable expedition and challenges are bound to knock you off. These experiences if not avoided, can develop the ability in you to turn hardships into a source of strength and resilience which you must have if you want to survive the business world.

Santiago’s journey offers hope, and encourages embracing the journey no matter how tough it gets. With right mindset and help, these are the emotions that can be leveraged and lead you to the path of glory.