The Only Way Is Through It—Go Through It to Grow Through It!
Entrepreneurship isn’t a smooth road. The obstacles, setbacks, and challenges are unavoidable. There are no shortcuts. Success doesn’t come from sidestepping the difficult parts—it comes from working through them and coming out stronger on the other side.
Going through it is how you grow through it—whether that means handling a business crisis, overcoming a personal failure, or navigating unexpected change.
If Uber had avoided the tough conversations with regulators, they’d still be stuck in the first gear.
Let’s dive into how going through it sets you up for smoother battles ahead. Have a look at my 1-1-1 breakdown below:
Avoiding tough situations only delays the lessons you need to learn. Challenges are like pruning a tree—it might seem painful at the moment, but it allows the tree to grow stronger and healthier.
Ask yourself: What difficult situation am I avoiding right now? What if I embraced it instead?
→ Remember: Growth doesn’t happen when things are easy. It happens when you push through the hard stuff.
The eat-the-frog strategy helps you tackle the most difficult task of the day head-on. Identify the “frog”—your hardest task—and handle it first thing in the morning, before anything else. If you have to eat two frogs, eat the bigger one first. This approach turns procrastination into productivity.
→ Do this now: Pick one challenge you’ve been avoiding, and make a plan to tackle it the first thing next week. You’ll thank yourself later.
Challenges may seem daunting, but avoiding them only keeps you stuck. What’s the worst that can happen if you tackle the problem head-on? Once you know this, and you prepare for the worst, tackling the challenge becomes a lot easier.
→ Takeaway: Be willing to ask yourself the tough question of what could go wrong—this clarity will prepare you for the rewarding journey ahead.
Avoiding challenges is like refusing to prune a tree—it may seem easier in the short term, but it stunts your growth in the long run. The next time you face something difficult, remember: The only way is through it. And every time you go through it, you grow through it, just like a tree becoming stronger after pruning.
Thanks for reading.
Hey! I’m Alkesh Agarwal.
An entrepreneur, investor & problem solver who loves taking big ideas and turning them into real businesses.
After years of building businesses, I’m here to help you do the same by sharing practical, no-nonsense learnings.
If you’re feeling the need to adapt, here are some resources to help you go through it:
Read: “Man’s Search for Meaning“ by Viktor Frankl — Frankl explores how finding meaning in difficult circumstances helps people persevere.
Watch: “Fall Forward” by Denzel Washington — A powerful reminder to keep moving forward no matter how difficult things get.
Try This App: “Headspace“ – Meditation and mindfulness practices to help manage stress and grow emotionally.
