When Motivation Fades: 10 Real Entrepreneurs Who Pushed Through Anyway

You’ve run out of leads. Sales are flatlining. Your team is exhausted. Your bank account’s teetering on empty. You start wondering: Was this all a mistake? If you’ve ever been in that dark entrepreneurial trench, you’re not alone—and you’re not stuck. What separates successful founders from failed ones isn’t just strategy—it’s resilience.

And the good news? Resilience isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build—like a muscle. Let’s dive into how real entrepreneurs kept going when everything screamed “quit”.

Remember Your Why

When motivation dries up, your “why” becomes your lifeline. Why did you start this business? What problem were you obsessed with solving? Reconnecting with your purpose can refuel your energy.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of Biocon, India’s first biotech company, started her business in a garage in the late 1970s. Back then, the biotech industry was practically non-existent in India, and being a woman in a male-dominated field made things even harder. Banks refused to fund her. Talented people didn’t want to work with her. But she held onto her purpose—to make affordable medicine accessible to millions. Biocon is now a multi-billion-dollar global player. Her “why” wasn’t just business—it was impact.

Tip: Write your mission statement where you can see it daily. Revisit it when the going gets tough.

Shift from Pressure to Progress

When you’re overwhelmed, it’s tempting to focus on everything that’s not working. But instead of pressure, focus on progress—no matter how small.

Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, was selling fax machines door to door before she came up with the idea for footless pantyhose. She faced repeated rejections from manufacturers (all male-run), and retailers told her the product wouldn’t sell. She celebrated every tiny win—like her first packaging order or a single buyer’s interest. That shift in mindset kept her going. Today, Spanx is a billion-dollar brand.

Tip: Create a “win list” where you document small achievements each week. Use it as fuel when you hit a wall.

Build a Tribe That Gets It

Entrepreneurship can be lonely. The people around you—family, friends, even your own team—may not fully understand the pressure. Surround yourself with others who’ve been there.

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Flutterwave, a Nigerian fintech company, built several startups before hitting global success. One of his early companies, Andela, faced criticism for relying too heavily on U.S. partnerships. In a 2021 interview, he credited his mental resilience to staying connected with a trusted group of African tech founders. That tribe gave him both emotional support and tactical feedback during difficult transitions.

Tip: Join a mastermind group or local entrepreneurship hub. Get honest feedback and emotional backup from people who get it.

Let Go of Perfection

Waiting until everything’s perfect will kill your momentum. Progress often looks messy—and that’s okay.

Ben Francis, founder of Gymshark, started his fitness apparel brand while working at a Pizza Hut. He was sewing clothes in his parents’ garage and filming YouTube videos at night. His early products weren’t perfect, and his branding was rough. But he launched anyway—and kept improving. By 2020, Gymshark hit a $1.3 billion valuation.

Tip: Set a “good enough to launch” bar and iterate as you go. Perfection is the enemy of momentum.

Step Back to Move Forward

Sometimes, burnout masquerades as lack of motivation. When your brain is fried, pushing harder just makes things worse.

Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, stepped down in 2000. At the time, Starbucks was growing fast but losing its soul. Schultz returned in 2008 to revive the brand—and one of his first moves was to close 7,100 stores for a few hours of staff training. That pause helped reset the company’s values and focus. The result? A powerful turnaround that put Starbucks back on top.

Tip: Schedule downtime before burnout forces you to. Use breaks to reflect, not escape.

Find Strength in the Struggle

Reframing tough times as part of the hero’s journey makes them feel less like failure—and more like fuel.

Elon Musk—though now based in the U.S.—is originally from South Africa. After selling PayPal, he poured almost all of his money into Tesla and SpaceX. In 2008, both companies were on the brink of collapse. Musk later revealed he was borrowing money to pay rent while betting everything on survival. That year, SpaceX succeeded in its fourth launch attempt, and Tesla secured funding just in time. Musk’s biggest wins came right after his lowest moments.

Tip: Keep a journal of what you’re learning through hardship. Use it as a blueprint for your comeback.

Serve Before You Sell

When sales are low, focusing on money can make you desperate. Flip the script—focus on helping people, and the money will follow.

Rafael “Raffy” M. Alunan III, founder of Hijo Resources, shifted his agribusiness company’s focus toward sustainability and community development. The brand struggled during early transition years, but they focused on creating value—organic farming, ethical labor, and local impact. That mission-driven approach attracted global partners and long-term profitability.

Tip: Ask: “How can I serve my customers better this week—even if it doesn’t result in immediate revenue?”

Borrow Other People’s Belief

When your confidence wavers, borrow belief from those who believe in you—mentors, partners, or past clients.

Michele Romanow, co-founder of Clearco, was told by investors that her startup ideas were “too niche” and that as a young woman, she lacked leadership experience. But her co-founder and mentor, Andrew D’Souza, believed in her vision for revenue-based funding. Together, they scaled Clearco to fund over 7,000 companies with more than $2 billion in capital.

Tip: Keep testimonials, positive emails, or affirmations from mentors in a “confidence file.” Read them when doubt creeps in.

Take One Action—Even a Tiny One

Action creates momentum. Even a small move forward can reboot your drive.

Daymond John, founder of FUBU and Shark Tank investor, started his brand by sewing hats and selling them on the streets of Queens. He didn’t wait for a perfect business plan. He just started. Each small win gave him enough momentum to keep going—even when banks said no and orders dried up. Today, he encourages young founders to take micro-steps daily.

Tip: When stuck, ask: “What’s one thing I can do in the next 15 minutes?” Then do just that.

Know That Every Giant Once Crawled

Every massive company you admire once looked exactly like your struggling idea. Remember: It’s not supposed to be easy.

Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, was rejected from dozens of jobs—including KFC—and failed his college entrance exams twice. His first few attempts at launching Alibaba went nowhere. But he kept going, raising money from friends and believing in China’s internet potential. Alibaba is now one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world.

Tip: Remind yourself: Struggle is not a sign you’re failing. It’s a sign you’re building something that matters.

Finally, Grit Beats Glamour

The highlight reels you see online—funding announcements, product launches, Instagram-perfect hustle—hide the real story: days of fear, self-doubt, and scraped knees.

But if you’re willing to get up just one more time than you fall, you’ll win.Not because it was easy, but because you refused to give up.

Keep going. Someone’s future depends on what you’re building. Maybe even yours.