Even with the best intentions, ambitions, and plans, life sometimes gets in the way and sometimes there is very little that we can do, other than to accept and adjust to the change. Having set up the business when I was seven months pregnant with my first baby, I have to admit that I had no idea how little sleep, time and confidence will I have as a new mum. In combination with the sudden loss of my dad, being pregnant with my second baby less than two years later, the first few years were not easy. But as a result, I’ve learnt to accept – both setbacks and challenges, as well as not to worry about things I can’t change, and instead focus on changing those I can.

I have asked a few fellow business owners on how they responded to personal setbacks throughout their career – hopefully, some of these will inspire you and help you with overcoming yours:

"After experiencing a personal setback  in the early stages of my business, I learned that taking time off can make a world of difference down the line. Nothing helps me as much as a personal day to grieve or rest. Now, when things start to feel the least bit overwhelming, I just take a 15-minute walk. Whatever I'm doing can wait 15 minutes. Taking that space and giving myself room to process goes a long way. Weekly therapy, too." Recommends Jamie Norwood of getstix.com.

"Cut yourself some slack - personal setbacks are all part of being a business owner, but by strategic planning and surrounding yourself with people you can trust, you'll overcome them. My top tip? Take 15-30 minutes for yourself every day and go for a walk - no phone, no emails, no other people. Just give yourself time to destress, it might even help you resolve problems or think of new ideas for your business.", says Keith McNiven, founder of Right Path Fitness

"Nobody achieves success without a few bumps in the road and running a business comes with more risks than the usual. As with most other entrepreneurs, having my own business is a dream that I've worked really hard to achieve. It hasn't always been easy, but when I face a personal setback, I try to never let it stop me for long. There is a lesson to every setback, so I always try to see what there is to learn and then I adapt. I use the lessons to encourage change and to motivate myself to work harder in my life and in running my business." suggests Dmitrii Kustov, Marketing Director at Regex SEO.

“In a startup you often end up working 25 hours a day, 8 days a week, so finding a balance for the other parts of life can be difficult. Particularly being in my mid-twenties, I have friends who are progressing in their careers, traveling, getting married, having kids, and I’ve had to sacrifice a lot of that for the time being. That said, I’ve found that you can still make room for life around work. It’s about structuring your time in the best way. Making use of technology like Google Calendar and Doodle can help you schedule opportunities to recharge, and find time with family and friends.  This ensures you go back to your business having had time to recoup and enjoy downtime with the people you care about. This, and celebrating small wins along the way, will always help you feel like you’re on the right track.” recommends Hollabox CEO, Adam Beveridge.

Saj Devshi of Learndojo.org. says “The best advice I've learnt in having personal setbacks is maybe that this is a sign that you need to take your life in a completely different direction, so see it as an opportunity instead.  You just never know where another road might actually take you if you just try looking for it.”

“Don’t spend too much time focusing on the negatives. Failure is actually a good thing! Learn 3 things from it and be thankful it has actually happened. It'll make your progress so much better!” recommends Tara Punter, a PR and media expert.

International consultant Richard Trevino suggests a different formula for overcoming personal setbacks: “I’ve been running my business now for four years and no matter the setback, I use this formula: Analyze, strategize, & execute. Relational, financial, spiritual, or health-wise, you must analyze where you are, strategize on how to fix it, and execute.”

Melanie Bensons’s advice is to keep the big vision clear so the setbacks don’t turn into roadblocks. Get support, hire a coach to help you see the opportunity that you miss, focus on what’s going well and stay in gratitude.