4 Foundational Lessons for Building a Resilient Business

Every entrepreneur hits moments where you must rethink how you operate—whether it’s struggling to pay your team on time, pruning unprofitable offerings, or overcoming self-doubt. Drawing on hard-won experience, here are four strategies that transformed my business from fragile to flourishing.

Name: Valerie Bowden

Website: crdle.com 

Challenge and Lesson:

1. Prioritize Cashflow

“When I first started my business, I let customers pay me at the end of the month. However, even the best customers (who loved our team!) failed to pay on time… Maybe their accountant was on vacation or they were at a conference or one horrible client event stiffed us completely. I changed my model to charging a flat fee at the beginning of the month, and now cashflow is never an issue.”

2. Data Is Clarity

“My business mentor kept telling me, ‘That service offering can’t be profitable.’ I didn’t listen. Until, eventually, I decided to prove him wrong. Turns out he was right… Almost 80% of our revenue came from 20% of our clients. And I did need to eliminate our lowest service offering. After that, I became obsessed with data. All of my boards on Monday connect to charts so I can see data on everything. I can make decisions quickly now because I have the data to guide me.”

3. Believe in Yourself

“It sounds so cheesy. But early on, I thought I needed partners. At two different times, I asked a male in the industry to partner with me… At the end of the day, I did the bulk of the work while still having to split the profits evenly. Finally, I realized I could do it alone. I faced my impostor syndrome. And… I took off! That’s when the business truly began to take wings.”

4. You Do Need Some Help

“Once the business started to take off, I needed help. As a mom, I didn’t want to work 80-hour weeks… I hired my first remote team member. My revenue tripled in 3 months. Delegating and hiring people who can balance you out is the key to growing a sustainable business.”

Securing your cash flow, leaning into data, trusting your capabilities, and building the right support team, you create a business that’s both profitable and personally sustainable. Implement these four shifts, and you’ll be well on your way to steady growth—without sacrificing your well-being.