Starting a business online, moving a brick-and-mortar into the digital world, or adding an online component to what you already do can feel exciting. It can also feel heavy. Most days go fine, but sometimes the tech breaks, a launch flops, or doubt sneaks in.
That’s when the phrase “Broken Crayons Still Color” comes to mind. Even when things look scattered or messy, you’re still capable of creating something valuable. And if you’re not having some fun along the way, the work will lose its spark.
Entrepreneur Resilience: What “Broken Crayons Still Color” Means for You
The phrase started out simple — a way to remind kids that even a snapped crayon still works. Over the years, it’s been picked up by teachers, speakers, and even ministries as a bigger metaphor: brokenness doesn’t erase value.
For entrepreneurs, it hits differently. A failed launch or a setback can feel like the end of the road. But just like a crayon, your ability to create is still there. Sometimes the breaks even help — a snapped crayon can be shared, used at a new angle, or make colors appear in unexpected ways. Your business “breaks” might be the very thing that pushes you toward an idea you would have never seen if everything had gone perfectly.
And while you’re navigating those breaks, don’t lose sight of joy. If every day feels like a grind, take a breath. Ask yourself: where can I bring back some fun, creativity, or time with the people I care about?
Why Business Setbacks Are the Beginning of Growth
Caption: Even broken tools can create vibrant outcomes.
Even broken tools can create vibrant outcomes.
Failure feels final. But in reality, failure is just feedback. It shows you what doesn’t work and points you toward what might.
Entrepreneur shared in The Valuable Lessons I Learned From My Failed Startup that failure can be humbling. It forces you to adapt, rethink, and grow — lessons you won’t always get from success.
Maybe you’ve seen this yourself. You build a website that looks great in your eyes, but customers don’t click. You try an ad campaign and get zero traction. You list a product, and it sits untouched. That stings, right? But it’s not the end. It’s information.
A broken crayon still colors. And so do you.
This is also where the Fear of Failure often shows up. It’s natural to worry that setbacks define you, but they don’t — they’re just feedback that helps you keep moving.
The Entrepreneur Mindset – Turning Breaks Into Strengths
Caption: Your journey doesn’t have to be perfect to be impactful
Here’s the truth: successful entrepreneurs don’t avoid adversity. They adapt to it. That’s resilience.
Studies show resilience is less about bouncing back and more about learning and adjusting along the way (Entrepreneurial Resilience Study).
- An online startup may go through three or four website versions before one sticks.
- A storefront moving online might test a few delivery methods before finding the right flow.
- A business adding an online component might wrestle with digital marketing or shipping until they figure it out.
Many entrepreneurs also wrestle with the Fear of Making the Wrong Decisions.
But resilience isn’t just about pushing harder. It’s also about balance. If you never stop to laugh with friends, hang out with family, or simply recharge, the smallest roadblock will feel like a mountain. Building a business should stretch you, yes — but it should also add to your life, not swallow it.
And sometimes the best way to clear a business block is to step away. Go for a walk. Have dinner with people you love. Play a game. Come back refreshed.
Online Startups, Storefront Transitions, and Add-Ons – Same Resilience Lesson
Whether you’re just starting online, moving a storefront to digital, or adding online elements to an existing business, the lesson is the same: broken crayons still color.
For online startups:
Nothing starts out perfect — and that’s okay. Many times it’s just you, doing it all: building the site, writing the posts, sending the emails, trying to figure out tools you’ve never touched before. Success won’t happen in a single day. It comes through time, reviews, and small tweaks.
Your website will need adjustments. Social posts will get better as you learn. That first marketing email? It will improve over time as you refine your message.
And when frustration creeps in, step back. Take a walk. Call a friend. Laugh with your family. Fun isn’t a distraction — it’s fuel. Every step forward strengthens your business, and every adjustment sharpens your skill. That’s the lean startup mindset: test, learn, grow (Lean Startup model– Harvard Business Review).
For Brick-and-Mortar Businesses Moving Online:
Going from foot traffic to web traffic is a big shift. Technology, shipping, and platforms can feel overwhelming. But remember this — your in-person experience is already a superpower. You know your customers. You know how to serve them.
Going online is just a new way to deliver that value.
Forbes put it well in From Brick and Mortar to Click and Order: the transition works best when it builds on customer understanding and long-term vision.
For existing businesses adding online components:
Sometimes you don’t need a full transition — just an addition. Online scheduling. A small e-commerce shop. A set of digital resources to support what you already do. These “add-ons” can open new doors and connect you with customers in ways you hadn’t thought about. Just don’t forget to enjoy the process. Growth should feel exciting, not exhausting.
The point is this: all three paths may come with broken crayons, but every crayon — even the snapped ones — can still create something powerful.
Overcoming Failure in Business – Practical Takeaways
So how do you actually use setbacks instead of letting them stop you? Three things:
Treat setbacks as data — and opportunities.
If a campaign fails, ask why. Was it the wrong message? The wrong audience? The wrong timing?
Failure often points to opportunity. Just like a broken crayon can make unexpected colors, your business breaks might open unexpected doors. 10 Reasons Startups Fail – Entrepreneur.
Build a Daily Method of Operation (DMO).
A DMO gives you structure. It keeps you moving, helps you track progress, and makes sure you don’t get lost in the noise. It also creates space for life — for fun, for family, for friends. If you’re new to the idea, check out my post on why a Daily Method of Operation
Learn from stories of resilience.
Take Pinky Cole. She lost her restaurant in a fire. She could have quit. Instead, she rebuilt and went on to create the wildly successful Slutty Vegan brand. Her story, shared in Waymaker Journal, is a reminder that resilience and vision matter more than the setback itself.
How Your Story Inspires Others
People connect with honesty. When your audience sees that you didn’t have a perfect path, they feel closer to you. Your “broken crayon” moments might be the most powerful part of your brand because they show your grit, your character, and your humanity.
And when people see that you’re building a business you enjoy — one that makes space for fun and life outside of work — they don’t just respect you. They root for you.
Practical Exercise – Your Broken Crayon Moments
Here’s something you can do today:
- Write down three times you’ve felt “broken” in your business journey.
- Next to each, write what you learned.
- Add one more note: how can you bring more fun or balance into your work moving forward?
- Ask yourself: How can I use those lessons to take the next step now?
Your setbacks aren’t weaknesses. They’re the colors you bring to your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does resilience mean for entrepreneurs?
A: Resilience in business isn’t about bouncing back to where you were.
It’s about learning from each challenge, adapting, and finding smarter ways to move forward.
Every setback carries a lesson that can sharpen your strategy and strengthen your mindset.
Q: How can setbacks actually help a business grow?
A: Setbacks are feedback. When something doesn’t work, you uncover valuable insights about your customers, your product, or your approach.
Those insights help you refine your strategy, test new ideas, and ultimately build a stronger business.
Q: What is the “broken crayon” mindset in entrepreneurship?
A: It’s the belief that even when things feel broken or messy, you can still create something meaningful.
A broken crayon still colors — and in business, your value and creativity remain, even after setbacks.
Resource List for Resilient Entrepreneurs
- Fear of Failure – How to Move Forward Without Stalling
- Fear of Making the Wrong Decision – Why Clarity Beats Perfection
- Daily Method of Operation – Your Key to Consistency
- The Valuable Lessons I Learned From My Failed Startup – Entrepreneur
- Entrepreneurial Resilience Study – NCBI
- Lean Startup model – Wikipedia
- From Brick and Mortar to Click and Order – Forbes
- 10 Reasons Startups Fail – Entrepreneur
- Pinky Cole’s Resilience Story – Waymaker Journal
Broken Crayons Still Color – Keep Creating
Here’s the truth: broken crayons still color. Your setbacks don’t define you. What defines you is your willingness to keep showing up, keep creating, and keep moving forward.
And if you’re doing this mostly on your own, remember — you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. Even the strongest entrepreneurs benefit from guidance, perspective, and support.
Most importantly? Don’t forget to enjoy the ride. Fun isn’t optional. It’s the heartbeat of your business. It keeps the spark alive, keeps creativity flowing, and keeps your “why” front and center.
When you make time for yourself, for family, and for friends, you’re building more than a business. You’re building a life.
Ready to build resilience into your business? Whether you’re starting online, moving your storefront digital,or adding new online components, let’s connect. Together we can turn setbacks into growth — and create a business you enjoy.
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