You’ve probably heard the comparison before – starting a small business is like planting a seed.

Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” But swap in the opposite word, and does the meaning really change? Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster of highs, lows, and long stretches of doubt—so staying optimistic when plans fall apart isn’t optional, it’s essential. Here are practical ways to keep your outlook bright when things go wrong.

What do the Panic of 1873, the Panic of 1893, and the collapse of retailer Mars Music have in common? All three were driven by the same costly mistake: hurried overexpansion fueled by too much debt. Over a century apart, these events share a warning every growing business should heed. Here’s how to expand sustainably without repeating history’s mistakes.

Should you outfit your techs with company tools, or let them bring their own? It’s a debate that splits trades business owners down the middle, and the answer affects your costs, your liability, and your team’s morale. Before you set policy, weigh the real tradeoffs between consistency and ownership—and consider whether a middle-ground approach might work best for your crew.

It’s an unlikely place to look for business advice, but the doomed campaign of the Reconstruction-era Red Shirts offers a pointed lesson for entrepreneurs: sometimes the fight simply isn’t winnable. Persistence is often praised as a virtue, but knowing when to walk away from a failing venture can save you time, money, and sanity. Here’s how to recognize when it’s time to change course.

Is networking actually growing your business, or just eating up your calendar? Some entrepreneurs swear by it, others dread it, and most fall somewhere in between. Before you commit more hours to handshakes and business cards, it helps to know the real upsides and downsides—and the telltale signs that your efforts are actually paying off.

Every entrepreneur eventually has to face it: your business won’t always be yours. Succession is the word many business owners avoid saying out loud, but putting off the conversation only makes the transition riskier when the time finally comes. Here’s why a clear succession plan matters more than you think, and seven practical ways to get past the apprehension and start building one.

Did you know employees in Japan are actually paying people to help them quit their jobs? Yep, it’s true. Japanese workers are hiring “retirement agents” or “quitting support services” to help them resign from their positions. And, this isn’t just a fad, either.