Why would you want to create a business from your painful experience?
Because you care.
Because it is on your mind all the time.
Because you have become an expert in this area.
Pain Changes You
I have had my share of painful experiences both in business and private life and those experiences have changed me as person. I do have the same values as before but some are stronger than before, like honesty and integrity, and I do have a better understanding of people and situations. I am also clearer on my boundaries.
We are who we are because of our experiences but even more importantly of how we have dealt with them. I read somewhere recently that what determines our happiness derives only 10% from our experiences, 50% is supposedly genetic and 40% is how we decide to deal with life.
When you (decide to) deal with a painful experience you usually come out of that experience a stronger person than you were before and suddenly a subject matter, that might not have interested you before, becomes your passion. You are all of sudden determined to help others deal with similar experiences or help them avoid them if possible. There are numerous examples of people who suddenly change their career path because of what they have experienced in their lives and through these sometimes very life-changing and painful experiences they finally find their true calling.
Through painful experiences people may finally find their true calling.
How do you turn pain into a gain?
Having a positive and hopeful attitude has a big influence on your painful experience. This is not about being a Pollyanna and ignoring the reality but to have hope that things will turn out for the best and even if they don’t, that this is probably not the end of the world. It might help to think about the worst that can happen and accept that outcome in order to move on and to focus on other possible and more hopeful outcomes.
During your painful experience you will notice what you need in terms of information and support. In many cases you will not get enough information and there is lack of support as well. This can be cause for frustration but this is your chance in disguise even if you might not realize it immediately. You know now what people in your unique situation need and want and if you are willing and able, you can offer this help to others.
When we go through a painful experience we are often not just looking for expert advice or support but for someone who understands our unique situation. We may just need to share our pain with someone outside of our circle of friends and family or we do not want to share anything with anyone close to us. As an outsider who has gone through exactly the same experience you are way more valuable than any expert who has “just learned” about your situation.
By helping others in a similar situation you are also helping yourself. You may become so passionate about the subject that you want to give freely of your time and energy to anyone who is in need of your help. Be careful to set boundaries and decide how much you give away for free. I am a firm believer in giving but I also believe that at some point you need to consider turning your unique experience into a business so that you get paid for your time and energy. In some cases your painful experience and now passion is not enough to start a business and you might need to invest in education and maybe even get a degree or certificate in your area of expertise.
Of all the things you can do to let people know you exist and have this unique experience, blogging is probably the most obvious and easiest one, as well as podcasting and videos. This is something you can do part-time to see if people like what you are writing about. Depending on your expertise you can offer one-on-one sessions or courses or even write a book about your experience. Everybody has something to say so don’t be shy to share your painful experience with the world. The world needs your unique perspective.
Three amazing women who created a business from their pain.
Three Amazing Ladies
Instead of being just theoretical about possible businesses that can be created from painful experiences I want to introduce to you three amazing ladies. Their experiences are very different but all of them have it in common to have turned what they have experienced into a true calling and created a business from their pain.
Hanna Boëthius at Grainbrain
Karin Hagelin Andersson at Hagelin Grief Recovery
Anne-Sophie Reinhardt at Make peace with food, your body and yourself
Can you turn your pain into gain?
Painful experiences come in all sizes and shapes and don’t have to involve death or diseases. If you have experienced pain in your private or business life then you can be quite sure that someone else has gone through a similar experience. By sharing your story you might be able to help others even if you don’t turn it into a business – just helping someone is a gain.
Please share your experiences and insights below and share this post with anyone who might relate to the topic. You might be able to help someone in need.
Great post! Especially like the use of specific examples.