Episode 15: When Life Happens - Giving Yourself Grace as an Entrepreneur
Show Notes
Welcome back to The Seasoned Entrepreneur. I'm your host, Vanessa Collins, and if you're wondering where I've been for the past month, that's exactly what we're talking about today.
Life happened. And I mean really happened.
Four weeks ago, my 95-year-old mother was hospitalized, and seven days later, she passed away. We just held her celebration of life service last week. During this time, my carefully planned podcast schedule, my content calendar, my business goals—everything took a backseat to what really mattered: being present for my family and processing this significant loss.
And you know what? That's exactly how it should be.
Today's episode is about something we don't talk about enough in the entrepreneurial world: giving yourself grace when life happens. Because if you're human—and I'm pretty sure you are—life is going to happen to you too. And when it does, you need to know it's okay to adjust, to pause, and to prioritize what truly matters without guilt or shame.
The Myth of the Always-On Entrepreneur
Here's something I want you to understand: The "hustle 24/7" mentality is not only unrealistic—it's harmful.
Social media is full of entrepreneurs who seem to have it all together all the time. They're posting daily, launching products, hitting milestones, and making it look effortless. But what you don't see are the behind-the-scenes moments when life throws them curveballs.
The truth is: Every successful entrepreneur has seasons of growth and seasons of rest. Every one of us has times when we need to step back and deal with what life brings us.
You are not a machine. Your business is not separate from your life—it's part of it. And sometimes, life requires your full attention.
My Story: When Everything Stopped
Four weeks ago, I was on track with my podcast schedule, my content creation, and my business goals. I had episodes planned, workshops scheduled, and momentum building.
In fact, I was in the middle of what I hoped would be one of the biggest launches for our brand, The Monetized Author. We had an entire launch schedule mapped out. We did our webinar on April 22nd. We completed our 2-Day workshop on April 29th and 30th. The cart for our 8-Week intensive was scheduled to open May 1st, with the program set to start on May 14th.
Everything was going according to plan.
Then, at 1:53 AM on May 1st—the day our cart was supposed to open—I got a call from the hospital telling me that my mom had passed.
In that moment, everything else became secondary. The launch I had been working toward for months? It could wait. My podcast schedule? Not important. My carefully planned social media content? Irrelevant. My business goals? They all took a backseat to what really mattered: being present for my family and processing this profound loss.
And you know what I realized? The world didn't end. My business didn't collapse. The launch could be postponed. My audience understood. My clients were supportive.
What mattered was processing grief, celebrating her life, and taking time to heal. What mattered was being present for my family during this difficult time.
The launch that seemed so critical just hours before suddenly felt insignificant compared to the magnitude of loss and the need to honor my mother's memory.
This experience reminded me of a fundamental truth: Your humanity is not a flaw in your entrepreneurial journey—it's a feature.
The Permission You've Been Waiting For
If you're listening to this and you've been beating yourself up because:
You missed your content schedule due to illness
You had to pause your business launch because of a family crisis
You've been less productive because you're dealing with personal challenges
You haven't been showing up consistently because life got overwhelming
I'm giving you permission to be human.
Your worth as an entrepreneur is not determined by your consistency during crisis. Your value is not measured by your ability to compartmentalize pain. Your success is not defined by your willingness to sacrifice your wellbeing for your business goals.
Practical Strategies for Navigating Life's Interruptions
1. Create a "Life Happens" Protocol
Before crisis hits, establish systems for when you need to step away:
Set up an autoresponder that explains you're dealing with personal matters
Identify which business activities are truly urgent versus those that can wait
Have a trusted person who can handle basic business communications
Create templates for rescheduling appointments and calls
2. Communicate Transparently
You don't owe anyone your entire story, but honest communication builds trust:
"I'm dealing with a family situation and will be less available for the next few weeks"
"Due to personal circumstances, I'm rescheduling this week's appointments"
"I'm taking some time to handle important family matters and will return soon"
Your audience and clients will respect your authenticity far more than they'll appreciate your stressed-out, half-hearted attempts to maintain business as usual.
3. Redefine Productivity During Crisis
During difficult times, productivity might look like:
Simply getting through the day
Being present for loved ones
Taking care of your basic needs
Processing emotions in healthy ways
Doing the absolute minimum to keep your business running
This is enough. This is productive. This is what being human looks like.
4. Practice Self-Compassion
Talk to yourself the way you would talk to your best friend going through the same situation. You would never tell them:
"You should be working harder during this crisis"
"Other entrepreneurs would handle this better"
"You're being weak by taking time to grieve"
"Your business should come first"
So don't say these things to yourself either.
5. Remember: This Too Is Part of Your Story
The experiences that interrupt your business—loss, illness, family challenges, personal struggles—these aren't detours from your entrepreneurial journey. They're part of it.
These experiences give you depth, compassion, and wisdom that will serve your business and your audience in ways you can't imagine right now.
The Gift in the Pause
Here's what I discovered during my month away from the podcast:
My message became clearer. Taking time to process grief and loss reminded me why I do this work. I help entrepreneurs over 50 because I understand that life is complex, that we're juggling multiple responsibilities, and that our businesses need to work with our lives, not against them.
My priorities realigned. When everything else stopped, I remembered what truly matters. This clarity will influence how I show up in my business going forward.
My audience understood. The people who truly matter—my real audience—were patient, supportive, and understanding. The ones who weren't? They're not my people anyway.
My resilience grew. Navigating this challenging time reminded me that I'm stronger than I think and that my business can withstand interruptions.
Questions for Reflection
As we wrap up, I want to leave you with some questions to consider:
What would you tell a friend going through what you're going through right now?
What would matter most to you if you only had a few weeks left to spend with someone you love?
How can you build more flexibility and humanity into your business systems?
What stories are you telling yourself about what it means to be a "successful" entrepreneur that might need updating?
Moving Forward with Grace
As I return to consistent podcasting and content creation, I'm carrying this experience with me. I'm reminded that:
Seasons of rest are not seasons of failure
Prioritizing family and health is good business sense
Authenticity builds stronger connections than perfectionism
Grace is not weakness—it's wisdom
If you're in a season where life has happened or is happening, please know:
You're not behind
You're not failing
You're not alone
You're exactly where you need to be
Your Next Steps
Here's what I want you to do after listening to this episode:
Assess your current situation honestly. What do you really need right now? Rest? Support? Space? Honor that need.
Communicate with your audience. You don't need to share everything, but honest communication about taking time when needed builds trust.
Create or update your "life happens" protocol. Put systems in place now so you're prepared when crisis comes.
Practice self-compassion daily. Treat yourself with the same kindness you'd show a dear friend.
Remember that your humanity is an asset. The experiences that challenge you also deepen you, making you a more empathetic and effective entrepreneur.
Closing Thoughts
Thank you for your patience during my absence and for allowing me to share this vulnerable episode with you. My mother lived 95 amazing years, and in her final days, she reminded me what truly matters: love, family, presence, and grace.
As we continue this entrepreneurial journey together, let's commit to building businesses that honor our humanity rather than demanding we sacrifice it.
Remember, it's never too late to give yourself grace. Your best season of entrepreneurship includes room for being beautifully, imperfectly human.
I'll see you next time on The Seasoned Entrepreneur, where we're proving that age is just experience—and experience includes knowing when to pause, when to push, and when to simply be present for what matters most.
