Let’s be honest: entrepreneurship in Africa is not for the faint-hearted.
One day, you’re making sales. Next day, NEPA takes light, your supplier ghosts you, and a customer is dragging your business on Twitter.

Welcome to the hard season.

But here’s the thing: every successful founder has eaten breakfast from tough times. What separates the ones who bounce back from the ones who vanish? Grit.

Let’s talk about what that really means — and how to build it.

What Is Grit, Really?

Forget the motivational quotes and TED Talks. Grit isn’t just “working hard” or “hustling.”

Grit is the ability to stay consistent, focused, and resilient even when nothing is working.
It’s what keeps you pushing when your bank balance is low, your morale is lower, and your friends are asking, “So, when will you get a real job?”

The Signs You’re in a Hard Season

• Cash flow is choking your business.
• Customer interest is flat.
• Your team (if you have one) is tired. Or leaving.
• You’ve started googling “how to pivot without failing.”
• You’re doubting yourself… hard.

If any of these sound familiar, breathe. You’re not alone. The tough season is part of the story.

How to Build (and Keep) Grit When It Gets Rough

1. Remember Your Why (Yes, That Cliché Still Works)

When the money isn’t flowing, passion won’t pay the bills — but it will help you wake up and try again.
Revisit your original vision. Who were you trying to help? What problem were you solving?

💡 Write your “why” on a sticky note. Read it when you want to quit.

2. Break Big Goals into Daily Hustles

Overthinking the big picture during hard times can make you spiral.
Break things down: What one thing can I do today to move forward?

• Send one pitch.
• Call one customer.
• Improve one product feature.

Grit is built by doing the small stuff — especially when you don’t feel like it.

3. Build a Support System (Not Just Twitter Followers)

You need real people — mentors, fellow entrepreneurs, friends who understand the grind.
Find people who won’t let you quit on your worst day. People who’ve been through the fire and came out seasoned.

Pro tip: A solid WhatsApp group > 1,000 likes on a post.

4. Get Comfortable With Pivoting

Your business model might need a facelift — and that’s okay.
Grit isn’t about being stubborn. It’s about knowing when to adapt.

• Customers not biting? Change the hook.
• Sales channel failing? Try a new one.
• Product not working? Rebuild with feedback.

Ego will kill your business faster than failure. Be flexible.

5. Take Care of You — No One Builds from Burnout

Sleep. Eat. Move your body. Talk to someone. You are the engine behind your business — if you break down, everything else stops.

Resting is not weakness. It’s part of the strategy.

Real Talk

Surviving a hard season isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about:

• Facing reality with honesty.
• Making decisions with clarity.
• Choosing to keep going when nothing is guaranteed.

That’s grit. And if you can build it now, nothing will shake you later.

Final Word:

Every big brand you admire — Flutterwave, PiggyVest, Paystack — had their hard season.
They didn’t escape it. They outlasted it.

So if you’re in the trenches right now, keep building. Keep showing up. You’re not failing — you’re forging grit.

And that? That’s your superpower.