Work Setbacks, Rebuilding Confidence, & Marriage Advice
Maybe the client ended things out of nowhere.
Maybe the launch didn’t land.
Maybe your inbox is quiet in a way that feels… unsettling.
Setbacks happen — even (especially) to the most capable, seasoned, strategic women we know. But when they do, it’s not just your revenue that takes a hit. It’s your confidence.
This week, we’re talking about how to find your footing again — emotionally, tactically, and without rushing the process.
For the heart:
🫀 Name what actually hurts
It’s not just about the money, the metrics, or the client walking away. It might be the feeling that you were blindsided. Or that you should’ve known better. Or that you put yourself out there, and now you want to crawl into a hole.
You’re allowed to grieve, rage, or spiral — and still be wildly capable. Start there.
For the head:
🧠 Zoom out and collect real data
It’s easy to let one rough moment rewrite your whole narrative. So:
→ Look at your wins from the past 6 months.
→ Write down what was working before things went sideways.
→ Ask yourself: What would I tell a friend in this exact situation? (Then listen.)
This isn’t the end. It’s a plot twist.
For the rebuild:
🛠️ Choose one low-stakes move to build momentum
You don’t need a rebrand, a pivot, or a full business model overhaul. You need a single action that reminds you who you are.
→ Reconnect with a past collaborator.
→ Write a newsletter or LinkedIn post (yes, even when you feel wobbly).
→ Pitch the thing you were scared to pitch before this happened.
Confidence doesn’t just return. You rebuild it — moment by moment, move by move.
Need support while you're finding your footing? Join us for the next Weak Ties/Strong Bonds co-working day or consider becoming a member for direct access to the kind of honest, behind-the-scenes conversations that help you move through the hard stuff faster.
Here’s to the bounce-back.
🪢 Laura & Lauren
Things We Loved This Week
Laura’s Things
😬 So that's where things got tricky, obviously.
🚽 Pick your 90s bathroom.
皿 Swedish prison or London flat?
👰 Marriage advice for women from a suffragette, 1918
Lauren’s Things
🍿 May the Ryan Lizza vs. Olivia Nuzzi narrative wars never end. (Also, wow, gross, Keith Olbermann.)
🍽️ This well-deserved dragging of Hamptons restaurants. (An old article, but new to me, and a welcome rebuttal to my sunset-at-4:30 blues.)
👑 Oh, the ways I wish I could be close personal friends with Margaret Atwood.
💔 Leave trans kids alone, you absolute freaks.
