My bruises will heal; so will my ego.

The other day, as I got ready to bike to the farmers market, I felt so Parisian—cute dress, bike shorts underneath, basket ready to carry home my haul.

But as I came down the hill in the bike lane, a car turned right, cutting me off.

Thankfully, he didn’t hit me… but I did hit the pavement. That dang basket threw off my center of gravity as I slammed on the brakes.

I sat there on the pavement, wrist throbbing, dress bunched up, scraped and sore. I didn’t feel so cute anymore.  My ego was a little bruised too… I tried not to cry as passers-by asked if I was okay.

I picked myself up and took a deep breath (or 5). I looked at my bike slightly mangled… and debated whether to turn around and walk my bike home or continue on to the farmers market.  I untangled my bike, and continued.

Now that the bruises are fading and my bike’s in the shop getting a tune-up —I can see the lessons here for business. There are always lessons. 😉

Lesson #1: Even if you’re “right,” it doesn’t matter if you’re dead.

I had the right of way. I was in the bike lane. I was going straight. He turned right and didn’t look… and there are signs all over town warning drivers to look for bikes before turning right across a bike lane.

But none of that matters if I don’t make it home.

Same goes in business.

Whether you’re dealing with customers, employees, or vendors, sometimes you have to ask yourself:

👉 Do I want to be right, or do I want to keep the relationship (or the sale) alive?

👉 Do I want to win the argument, or grow the business?

It’s not about wrong or right —it’s about choosing your battles wisely.

Lesson #2: You will get beat up and bruised. That’s part of life.

You’ll embarrass yourself. Things won’t go the way you planned. You’ll feel frustrated, sore, and sometimes even a little stupid.

Maybe it’s a sales campaign that flops.  Or your flowers look mangled when you get to the farmers market because your dog got in the delivery truck.

But if you’re doing something you truly love, you’ve got to learn the lesson, and get back on the horse.

Or in my case, the bike.

I wallowed in my pain for a few days. I avoided the bike. But the truth is—I missed it.

So a few days later, I got back on.

It wasn’t an aggressive ride. More of a gentle roll. But it felt good to be in the sun, cruising through the warm air, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of springtime in New England.

We’re entering the busy season, and you too will get beat up.

Whether it’s business or bikes, bruises will happen. What matters is whether you stay down or get back up.

In The Farmer’s Office book, I dedicate a whole chapter to the entrepreneurial mindset: how to recognize what’s holding you back and learn how to get out of your own way to grow your farm business with confidence (even when things feel wobbly).

If this story resonated with you, I think you’ll love the book.

👉 Grab your copy of The Farmer’s Office here.
Your future self (and your farm) will thank you.