Feeling tension allows you to sense when you need to move with your business.

Tension in business is unavoidable. Whether you’re making tough decisions, facing financial pressure, or dealing with competition, every entrepreneur experiences moments of stress. But what if you could turn that tension into a tool for focus and growth instead of letting it paralyze you?

Today I want to explore how to embrace tension as a strategic advantage, helping you sharpen decision-making, improve resilience, and drive your business forward even in high-pressure situations.

Why This Matters

Tension is often seen as something negative—something to avoid or eliminate. However, successful entrepreneurs and leaders recognize that tension, when managed correctly, forces clarity, encourages action, and improves problem-solving.

When pressure mounts, you are forced to:
✅ Prioritize what matters most.
✅ Find creative solutions instead of defaulting to the easiest path.
✅ Develop resilience and adaptability.
✅ Strengthen your leadership skills under real-world conditions.

What’s the outcome? You build a business that can weather uncertainty, navigate challenges effectively, and sustain long-term success.

Unfortunately, most people don’t see tension this way. Instead of using it as fuel, they let it drain their energy, create fear-based decisions, and slow them down.

The #1 Barrier: Fear of Making the Wrong Decision

The biggest reason entrepreneurs struggle with tension is fear—specifically, the fear of making the wrong choice. Many business owners find themselves trapped in analysis paralysis, overthinking every possible outcome and delaying action.

But here’s the reality: Indecision is more harmful than a wrong decision. In business, you will make mistakes. It’s inevitable. However, the ability to make decisions quickly, learn from them, and pivot when necessary is what separates successful entrepreneurs from those who get stuck.

Why Veterans Struggle to Manage Tension

• #1: Lack of experience operating under high-stakes situations
  If you’ve never been in a leadership role or had to make high-pressure decisions, you may default to avoidance. Without experience handling tension, many business owners let stress dictate their choices rather than using structured decision-making methods.

• #2: Viewing tension as a negative instead of a catalyst for growth
  Many people assume that stress or discomfort means something is wrong. In reality, tension is often a sign that you’re pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone—exactly where growth happens.

• #3: No clear system for processing stress and decision-making
  Without a structured way to handle pressure, tension builds up, leading to emotional decision-making, burnout, or avoidance. Business owners without clear problem-solving frameworks struggle to maintain clarity in tense situations.

• #4: Trying to eliminate tension instead of learning to manage it
  Some entrepreneurs believe that success means removing all stress from their business. But tension is a constant in business—it never fully disappears. Instead of trying to escape it, the goal should be to harness and direct it productively.

The good news? You don’t have to let tension overwhelm you. By shifting your mindset and using a few key strategies, you can turn business pressure into a powerful tool for success.

#1: Reframe Tension as a Focus Tool

Why It’s Important

Instead of seeing tension as a roadblock, view it as a sign that you’re engaged in meaningful work. Tension typically arises when something is important—whether it’s a major decision, a high-stakes negotiation, or a growth opportunity.

Example: Think about military training. Soldiers don’t avoid stress; they train in high-pressure environments so they can stay focused in real combat. The same principle applies to business—handling pressure is a skill that improves with practice.

How to Apply It

• Acknowledge tension without letting it control you. When you feel stress creeping in, pause and recognize it. Instead of reacting emotionally, ask yourself: "What is this tension trying to tell me?"

• Identify the source of the tension. Is it fear of failure? A lack of information? Uncertainty about the next step? Breaking it down makes it more manageable.

• Use tension to clarify priorities. High-pressure moments force you to focus on what truly matters. Let go of distractions and concentrate on the most impactful decisions.

#2: Create a Decision-Making Process

Where People Go Wrong

Many entrepreneurs let tension push them into reactive decision-making or, worse, total avoidance. They either make snap decisions out of stress or get stuck in a cycle of overthinking.

What to Do Instead

Develop a structured approach to decision-making. Having a clear process allows you to operate effectively even in high-pressure situations.

A simple three-step framework for better decision-making:

1. Define the core problem. Don’t focus on symptoms—identify the root issue. Example: If your business is struggling financially, is it due to high expenses, low pricing, or poor marketing?

2. Eliminate unnecessary distractions. Focus only on the facts that directly impact the decision.

3. Set a decision deadline. Avoid paralysis by giving yourself a specific timeframe to analyze options and take action.

Example: A startup founder struggling with a difficult hiring decision used this framework to stay focused. Instead of getting lost in emotions, they defined the key hiring criteria, eliminated distractions (such as personal biases), and made a confident decision within 48 hours.

#3: Develop Resilience and Adaptability

Why It’s Worth It

Tension will always be part of business. The more you learn to handle it, the more successful you’ll be.

What to Do

• Build a routine for managing stress. Whether it’s exercise, journaling, or daily reflection, find a habit that keeps you mentally sharp.

• Surround yourself with mentors and peers. Learning from others who have mastered operating under pressure gives you an edge.

• Embrace challenges as training. Every difficult situation is an opportunity to strengthen your ability to perform under tension.

Example:

A veteran entrepreneur built a daily reflection routine to process business challenges. Instead of reacting impulsively, they took 10 minutes each day to evaluate problems, track progress, and adjust strategy. Over time, this practice helped them navigate high-pressure decisions with confidence.

Use Tension as Your Edge

Tension in business isn’t something to run from—it’s a signal that you’re doing something important. When you learn to manage it effectively, it sharpens your focus, strengthens decision-making, and helps you grow as a leader.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Tension isn’t bad—it’s a tool for clarity and progress.
✅ Fear of making the wrong decision is often worse than the decision itself.
✅ Structured decision-making helps reduce stress and improve outcomes.
✅ Resilience grows when you embrace tension as part of the process.

Your challenge: Next time you feel tension rising in your business, pause and ask yourself: How can I use this pressure to focus on what truly matters?

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Connect with Veteran Business Resources

Veterans are uniquely equipped to handle tension, but that doesn’t mean you have to navigate business challenges alone.

Are you a veteran looking for support to navigate life’s challenges or build your business? ➡️ Visit our Veteran Assistance Resources page to access tools, guidance, and programs for healthcare, financial aid, mental health, and more. Your next step starts here!

Let’s build something great!