Defying Defeat: Either You Win or You Grow
Defying Defeat: Either You Win or You Grow
What’s the best way for business owners to use their strengths in teamwork?
Hendra Tambunan: One thing people often overlook is taking inventory of what they’re good at. Start with what you have and identify your strengths. We used Gallup StrengthsFinder to discover our strengths. My strength is being a visionary—I’m focused on ideation and problem-solving. There are a million ways to solve a problem, and I love figuring them out.
However, ideas need to be balanced with execution. That’s where Mercy comes in. She’s great at operations, having run a restaurant before. We balance each other out. When I come up with big ideas, she helps bring things back down to reality and makes sure we stay grounded and focused on execution. That’s how we make decisions as a team.
How should business owners approach mistakes to foster growth and success?
Hendra Tambunan: I’ve made a lot of bad choices along the way. In any journey, there's always going to be trial and error. Before I got into multi-family real estate, I tried land investing, and the deal went sour. It wasn’t profitable, and we lost money. But things happen. The key is to give yourself and others permission to fail and then forgive yourself and your partners. That helped me rebound and move forward. I believe that you either grow or win—every experience is a learning lesson.
What resources can entrepreneurs utilize to fuel their growth?
Hendra Tambunan: I just finished reading Raise Your Game by Alan Stein. The book focuses on self-awareness, being coachable, and understanding your team. It’s like a triangle: yourself, your team, and your coach. Entrepreneurs often get blindsided because they focus only on themselves and sometimes don’t even fully understand what they bring to the table. Self-awareness is key, but many forget the importance of having partners or teammates. Solopreneurs might think they don’t need others, but how long can you sustain a business without partnerships to help catapult your growth?
A coach helps guide you and pushes you to grow. I also finished The Power of One More by Ed Mylett. The concept that resonated with me is focusing on doing "one more" thing to improve your situation. Mylett breaks down the day into three sections: 6 AM to noon, noon to 6 PM, and 6 PM to midnight. By breaking your day into smaller, manageable segments, you can track progress more effectively and accomplish more.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
