When I started my career in marketinga mentor told me this: Stability it is key. I nodded at the time, thinking I understood what he meant—that nothing is easy, that the strong-willed survive, and so on. I struggled with confidence during my early career, but over time I became more bold, respected and accomplished. Wasn't that elasticity? I thought I had learned my mentor's lesson.

But I didn't understand elasticity at all. This became clear in 2017, when my father died suddenly. He was a steady, inspiring force in my life—and with him gone, I felt like I was in free fall. I began to isolate myself. I lost focus at work. My decades of experience and confidence were gone.

Connected: My company makes body armor for police officers. When this happened, my entire business strategy changed.