There are plenty of internet memes that illustrate the rollercoaster nature of running a business. They all tell us the same thing – we expect a steadily ascendant line as success grows, but in fact business is full of peaks and troughs.

And they are right! Probably not just for those of us running a business but I’m sure many career paths follow a similarly volatile trajectory.

If we are going to hang on until the end of the journey, we need to be able to ride the rollercoaster even when we are plummeting towards earth. Many years ago, during one such slide, a family member asked me what I was going to do if things didn’t work out.

I had no answer for her. As far as I was concerned, there was no plan B. I had to make this business succeed.

Many business experts might decry this as the worst tip of the batch, but I attribute the fact that we turned the business around on that occasion, and on others, to my recognition that this had to work and there was no alternative. If you give yourself an escape clause, it’s too easy to let go, when if you held on for longer, you might just succeed.

That doesn’t mean you can’t adapt to circumstances, diversify or try new things. Just as most business or career journeys are full of ups and downs, there are plenty of left and right turns in there as well.

But keep your eyes fixed on that ultimate destination.