Every food entrepreneur has that season—the one where nothing seems to go right. Sales dip. Team morale falters. Strategy misfires. What once felt exciting begins to feel like a burden. If you’ve experienced this, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing. Even the most passionate founders hit a wall.
Entrepreneur Shalom Lamm knows the feeling well. With decades of experience leading ventures in real estate, e-commerce, and public service, Lamm has weathered his fair share of tough years. And he’s learned something critical in the process:
“The hardest times in business are often the moments that shape your long-term success—if you can push through and reconnect with your purpose,” says Lamm.
In this article, we explore practical strategies for falling back in love with your food business—even after burnout, setbacks, or stagnation—and how Shalom Lamm has turned low points into launching pads for growth.
Step 1: Reconnect with Your “Why”
When you’re in survival mode, it’s easy to lose sight of why you started your business in the first place. But reconnecting with that original spark is key to rediscovering your passion.
“Purpose fuels resilience,” says Lamm. “Every time I’ve felt disconnected from my business, I’ve gone back to the core reason I built it—whether it was to serve a need, solve a problem, or create legacy.”
Ask yourself:
- What impact did I want to make?
- Who was I hoping to help?
- What personal goals did this business support?
Writing these down can reignite emotional connection—and reveal how far you’ve come, even through setbacks.
Step 2: Take a Strategic Step Back
Sometimes, falling back in love with your business starts by creating space from it. Lamm recommends stepping back from the day-to-day to gain perspective.
“Take a weekend or a week to unplug from the grind and just observe,” he says. “Don’t react—just reflect. When you give yourself breathing room, the path forward becomes clearer.”
Use this time to:
- Review your wins, not just your losses
- Identify what drains your energy vs. what excites you
- Reimagine your role in the business
Step 3: Rebuild Your Support System
Entrepreneurship can be isolating, especially after a rough stretch. But you don’t have to go it alone.
Shalom Lamm attributes much of his long-term success to surrounding himself with mentors, peers, and advisors who tell the truth and offer perspective.
“Sometimes the best way to fall back in love with your business is to let others remind you why it matters,” he says. “Their belief can fuel your own.”
Re-engage your network. Join mastermind groups. Have candid conversations with people who know what you’re going through.
Step 4: Delegate What You Dread
Burnout often comes from doing too much—especially the tasks that suck your energy. The solution? Delegate what drains you so you can refocus on what lights you up.
“Every time I’ve restructured my role to spend more time on vision and less on routine, my passion returns,” says Lamm. “Your business should support you, not smother you.”
Whether it’s hiring part-time help, automating admin work, or bringing on a COO, clearing your plate can restore your excitement.
Step 5: Celebrate Small Wins Again
After a tough year, it’s easy to only focus on what’s broken. But falling back in love with your business means finding joy in progress again—even if it’s incremental.
Make time each week to:
- Highlight small wins with your team
- Revisit positive customer feedback
- Set and celebrate achievable short-term goals
Lamm emphasizes: “Momentum is built through recognition. Celebrate what’s working—it reminds you that forward motion is still happening.”
Step 6: Make One Bold Change
Sometimes, the best way to shake off stagnation is to make a bold move—whether it’s launching a new product, entering a new market, or rebranding entirely.
“Don’t be afraid to reinvent,” Lamm encourages. “Businesses evolve. What feels stale today might just be asking for a pivot.”
The willingness to take risks again can breathe fresh life into your leadership and open doors to exciting new opportunities.
Final Thoughts
It’s normal to fall out of love with your business after a rough year. What matters is what you do next. By stepping back, reconnecting with your purpose, restructuring your role, and making room for joy again, you can rebuild not only your business—but your relationship with it.
As Shalom Lamm reminds us:
“Every business goes through seasons. You don’t give up on it—you rediscover it. Sometimes, the greatest success comes after the hardest year.”
So if your fire has dimmed, know this: it can burn bright again. And this time, it might be stronger than ever.
