Recently, I wrote an article about leading through resistance, where I shared that true force is determined by its ability to overcome friction. That made me pause and think about the relationship between push and pull—and about another way to view those difficult moments when we’re trying to move forward. Conversations with entrepreneurs across different industries reminded me of what I often call the slingshot effect.
Dating myself a bit here, but while I never actually had a slingshot, I watched plenty of Dennis the Menace as a child. This funny little kid terrorized his neighbor, Mr. Wilson, with good old-fashioned mischief. His toy of choice—the slingshot—was something he wielded like a pro. That ricochet sound alone was straight out of an old western.
What I remember most, though, was trying to build one myself. I had all the wrong tools: two pencils and a thin or thick rubber band. I struggled to hold it together just to see a small rock move forward, but nada. When I eventually saw a real slingshot in motion, I realized the truth: I had the wrong instruments. The physics of my setup were completely out of alignment with my goal.
When you lose the rhythm
In business, it’s often easy to experience that same feeling. The sense that your setup is off, or that things no longer have the impact they once did. And with so many variables—the economy, regulation, AI, shifting customer behavior—a lot of businesses are finding it harder to hit their goals or gain traction at all. Some may feel like everything is moving in the wrong direction and that footing is harder to achieve. Sales slow down, funding dries up, partnerships fall through, or the team loses its cohesiveness, trust, and seemingly, its rhythm.
It’s in these moments that many founders begin to question themselves: Do we—do I—still have the juice?
But what if those moments aren’t a sign of failure or inability, but the setup for your next major move?
Some of my best decisions have been made when my back was against the wall, and many of us can relate. Those moments when fight-or-flight kicks in and “fight” takes over, locked in like Ali and Frazier in the 15th round.
4 ways to use the slingshot approach
Think about a slingshot. To reach its full potential, its band needs to be pulled back as far as possible, sometimes to the point where it looks or feels like it may snap. From there, it’s all force and direction, all locked on. Business and entrepreneurship are no different. The periods that feel like setbacks are often the exact conditions needed to propel you further than you’ve ever gone, if you know how to use and direct them. Here are four ways to think about the slingshot approach.
1. Pressure is a prerequisite to breakthrough
When everything is comfortable, growth tends to be marginal. In fact, comfort can make you lose sight of some of the smaller but essential factors that built your comfort in the first place. True transformation happens under tension. The late nights, hard decisions, and difficult conversations sharpen your clarity of purpose. They make you leaner, more disciplined, and more intentional.
In this metaphor—if you haven’t guessed it yet—you, your organization, and your resources are the band being stretched. The pressure that bends some founders breaks others. But for those who stay grounded and focused, it builds strength and potential.
2. Recalibration is not regression
How we frame things for ourselves has real power. A backward pull isn’t the same as going backward—it’s strategic repositioning. Tough seasons force you to reevaluate what truly matters. You shed unnecessary layers, refocus your strategy, and reconnect with your core. Don’t resist that process. Recalibration often sets the foundation for more explosive, sustainable growth.
We’re in that season now. Our revenue is fairly flat compared to last year, yet industry trends clearly signal the need to optimize if forward progress is going to be possible. We’ve replaced heavy, expensive technologies with faster, cheaper, often vibe-coded tools. We fractionalized HR and finance. We reevaluated our structure, job design, and redundancy. We pushed for efficiencies in insurance, tax strategy, and operations, while also creating room to reward our hardworking support team with raises to help with the rising cost of living.
If we hadn’t recognized the pressure for what it was—and positively framed it—we could have missed the opportunity to recalibrate.
3. Momentum favors those who stay ready
Unlike my pencil-and-rubber-band setup, a proper slingshot doesn’t inch forward, it launches. When your moment comes, you won’t have time to get ready; you’ll have to already be ready. That’s why what you do during the pullback matters so much.
Build systems. Protect the people who protect you and the organization. Guard the energy of the business as well as your own. Invest in the vision even when evidence isn’t obvious.
My team hates when I say this, but it’s true: If you stay ready, you’ll never have to scramble to get ready.
4. Think: Minor setback for major comeback
Many founders mistake a quiet season for a closing door. Don’t confuse delay with denial. The best opportunities are often being built behind the scenes while you’re in the pullback.
The beauty of a slingshot is that the power generated in the pullback far exceeds the force applied against it. When things finally align, your leap forward won’t just make up for lost time. It will accelerate beyond the trajectory you were previously on. People may call it “overnight success,” without ever understanding the weight you carried in the dark.
The pullback isn’t punishment, it’s positioning. If you’re in that season right now, keep your grip tight. The tension you feel is proof that the potential for momentum is building. And if it’s recognized, approached, and executed with intention, it will not disappoint.
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Marlon Gray
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