In August, a massive explosion rocked Beirut, killing nearly 200 residents, injuring 6,500 and damaging the city’s critical infrastructure. For most people, word of the blast was little more than a headline, quickly forgotten in a few news cycles. But for me, it was personal — I grew up in Beirut, in a house just 700 yards from the explosion site.

Although my family home incurred massive damage, my parents survived the event and are thankfully doing fine. Yet the explosion was a stark reminder of the uncertainty and constant challenges I faced growing up in war-torn Lebanon. In retrospect, it’s clear that many of those challenges helped shape the entrepreneur I am today.

It’s also clear that the lessons I learned navigating the Lebanese civil war can provide important insights for other Silicon Valley entrepreneurs as we navigate one of the most challenging years many of us have ever faced. Striving to apply these lessons every day, regardless of the degree of success, has helped me deliver much better outcomes as a leader.

Important lessons I’ve learned

Persistence and the ability to adapt are part of my family’s DNA. Early on, my grandparents fled the Armenian genocide and arrived in Beirut as refugees after traveling through the Syrian desert. During the rampant violence and corruption of the Lebanese civil war, my family held firmly to the belief that we would get through it together — and we did. But still, I dreamed of leaving Lebanon to pursue an education and career in the U.S.

That dream became reality after emigrating to the U.S. 25 years ago. Persistence and hard work paid off with a master’s degree and Ph.D. at Stanford. Connections to the startup community and the university led to a number of successful startups including Arista, which went on to become a multibillion-dollar company. Eventually, along with David Cheriton and Sasha Ratkovic, I founded Apstra, the intent-based networking company.

Having grown up in the chaos of Beirut, I’ve learned how to navigate life’s uncertainty and unpredictability. I’m convinced that my experiences in Beirut helped me succeed in the world of Silicon Valley startups, and they are helping me lead my company through today’s volatile business climate.

  • Aim for progress, not perfection. Life in Beirut was far from perfect and many variables were simply out of my control. Although I couldn’t necessarily control my circumstances, I could control my actions and work to improve my circumstances in meaningful ways, like striving to do well academically despite frequent school closures or finding opportunities to tutor on the side to earn extra cash. Likewise, as an entrepreneur I’ve found that striving for perfection can get in the way of progress. Uncertainty and entrepreneurship go hand in hand, especially during the early stages. By recognizing the factors that are beyond your control — and those that are within it — you can focus your activity on tasks and initiatives that move you closer to your goals.
  • Celebrate victories, but acknowledge losses. As you might imagine, growing up in Lebanon during the civil war meant that loss was part of everyday life. On a regular basis, places, routines and even people disappeared from our lives. But in the midst of loss, there were always small victories worth celebrating. In the tech sector, change is a constant — talent leaves, products flop and key benchmarks aren’t met. But on the other hand, sometimes winning a deal feels like a dream come true. It is important to acknowledge losses, reflect on them and identify what one can learn from them. At the same time, by encouraging your team to celebrate every win, and using these wins to remind the team of your larger mission, your “true north,” you can help your business navigate change and the losses encountered along the way. Just as importantly, celebrating even small victories provides a boost to morale and incentivizes your team to stay invested in their work.
  • Have more empathy. Places like Beirut change the way we view the world and each other. During the civil war, my community understood that we were all in this together, and we tended to treat each other with greater empathy and understanding. The most effective leaders have a high degree of emotional intelligence, especially in startups where market fluctuations can fuel panic. Prioritize making connections and checking in with your employees to show you’re not only invested in their careers, but in their daily lives. Yes, startup culture pushes boundaries, but trust is the foundation that drives a healthy and productive workplace. Emotionally intelligent leaders provide empathy, guidance and hope — and the impact reverberates throughout their companies.

Challenging situations mold us into better versions of ourselves. By aiming for progress, celebrating victories and practicing empathy, you can guide your company through the pandemic as well as today’s challenging economy — and emerge a stronger business on the other side.

Mansour Karam is co-founder and president of Apstra