Have you got entrepreneur envy? It happens to the best of us–at some point in our journey to be #selfemployed, we inevitably look at the experiences of others and wonder: How did they do that?

No, they don’t know something you don’t. You aren’t doing anything wrong. Starting your own venture is one of the hardest things you can do–but it can also be the most rewarding. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or uncertain, check out these successful entrepreneurs stories to gain some perspective on the way forward.

These Successful Entrepreneurs Stories Will Inspire You

Artem Mashkov, on handling stress:

No matter how long you’ve been running your business, it’s easy to fall into the trap of the entrepreneur’s most irrational fear: that you will build it, and no one will come. Chronic stress is a huge problem for many business owners. To an extent, this can be motivating–but after a certain point, this stress can be absolutely crippling.

Artem Mashkov, the serial entrepreneur behind DevTribe, has spoken openly about how professional stress negatively impacted his physical and mental health, and kept him from making the most of opportunities to grow and succeed in his business pursuits.

The solution? According to Artem, it was choosing to prioritize his well-being. Stress is internal, and you have the power to determine how it impacts your day-to-day. If you’re struggling with stress, it may be time to take a step back and reconsider your perspective on life.

Jan Roos, on sustaining energy:

Jan Roos founded Expert Engines, a lead-generation company and for a while, business was good. However, Jan has been open about his struggle to maintain enthusiasm for his business and to approach each day with renewed motivation to succeed.

According to Jan, this slump is an inevitable part of the successful entrepreneur’s story, and the only way to get past it is to go through it. Sometimes, running a business is about doing what needs to be done, day in and day out, and about persisting even when you start to hear objections from the people around you.

We call that grit, and it’s a necessary part of running your own business.

Harriet Mills, on maintaining balance:

Before Harriet Mills founded Wine & Design, she was a new mom who had just been laid off–with little savings to her name. Sounds scary, right? Harriet was inspired to start her company in part out of necessity, it’s true, but she has succeeded thanks to her unrelenting drive and killer business instinct.

Wine & Design has grown to encompass 77 franchise locations all across the country, and serves a huge variety of audiences (from kids’ birthday parties to corporate events). Not too shabby, right?

The Takeaway? Consistency is Key

All of these entrepreneurs have vastly different stories. What they do have in common is an intense amount of grit, and the desire to make their business endeavors succeed. When it comes to starting, running, and maintaining your own business, consistency and persistence are key. There are times when this will seem hard or crazy or downright impossible–but if you can push through these negative feelings and keep a clear head, the rewards will be greater than you can imagine.