Mourning Period Guidelines

Scott Galloway shares insights on how to handle setbacks and losses in life, emphasizing the importance of moving forward after appropriate mourning periods.

Core Philosophy on Moving Forward

• Must put a "statute of limitations" on mourning periods
• Can't let setbacks permanently derail your progress
• Need to be able to function again after appropriate grieving
• Important to avoid getting stuck in failure or loss

Specific Mourning Periods

• Parent's Death

  • Allow 12 weeks for deep grieving
  • Should be able to function again after this period
  • Can still be sad but must resume normal activities

• Business Failure

  • 2-3 months maximum mourning period
  • Need to start sending emails again
  • Should begin raising money again
  • Must return to meeting new people

Warning Signs

• If you're not better within the timeline
• If you aren't back to basic functions
• If you can't move forward after the set period
• When skills start atrophying from inaction

Action Items When Stuck

• Reach out for help if not improving within timeline
• Force yourself to resume basic professional activities
• Don't let mourning extend beyond reasonable periods
• Remember that time moves quickly and skills deteriorate

Key Principles

• Time goes really fast - can't afford to stay stuck
• Skills atrophy in a downward spiral if you don't move forward
• Must maintain enthusiasm even through failure
• Churchill quote: "The key to success is the ability to move through failure without losing your sense of enthusiasm"