The Setback Cycle - by Amy Shoenthal (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Setbacks are an unavoidable aspect of life--whether in relationships, career, or some combination o both. While setbacks can be uncomfortable, they provide an opportunity to gain a renewed perspective, develop fresh strategies and redefine success."--Page [4] of cover.

Book Synopsis

USA Today Bestseller

Forbes contributor Amy Shoenthal's revolutionary strategies for working through life's inevitable setbacks, supported by research and personal stories from today's most prolific founders, leaders, and experts.

How do you know if you're going through a setback? And once you realize you're in one, how do you work through it?

Some of the world's most prominent leaders attribute their setbacks to the reason they found success. Their lowest moments paved the way for their creative rebirth. Through the four phases of The Setback Cycle--Establish, Embrace, Explore, and Emerge--Amy Shoenthal guides readers on how to make sense of their experiences, gain clarity on what comes next, and move confidently into future endeavors. That framework, developed through research and conversations with scholars, psychologists, neuroscientists, and executive coaches is supported through the deeply personal stories of founders and leaders like fashion icons Stacy London and Norma Kamali, fitness instructors Robin Arzón and Kendall Toole, chef Palak Patel, non-binary beauty influencer Cyrus Veyssi, and inspirational founders like Cate Luzio, Erica Taylor, Amanda Goetz, and more.

Whether you're stuck in a rut after a breakup or trying to navigate an unexpected professional transition, The Setback Cycle offers guidance on how to take yourself through your toughest moments and forge a stronger path forward.

Review Quotes

"Amy offers a new perspective that shifts your mindset around how to work through life's hardest moments and come out the other side with a renewed sense of purpose."--Ann Shoket, CEO, TheLi.st, former editor in chief, Seventeen Magazine

"Every success story comes with setbacks. The key lies in learning the most you can when things don't go as planned. In The Setback Cycle, Amy Shoenthal offers a brilliantly thorough exploration into the fascinating science behind why setbacks happen, and offers an actionable plan that enables you to emerge gracefully from them. Just think how boring the movie of your success story would be without a few bumps in the road!" --Randi Zuckerberg, entrepreneur, bestselling author and award-winning producer

"This book feels like sitting down with your friend who gives the best advice during your most trying moments. You'll finish it renewed, confident, and ready to take on any challenge life throws your way."--Jo Piazza, International Bestselling author of We Are Not Like Them, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, The Knockoff and How to Be Married

"Through a combination of engaging storytelling and straightforward advice, Amy shows you how to work through your biggest setbacks and emerge with creativity, innovation, and a strong sense of self."--Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and Unicorn Space

About the Author

Amy Shoenthal is a renowned journalist, author, and marketing executive. Throughout her two-decade career, she has worked with some of the world's largest brands, from Procter & Gamble to Google, providing strategic marketing guidance and helping to shape brand narratives. After completing The Setback Cycle, she began working with organizations to help their employees and managers confidently lead through tumultuous times, offering the tools to help their teams navigate their own inevitable setbacks together.

Amy approaches storytelling as sense making. As a top contributor to ForbesWomen, she shines the spotlight on those who have been historically underestimated, yet are doing the work to solve society's biggest problems. Her work has included interviews with a wide range of leaders such as Senator Mazie Hirono, Tory Burch, Marie Kondo, and Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

She attended journalism school at The University of Maryland. Her children's book, A Magical Day in Sunnyside, is a tribute to the independently owned businesses in her own beloved neighborhood of Sunnyside, Queens, where she lives with her husband and five-year-old daughter.