Watching Hillary Clinton’s concession speech today reminded me of of just how challenging managing feelings of disappointment can be. I can only imagine how she feels; to lose an election after a lifetime of service, hundreds of millions of dollars of investment, and a grueling nomination and campaign must be devastating.

Still, despite the flood of emotion that Secretary Clinton must undoubtedly have been experiencing, she handled the situation with characteristic intelligence, class, and grace. Her example of graciousness in defeat should serve as an example to anyone forced to manage disappointment, especially entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship is a roller coaster ride unlike any other, especially for founders. When you think about a business, there are two kinds of capital: money and emotional investment.

Founders usually have the highest emotional investment of anyone in the organization. After all, the business is their baby—and for entrepreneurs, life is work and work is life. For better or worse, everything that happens to or in a business is somewhat personal.

When disappointment comes—and it always does—it’s easy to let it get you down on a number of fronts. However, for the sake of the company, the team, and your sanity, you’ll have to learn how to deal with the situation in a positive manner.

I’m not an expert on many things, but one area where I have plenty of experience is dealing with disappointment. I’d like to share what I’ve learned over the years so that my fellow entrepreneurs are better equipped to deal with the challenges they face in their lives.

Stay strong and keep a good poker face

Attitudes are highly contagious, especially inside small organizations. This is true on many fronts, but it’s especially acute when you’re dealing with the leader’s attitude. If a team sees a leader in a depressive mood, it will spread like wildfire. It’s critical for leaders to maintain a good poker face.

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