Near‐wins and perceived work meaningfulness after entrepreneurial failure: The moderating role of goal orientations

Abstract Entrepreneurial failure simultaneously can challenge individuals' perceived work meaningfulness and catalyze meaning reconstruction. Although research has explored meaning‐making after failure, the specific effects of near‐win experiences on this process remain understudied. In this study, we draw on the meaning‐making model and focus on the effects of near‐wins and entrepreneurs' goal orientations on perceived work meaningfulness after entrepreneurial failure. Using data from 272 individuals who experienced entrepreneurial failure, we show that near‐wins affect perceived work meaningfulness positively; furthermore, a performance‐approach goal orientation strengthens this positive relationship, while a performance‐avoid goal orientation weakens it. These findings illuminate the pivotal role of near‐win experiences in the process of meaning‐making after entrepreneurial failure and provide actionable insights for enhancing entrepreneurs' work meaningfulness.