In sales and business, setbacks aren’t just common—they’re guaranteed. Deals will fall through, clients will change their minds, and sometimes, despite your best efforts, things just won’t go your way. The difference between those who stay stuck and those who rise? Resilience.
And here’s what 20 years of martial arts taught me: resilience isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build. Just like you train your body for strength and endurance, you can train your mind to handle setbacks without breaking.
Want to develop the kind of mental toughness that can weather any storm? Here’s how:
↳ Master the 5-minute reset
When sh*t hits the fan, give yourself exactly five minutes to process it. Feel the frustration. Acknowledge the setback. But then—switch to solution mode.
Lost a major deal today? Timer starts now. Take a deep breath, let yourself vent if needed, then ask: What’s the next best move?
This isn’t about ignoring emotions or forcing fake positivity—it’s about strategic recovery. The faster you shift from reaction to action, the more control you regain over the situation.
↳ Create your success library
Your brain is wired to remember failures more than wins, which is why self-doubt creeps in when things go south. The solution? Keep a success library.
Document every win—big or small. Client kudos, breakthrough moments, deals you closed against all odds. When setbacks make you question yourself, don’t rely on motivation. Look at the proof that you’ve overcome challenges before.
I still have my first tournament scoring sheet from my early martial arts days. Why? Because sometimes, you need a tangible reminder of what you’re capable of.
↳ Practice strategic discomfort
Resilience isn’t built in comfort zones. You have to teach your brain that discomfort isn’t danger—it’s growth.
- Take cold showers.
- Make the hardest call first thing Monday.
- Run the extra mile when you feel like stopping.
The more you expose yourself to discomfort on your terms, the more mentally tough you become when life throws unexpected challenges your way.
↳ Build your bounce-back ritual
When things go wrong, do you have a go-to process to recover fast? If not, you’re wasting time and energy on overthinking.
Here’s my bounce-back ritual:
1️⃣ Breathe deeply for 60 seconds.
2️⃣ Write down three possible solutions.
3️⃣ Pick one and take immediate action.
A ritual like this cuts through mental chaos and gets you back in the game—fast.
↳ Train your ‘what’s next’ muscle
High-performers don’t dwell on failure. They act.
After any setback, immediately focus on the next action step. Not tomorrow. Not later. Now.
Lost a deal? Start prospecting.
Botched a presentation? Book three more.
A client ghosts you? Find a better one.
Momentum kills negativity. Train your mind to always ask, “What’s next?” and move forward.
↳ Develop selective memory
Not every setback deserves space in your brain. Ask yourself: Will this matter in five years? If not, let it go.
I learned this during one of my worst competitive seasons in martial arts. I kept replaying my losses until I realized that dwelling on failure wasn’t making me better. Now, I extract the lesson, drop the baggage, and move forward.
↳ Create micro-challenges daily
Big resilience is built through small, daily wins. Make it a habit to challenge yourself in minor ways:
- Send that scary email.
- Speak up in the meeting.
- Negotiate instead of settling.
Every small win builds mental calluses—so when big challenges hit, you don’t break.
↳ Find your power phrase
Your brain believes what you tell it repeatedly. So give it something powerful to hold onto when things get tough.
Mine? “This is where champions are made.”
When I feel like quitting, when the pressure is on, when things aren’t going my way—I remind myself of this. Find your own phrase, something that ignites a fire in you, and repeat it until it becomes second nature.
The difference between good and great isn’t talent. It’s how fast you get back up. The world rewards those who keep moving, keep growing, and refuse to let setbacks define them.
So the next time you get knocked down? Don’t just get back up—get back up stronger!
