How to Turn Failure Into Fuel

18 December 2024

No matter how many times you get knocked down, you can get back up again.

We all need that reminder sometimes. Leaders especially need to remember that even those in the highest executive positions have been knocked down before... And they'll be knocked down again.

No matter how focused, determined, or proactive you are, setbacks and hardships are inevitable. I hate to be the one to tell you, but that's just life.

As the saying goes, "It's how you get back up that counts."

I recently read Rock Bottom Has a Trampoline: How to Turn Every Loss into a Win with the Like-Hearted Mentor by Charlynda Scales, and it opened my eyes to the power of resilience. Scales, a military veteran turned entrepreneur and a great friend from college, shares her personal trials and triumphs with honesty, detailing both the highs and the lows that any leader faces.

Here are a few lessons from the book that resonated with me:

Resilience is a skill. It can be developed through intentional practice, just like perfecting your curveball. By changing your mindset on failures and hardships, you can transform every setback into a stepping stone rather that an obstacle.
Mindset matters more than circumstance. When you cultivate a growth-oriented mindset, you shift your focus to solutions instead of problems. This not only helps you navigate tough times but also allows you to emerge stronger on the other side.
Find purpose in your struggles. There is value in finding meaning in adversity. Scales shares how her grandfather's legacy inspired her to create a business that honors his memory while giving her life purpose.
Success is built through small, intentional steps. You aren't going to succeed at anything when you create huge, lofty goals with no plan on how to achieve them. Success comes from consistency and discipline, taking deliberate steps day after day.
Give back as you rise. In Rock Bottom Has a Trampoline, Scales emphasizes the importance of community and mentorship. As she built her business, she prioritized helping others and fostering a support network.

I shared in my last newsletter that I was helping rebuild homes over my Thanksgiving holiday in Western North Carolina. Giving back makes you a better leader. That experience reminded me of how giving back shapes us into better leaders.

When you’re successful, it’s easy to forget the struggles you faced to get there. And sometimes, that forgetfulness can breed arrogance, a dangerous pitfall that could undo all your hard work.

That hunger, both metaphorically and physically, is what drove you to fight for your success. But once you achieve your goals, it’s tempting to get comfortable. You’ve got to remember where you came from and keep that fire alive.

All Leaders Fail Sometimes

I'll bet you didn't know that Abraham Lincoln was a big old failure. At least, if you had failed or faced the hardships he had, that's what your negative inner voice might say. Lincoln lost multiple elections, including bids for state legislature, U.S. Congress, and Senate. He endured profound personal loss, including the death of his first love and later his young son, and battled depression throughout his life.

His comeback story only included becoming one of the greatest, most well known presidents our country has ever seen. His ability to stay resilient, focus on his vision of unity, and act decisively made him one of history's most admired leaders.

Lincoln's story isn't unique. Oprah was demoted from her first TV anchor job. Steve Jobs was famously ousted from Apple in 1985 after a power struggle with the board. JK Rowling's little story was rejected from 12 publishers before one finally picked it up and published Harry Potter. Sara Blakely failed the LSAT multiple times, forcing her to abandon her dream of becoming a lawyer... only to found Spanx and become the youngest self-made female billionaire. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

You know these stories, but might not think they apply to you. They do! You've likely failed a test, received a rejection letter, or been passed over for a promotion. Now imagine if that rejection wasn’t just a quiet “no” but a public demotion like Oprah faced. Many would have walked away in shame, but Oprah didn’t.

What makes a successful leader?

Successful leaders don’t let setbacks define them. Instead, they face challenges head-on and use them as opportunities to learn, adapt, and grow. They emerge on the other side stronger, more prepared, and more resilient.

Here’s what sets them apart:

Resilience: They stay the course, even when things seem hopeless.
Vision: They keep their long-term goals in focus despite short-term setbacks.
Adaptability: They learn from failure and use those lessons to improve.
Growth Mindset: They see every challenge as an opportunity to grow and refine their skills.

The traits aren't reserved or world leaders or CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. They're for anyone who dares to keep going when the road gets tough. So, the next time you face a setback, remember the stories of those who came before you. Their success wasn't in avoiding failure but in their ability to rise again.

If you're interested in learning more, check out Charlynda Scales'book, Rock Bottom Has a Trampoline: How to Turn Every Loss into a Win with the Like-Hearted Mentor. I took a lot of great nuggets of wisdom from the book and I'm sure you will too!

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