Resilience · Personal Development
Failure Isn't Shameful. Not Standing Back Up Is.
A lesson from a football field that applies to every deal, every target, and every setback.
Quick Answer
Getting knocked down is part of the drill in sales, business, and life. Failure isn't a verdict; it's feedback about your approach, preparation, mindset, and execution. What separates top performers isn't talent, luck, or timing. It's resilience: the habit of getting back up, learning, and adjusting quickly.
The Lesson Came Early
I learned that long before business. I learned it on a football field.
I wasn't the natural athlete growing up. Tall, lanky, trying to keep up with guys who seemed to have it all figured out. There were players out there who just had the talent. I didn't.
What I didn't have
Natural talent
What I had
A willingness to show up—and a coach who wasn't interested in making me feel comfortable.
He believed in me. But he also pushed me. Hard. He told the truth, whether I liked it or not.
At the time, I didn't always appreciate it. Looking back, it was one of the greatest advantages I had.
The Moment That Stuck
I remember one play as clear as day.
I got hit—and I mean hit. Knocked flat on my back. Lying there, staring up at the sky. It wasn't even the pain that stood out…
It was the embarrassment.
That feeling of being exposed. Of knowing everyone just saw it happen.
And in that moment, I had a choice—whether I realized it or not. Then I see my coach standing over me.
“
WELL?! Are you going to get up?
No hand extended. No sympathy.
Getting knocked down is part of the drill. It's up to you to get up.
GET UP.
That was it. Simple. Direct. No way around it.
That's the Game
That lesson stuck. Because that's exactly how this works—sports, business, life. It doesn't matter.
You are going to get knocked down.
That's part of the drill.
Where Most People Get It Wrong
The problem is, most people don't struggle with getting knocked down. They struggle with what happens next.
Too many people treat failure like it's a verdict. Like it defines them. Like it's something to avoid at all costs.
When failure feels like a verdict
So they hesitate. They overthink. They play it safe. And in doing that, they guarantee the one thing they're trying to avoid—stagnation.
Failure Is Feedback
Here's the truth:
Failure is feedback.
Every setback is telling you something—about your:
It's giving you data. It's pointing out the gap.
But that only matters if you're willing to get back up and look at it.
Average vs. Exceptional
Average performers
Avoid failure.
Top performers
Build a relationship with it.
✓They expect it.
✓They learn from it.
✓They adjust quickly.
✓And most importantly—they don't stay down.
That's the separator.
The Real Test
Let's be honest—this isn't easy.
Getting back up requires you to check your ego. It forces you to admit something didn't work. It asks you to step back into the same arena where you just got knocked down.
Most people don't want to do that. So they justify staying down.
The justifications for staying down
They call it "being realistic." They say "it's just not the right time." They wait until they "feel ready."
But confidence doesn't come before action. It comes from it.
Build the Habit of Getting Back Up
Every time you get back up, you build confidence.
Every time you face the thing you just failed at, you reduce its power over you.
Every time you choose action over avoidance, you separate yourself from the majority of people who won't.
That moment on the field wasn't about football. It was about a decision.
Stay down…
or get up.
Keep Reading & Listening
Article: Resiliency Isn't Motivation. It's a Skill You Build.
Podcast: Lessons From Failure (Building Blocks of Success S1E10)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.How do you bounce back from failure in sales?
Treat the setback as feedback, not a verdict. Look at what it's telling you about your approach, preparation, mindset, and execution, adjust, and step back into the arena quickly. Lost deals, missed targets, and repeated "no's" are part of the drill; what matters is that you don't stay down.
Q.Why is failure considered feedback?
Every setback gives you data. It points out the gap between what you did and what was needed, whether in your approach, preparation, mindset, or execution. That feedback only helps if you're willing to get back up and look at it.
Q.What separates top performers from average performers?
Not talent, luck, or timing. Resilience. Average performers avoid failure, while top performers build a relationship with it: they expect it, learn from it, adjust quickly, and don't stay down.
Q.Why do people stay stuck after a setback?
Getting back up requires checking your ego, admitting something didn't work, and stepping back into the arena where you got knocked down. Many people avoid that by justifying staying down: calling it "being realistic," saying it's not the right time, or waiting until they feel ready. That hesitation leads to stagnation.
Q.Does confidence come before or after action?
Confidence comes from action, not before it. Every time you get back up, you build confidence. Every time you face something you failed at, you reduce its power over you, and every time you choose action over avoidance, you separate yourself from the people who won't.
Ready to build a team that gets back up?
Talk with Mattson Enterprise, Inc. about coaching that turns setbacks into growth.
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