Building Blocks of Success: Resilience

In our building blocks of success series, we tackle the various foundational blocks we believe are essential for success. Resilience is near the top of the list, because pursuing greatness almost always means you will face losses, mistakes and tough times along your journey. The ability to bounce back is so critical and we hope the stories below will inspire you to dig deep and discover more of your own resiliency.

Luca Sormani

Looking back it’s a mix of events throughout my life, it’s a combination of failures and victories. This

year in particular has been a rollercoaster from unexpectedly ending a relationship to debuting in New York fashion week & returning again this September, it feels until a certain point bitter sweet because heartbreak is dramatic perse, no one wants to go through it, but wanted or not we have to experience it so for many weeks I felt devastated, I didn’t want to do anything, I just wanted to sleep & go to the gym and repeat, but in the other hand I had NYFW asking me to return, I honestly didn’t have the energy to do such monumental step again, the whole time I was just looking for answers to what I did wrong for him to simply disappear, there was no goodbye, no last kiss or hug, a day after our anniversary he sent a plain text breaking up, so I took my tears and my pain, I took the broken heart filled with sadness & used all of that to focus in making a return to NYFW, it might seem bizarre but heartbreak in big part has helped me reach the goals I would had never reached being in a relationship. Read more>>

Tionge Daka

My resilience comes from a deep sense of purpose and a drive to achieve the goals I’ve set for myself, both in my legal career and as a content creator. Balancing a full-time job as a paralegal, preparing for law school, and building an online community (#tiostars) all stem from my passion for growth and helping others along the way. Knowing that I can make a difference in multiple spaces pushes me through challenges and keeps me focused on long-term success. Read more>>

Lori Riegler

My resilience stems from a combination of passion, overcoming adversity, and even a touch of fear. Passion comes naturally when you love what you do, and it keeps me engaged and motivated. However, it’s during challenging moments—when I feel unsure or unmotivated—that I really draw on my resilience. I remind myself of past accomplishments and give myself a pep talk, which helps me regain confidence and push through. Fear also plays a role: I know that if I don’t take action, the outcome might not be in my favor. Recognizing that I’m the one responsible for driving change motivates me to keep going, even when things get tough. Read more>>

Sick Serenity

We started back in 2018 with humble beginnings, in a small garage in Hillsboro, Ohio! Our first full album we titled: ‘All In’ as an ode to our dedication and resilience to stay true to ourselves and to give it our all. Now we are releasing our best material yet, recorded with the best in the business. Our new music, recorded at Sonic Lounge Studios in Grove City is our best work to date and after six years is testament to our resilience as a band. Read more>>

Yanli Feng

In the environment of film production, I have greatly developed my resilience by observing those around me and gaining hands-on experience in different production teams. Every film project, regardless of its size, is always full of uncertainties and challenges, from pre-production to shooting. Filmmaking is not just about artistic creation; it’s an endeavor involving many people and logistical aspects. There are always unexpected situations that arise, and as a producer, I’m the one who cannot break down or run away. I need to be the pillar holding the entire project together and supporting the team. I believe my experiences as a producer have shaped the calm and emotionally stable person I am today. Read more>>

Fihmiya Hamdan

My mom has been a great source of inspiration in my life. She has always been my rock and one of the strongest people I know. Her strength, boldness, and ability to overcome challenges have shaped who I am today. Anytime I worried, even the slightest bit, she’d remind me, “You’ll be okay, no need to worry,” and those words would echo in my mind, giving me the confidence to push through. Read more>>

Donna Shields

Resilience is one of the 4 Rs my mom taught me since I was a kid. My parents were from the Great Depression era, so you pick yourself up by your bootstraps and soldier on, no matter what. I grew up in a warm, loving Italian family, but you did what needed to be done in school and around the house. As a teenager, I was pretty self-motivated and my mom started to talk more about the importance of the 4 R’s; they have stuck with me for a lifetime. Resilience is certainly one of life’s important attributes because we will all have curveballs thrown our way.  Read more>>

Devin Constant

I get my resilience from a mix of things, really. Growing in and around St. Pete, I’ve always been surrounded by art and creativity, but also by people who know how to hustle and adapt. Running a business, especially in a creative field, has taught me a lot about being adaptable. Every challenge, whether it’s a slow season or a tough client, is just part of the process. I’ve learned that if you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you’ll find a way through the valleys in between the peaks. Having a solid support system—friends, family, and other artists—helps me stay grounded and keep pushing forward. It’s all about perspective and persistence. Read more>>

Tommy Taylor

I think it’s a matter of somehow, through it all, believing in myself. That’s a sliding scale. It can be different at any given moment. I try to look at the successes and weigh them against what might be considered failures. I have a pretty strong determinism.
I always take example from Van Gogh. The critics hated him. His brother Theo, was only able to sell literally a handful of his paintings in his lifetime. He was doing something completely against the grain of what was considered “hip.” Read more>>

Jada Mcguin, Ms, Mha

My resilience comes from facing many challenges personally and professionally, and always managing to land on my feet, in a better position. My journey with my business has been so tumultuous. Being diagnosed with a chronic medical condition is what led me to take up personal training. This condition severely affected my physical, mental, and emotional health. I lost about 30 pounds in 6 weeks, and my grades dropped severely, so much so that I withdrew from school for an entire semester. After minimal relief from medical intervention, I focused on regaining my physical strength in hopes of turning my health around.  Read more>>

Adriana Jimenez

I was raised in a family surrounded by addiction. My parents never married, but we were this big, blended family of step-parents, half-siblings, and an overwhelming amount of love. It wasn’t the stereotypical movie version of addiction; my dad just happened to be a drug dealer, a functioning addict who, to me, was simply a businessman from as far back as I can remember. Read more>>

Tony Miller

My faith and my family. We are not created to do this life alone. Every day there is a voice inside my head that drives me to get out of bed and get going. What needs to get done today? It’s a blessing and a curse: a blessing because I don’t need someone to drive me, a curse because I drive myself pretty hard. I’ve burned out a few times, and it is not fun at all. Although I do keep bouncing back, one very important thing I’ve learned about resilience is to not stretch yourself too hard or you could snap. Resilience needs to be approached with the mindset of building in yourself the ability to keep bouncing back. Life happens, and there will always be obstacles. Read more>>

Angelique James

Life has not always been easy for me. I’ve always had to fight for my values and fight for my voice to be heard! The more I evolve as a creative – the more I see how important it is for me to make a statement and to stand firm in my beliefs and creativity. Read more>>

Matt Alexander

I think that resilience is one of those things that you build over time just as many things are in life. Your resilience gets stronger and stronger as you get through challenges you face in life and start stacking up wins one by one. For me my first big challenge was getting laid off from my first corporate “career” job at US Foods a year after moving to Colorado from Georgia. My business partner, Nick and I were living in Boulder at the time, and I remember him asking me what I was going to do, and I didn’t have an answer. Funny enough, a week later he came home and let me know he just got laid off as well. I was like “Well shit, what are we going to do” Ultimately, both of us getting laid off in December of 2010 was the impetus for us starting Georgia Boys BBQ.  Read more>>

Zoe Vlastos

I feel my resilience as a golden light that starts in the center of my chest, at my beating heart, and spreads throughout my body. That sunshine light tells me I can get through anything and has a direct glowing line back to my childhood: the birth place of my resiliency. My childhood built my resilience not only because it was challenging but mostly because my childhood was so intimately in contact with the rawness of life. I mainly grew up unschooled/homeschooled on a rural farm in southern Illinois with three younger siblings, animals galore, a huge orchard and garden, and a 200-acre nature preserve abutting our property.  Read more>>

Jaí Huntley

I really like this question. I first need to acknowledge God for being with me every step of the way. As much as I’ve experienced during the course of my life, I can only thank God for his grace and mercy for protecting me and allowing me to see things through. During the course of my life, I’ve been blessed to witness my mother be resilient. Time and time again I’ve witnessed her stumble but I like to believe it was God’s grace that would catch her falls. The strength of a single black woman and mother is a force to be reckoned with. Witnessing countless days of tears. Witnessing countless times of prayer. Witnessing countless moments of maintaining a sense of faith. Needless to say, being resilient is my birthright. Read more>>

Cami Taleisnik

I’ve faced significant challenges throughout my life, including undergoing surgeries that directly impacted my ability to do what I love. I had a tumor removed from my knee, forcing me to relearn how to walk again, and later, a cyst was removed from my vocal cords, requiring me to regain my voice. Despite these setbacks, giving up was never an option. When you’re driven by passion, it’s not something you choose—it chooses you. This inner fire pushes you to overcome whatever obstacles are in your way, so you can return to the stage and share your talent and passion. Read more>>

Nino And Gliset Morales

Nino: My resilience really comes from my time as a combat medic and from my mother. Those experiences taught me what it truly means to serve and sacrifice for others. I’ve always had my mother by my side, supporting me unwaveringly. She’s the one who instilled in me a sense of responsibility and compassion that I carry with me every day. Helping others isn’t just a job for me; it’s a privilege, and I strive to live by those values in everything I do. As an artist with Amapola Arts, I channel that spirit of service into my work, using creativity to uplift and connect with others. Read more>>

Angiebeth Avendano

My resilience comes from my journey as an immigrant, stepping into the unknown with the hope of building a better life. I came with nothing but a dream and a strong will to succeed. That feeling of having nothing to lose gave me the courage to embrace every challenge, pushing myself beyond my limits. After spending over 8 years at an amazin company, where I grew both professionally and personally, I knew it was time to take a leap of faith. Starting Ola Design Studio, my own interior design business wasn’t just a career move—it was the culmination of my desire to create spaces that tell stories of growth, transformation, and possibility, much like my own. Read more>>

Payton King

In 2011, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or POTS) at the age of 16. I wasn’t allowed to drive, could barely go to school, and dealt with challenging factors as a teenager that other teenagers I knew didn’t have to face. I never wanted to be someone who was stuck at home sick. So, I started working at a small restaurant with some of my friends, and they or my Mom would take me to and from my short shifts. I want to say that I lucked out because I was always with someone I could count on to ensure I was okay. Read more>>

Jade Robertson

I believe my resilience stems from my years competing in sports, specifically gymnastics. Gymnastics involves a lot of trial and error—many failures before finally mastering a skill. Even after you’ve achieved a skill, mistakes and falls can still happen. In competition, the mindset you must have is clear: if you fall or make a mistake, you get back up and keep going, often with just a thirty seconds to collect yourself and restart your routine. That mindset became second nature to me, and I’ve applied it to every aspect of my life. Read more>>

Emma Mccallie Dallas Condra

EM: It’s a great question. More than anything, I think my resilience comes from self-trust. I’ve learned strength is something you build, not something you wait to find. Building that confidence and assuredness – for me – looks like doing the thing I said I would do. I’m wired to keep going, no matter what. That drive to push through has been fueled by both values and visions. Even at an early age, that was the case. In fact, my high school superlative was “most dependable!” That practice of aligning my actions with my words has built a lot of trust and credibility – both in myself, in my relationships, and my ability for next challenges and new ventures. Read more>>

Joe Siple

In my writing career, resilience has been everything. I started writing fiction in 2001 but my first novel wasn’t published until seventeen years later. My work was rejected by agents and acquisitions editors about a thousand times! Remaining resilient through that kind of failure is no small task. But in my case, I was well prepared to deal with failure because of the 25 years I spent playing baseball. Baseball, they say, is “a game of failure”. While I’m not sure I 100% agree with that, I do recognize where the saying comes from. As a hitter, if you fail seven times out of ten, you’re an All-Star. And really, there’s not that much difference between seven out of ten and ten out of ten. Read more>>

Sheila Williamson

Both my resilience and my optimism come from the same source: my faith. I was raised in a faith-filled home with parents who brought me up to feel like I could do anything with God’s help. Prayer, worship, and study were part of my upbringing and certainly led me to a deeper relationship with God over the years. When storms came, like my son’s traumatic accident and subsequent drug addiction, I relied on my faith first and foremost to carry me through. My Mom passed before these events happened, but her legacy to her children will definitely live on with me as my parents never gave up on me, even when I made many mistakes in my young adult life. I always knew I was loved and was never alone. Read more>>

Maressa Sann

I have always been a hands-on person and through that, i’ve learned there is only so much a person can gain from a reading about a task, or a challenge, compared to experiencing it firsthand. In my opinion, failure offers the opportunity to come back with more confidence now that we know what we can do differently for next time. Of course, we all strive to get it right the first time, but the reality is that we all have different learning curves and skill levels. I like to think of obstacles as opportunities to challenge myself, grow and become a step better than before. It can absolutely be nerve-wracking to try something new, especially when it might be unorthodox, but all we can do is try. Read more>>

Dr. Nancy Dome

My first home was California—first, Inglewood, and later, a house in West Hollywood. We had enough space for a dog even though we didn’t have grass in the backyard. We were poor but fed and cared for. We were sometimes left to fend for ourselves but never alone. We were punished often but knew we were loved. There’s a lot more to the story. Read more>>

Steve Schachtschneider

“Life is truly known only to those who suffer, lose, endure adversity, and stumble from defeat to defeat.”- Ryszard Kapuscinski. I try on a daily basis to look for beauty. It is a moment to moment thing. I am becoming more aware that what I choose to focus on is what I become. I find I relate to the world better when I focus on the goodness which is infinite and all encompassing. That is how I attempt to approach each moment. Often I am blind, unwilling, lazy, full of pity. Somehow I move and grow, however slow and painful. That’s where the resilience lies. Read more>>

Jeremy Bishop

Resilience in the creative industry is a must. Some get it naturally, and others take years to build it up. I think most of my resilience came from playing soccer my whole life. My life was based around soccer all the way through college soccer. You learn to push through pain, find your limits, and to get up every time you get knocked down. Sports has taught me many lessons in life and has really built up a thick skin for me and that has really helped me in my line of work. Read more>>

Crystal Ayozie

My resilience comes from my parents and extended family. I was told of how they overcame immense challenges after moving from Nigeria to the United States, leaving behind a familiar yet difficult environment for a new land full of unknowns. The transition wasn’t easy, and they faced countless obstacles, from cultural barriers to economic hardships. Yet, through their determination and faith, they not only survived but thrived. As a first-generation Nigerian American, I’ve been afforded opportunities they could only dream of.  Read more>>

Tre Tureaud

Resilience stems from personal experiences, passion, and a supportive community. Winning an Emmy with the crew for best teen show deepened my understanding of storytelling’s impact, fueling my commitment to empowering others. Each challenge I face reinforces my purpose, motivating me to continue pushing forward in my work. Read more>>

Holly Mcpeak

I grew up in a competitive house with a twin brother and younger sister and we competed every day. I was a tomboy and played sports with the boys a lot. I think from a young age I was stubborn and determined to achieve certain goals I set for myself. Once I because a high level high school athlete, I was always facing adversity. It is part of being a competitor. Read more>>

Ksenia Khelman

I’m an artist, and I’ve been doing this full-time since 2017. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s not over unless _you decide it is. Bad times don’t last forever—they’re always followed by good ones. Sometimes I’ve kept going because of hope, sometimes it was just pure stubbornness. When I first quit my job, I was clueless about self-promotion and marketing. I made mistakes that cost me big, and there were so many moments where I was this close to giving up. But one thought always pulled me back: if I quit, everyone who doubted my dream would be right—and I just couldn’t let them have that satisfaction. So, I took a breath, came back to my work, cleared my head, and tried again. And here I am—still doing what I love, and I’m grateful every day that I didn’t throw in the towel. Read more>>