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.

Jaleesa Burroughs

I’m sure I inherited my resilience from my parents. They taught me that resilience comes from adaptability, learning from setbacks and adjusting rather than breaking. Because of this, I now view challenges as opportunities to level up rather than as failures and use them to strengthen myself. If something doesn’t work, I pivot. In a way, you could say resilience is ingrained in me because of them. Read More>>

Alice Daniels

My resilience comes from a combination of genuine excitement, curiosity, and necessity. When my partner suggested spontaneous road trips (often literally the day before!), I struggled to find and save ideas quickly enough to plan amazing experiences. I thought, ‘If only there was a place you could easily save everything interesting you’d love to do someday.’ Read More>>

Alexis Becerra

As a first-generation Mexican American eldest-daughter, I believe resilience is part of the package. We were born to carry the many strengths passed down to us from the women who came before us. From the courageous actions and steps taken by my maternal great-great grandma Marcelina who came alone to the U.S. at the age of 15 years old to create a better life for her next generations, to my maternal great and grandma navigating American Jim Crowe Laws living in Southern Texas, to my mother and tias having navigated unhealthy relationships and showing up to the best of their ability to be single moms.  Read More>>

Ayumi Moore

Since I was a child, I have always been inspired by my mother. She is one of the hardest-working and strongest women I know. I often thought to myself, “I want to be a superwoman like her when I grow up.” I had a rough childhood and have been bullied throughout my life. Even when I joined the Army as a diesel mechanic, it was challenging to work in a male-dominated field. I have always been extremely competitive, an overachiever, and I want to break stereotypes.  Read More>>

SGD Singh

The resilience to continue writing, despite what would be considered “Failure” by any objective business standard, comes from the love of storytelling. Control what you can control, let the rest go. Indifference is your friend. We can control our discipline in writing habits, our organization, focus. We can control our dedication to writing something to the best of our talent and ability. We cannot control whether or not we sell millions of copies and become a bestselling author.  Read More>>

John Bauer

I gained my resilience from a number of places. The timeless chain of craft people those of a bygone era, now dead and by reworking their themes in modern ways I somehow breathe new life into their forgotten souls. I have a sense that they are looking down from heaven and I am one of the last people to acknowledge they have been alive once. In classic literature they say you die three deaths the first death is bodily the second death is the last time somebody who knew you dies and the third death is the last time your name is uttered.  Read More>>

Lavendar Robishaw

I grew in a small town, in cattle country. I had an awful childhood and was often let down by the system. Lots of abuse, manipulation and neglect. In my teenage years if I had run ins with the police I would be told, “Oh, your so and so’s daughter, might as well send you home. You have it bad enough there.” and they would drop me off at home. I got married at a young age that ended poorly as you can imagine. At the point I set out on my own in an RV and travel around the states until I ran out of money and found myself in the Navy. Read More>>

Kat Jacobs

In my mind, it is a classic tale of David and Goliath. As a child, from an outside perspective, I was born into privilege with all my basic needs being comfortably met. I was given a top tier education, and I was a young person that was well liked by her friends and loved by her family. I was cared for and mentored by many wonderful adults. I felt the presence of joy, often, and I made meaningful memories with all who loved me. However, like many, there was a shadow side to my happy childhood. At a young age, my life at home became unpredictable and unstable as my mother fell under the cast of grave mental illness. Read More>>

Rafiq Mahmud Rahat

Challenges are the only thing in life that makes a person resilient. Every hurdle I’ve faced has taught me something new and helped shape who I am today. One moment that stands out is when I was juggling multiple roles, managing my teaching career, pursuing my post-graduate studies, and taking care of my family, all at once. There were times when it felt like I was being pulled in every direction, and the weight of it all felt overwhelming. Read More>>

Lauren Bronson Petrous

Resilience isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build. Mine was forged in the moments I didn’t think I’d get back up but did anyway. It came from navigating tough conversations, standing my ground when it would’ve been easier to shrink, and choosing growth over comfort—again and again. Read More>>

Kyle Roig

Resilience, for me, comes from both my parents and the game of golf.

My dad has always been one of the hardest-working people I know. Whether it was in his sport, where he played professional volleyball, or in his career, he faced every challenge head-on, never backed down, and always found a way to succeed. He not only persevered but also knew how to connect with people, adapt, and rise to the top. Read More>>

Jennifer Gulbrand

Throughout my life, I’ve felt the pull between who the world expected me to be and who I knew I truly was. Society handed me a script—a path lined with expectations and limitations—and for a better part of my adult life, I tried to follow it. But deep inside, there was always a quiet inner knowing… a whisper that said, there’s more to you than this. Read More>>

Ben Kelly

I think in order to succeed in music you have to be resilient, since the experience of being a musician is filled with setbacks. Every song you release has the potential to do well, but it also has the potential to not resonate with your audience. I have frequently had songs that I’ve released that have not been as popular with my audience as I expected, just as I have had songs that have done unexpectedly well.  Read More>>

Camille Gonzales

My resilience comes from the journey of building my photography business from the ground up these last 6 years. When I started Cami Grace Photography at 16 years old, I quickly learned that success doesn’t come overnight. I’ve faced challenges like navigating a competitive industry, learning how to market myself, and balancing creativity with business strategy.  Read More>>

Miracle Rogers

I’ve faced adversity since before I was born. My mom was drugged by someone whose jealousy bested them when she was pregnant with me. For her it brought on seizures and numerous comas throughout the pregnancy and for me, well let’s just say the doctors didn’t expect me to survive much less come out without deficits. That was the beginning of me not only surviving but thriving. I was a miracle—and I’ve been living up to that ever since.  Read More>>

Diana London

Resilience has many roots.
For me, it began with a quiet, unshakable belief: I was made for more.
I could never quite settle — not because I wasn’t grateful, but because something in me refused to conform. I wasn’t meant to blend in. I was meant to become. Read More>>

Ginger Sue

In an industry that is, by nature, full of rejection, it is often a great challenge to not feel defeated or give up. There have been plenty of times where I have felt utterly discouraged. I auditioned for something I really wanted, but wasn’t chosen, or I applied to get onto a roster and wasn’t selected, or I *almost* got to work with a dream studio, but it just didn’t pan out. I think we all set this incredibly high bar in our minds of what we have to achieve to be “successful”, and we spend so much time looking at this imaginary goal, that we are oblivious to all the amazing things we’ve already done.  Read More>>

Leigha Hayes

Resilience is both a beautiful and tortured thing, but it comes to us through experience and overcoming challenges. We need resilience in order to grow and move forward, and that’s where I got mine from. My story is one of tragedy, perseverance, and kindness shown when I needed it the most. In 2011I moved to Japan with my seven-year-old son and my then husband. Japan had just had a major Typhoon crash through and destroying quite a bit. We packed up our previous house, I sold my car, quit my job, and pulled my son out of school.  Read More>>

Crystal Law

Resilience, for me, didn’t come naturally — it was something I had to build, one rejection at a time. In school, I was told by many teachers that I wasn’t good enough. At home, my parents rarely acknowledged the effort I put in. That lack of validation made me feel invisible, so I made a big decision to leave home and move to America when I was 21. I didn’t just want to study — I wanted to discover who I was beyond all the labels and doubts. Read More>>

Amanda Jorgensen

Resilience has been the heart of what has kept our business alive, our marriage healthy, and our hope for an optimistic future. Our business was born out of grief, and it would have been easy to allow our tragedy to keep us paralyzed. In 2022, Amanda experienced a near death ectopic pregnancy after running a Ragnar race while her fallopian tube was rupturing, and she thought it to be a UTI. Returning to work the next week, she was rushed into emergency surgery where she almost bled out before reaching the operating table.  Read More>>

Mirlina Jean Mary

I get my resilience from my roots. Being born in Haiti, I witnessed firsthand what true perseverance looks like. My mother worked tirelessly, juggling two jobs, sacrificing sleep, comfort, and even her own dreams to give us a better life. She showed me that resilience isn’t just about pushing through tough times—it’s about refusing to let those tough times define you. Read More>>

Bella Robinson

I never really considered the word resilience for the beginning part of my life, it wasn’t in my vocabulary of words I would use to describe myself. In 2023, it ended up being the most difficult season of my life, for many different reasons that are private to me. As a Christian, we would call this the season spent in ‘the wilderness’. Read More>>

Charles Williams

I think my resilience comes from life experiences which have taught me to take things as they come, to live in the present rather than spend time regretting the past and fearing the future. Many of us dwell on past mistakes and end up leery about taking chances because we are afraid to fail again. While there are lessons to be learned from the past, these should not inhibit our ability to move forward. By the same token, worrying about the future means you are attempting to control events that haven’t occurred and might never happen.  Read More>>

Emily Lopez

My resiliency comes from a zealousness and passion for the life that I want-for the world that I want to live in. It’s rooted in the belief that that world exists and that I can be a part of it. My resilience has also been shaped in large part through personal experience. Growing up in the arts world, I learned the importance of adaptability and quick-thinking at a young age. During a production, a million things can and will go wrong at any given moment. The amazing thing about live theatre is that you have to adapt and keep moving to find the next best thing you can do.  Read More>>

Francesca Bolam

I come from a pretty typical working-class town in the North East of the UK, but I was fortunate to have a Mum who dreamed beyond beyond the box. My mum always made it clear that I could do anything, be anyone, live anywhere, and as cliché as it sounds, the world was mine to explore. Performing from a young age meant I learned early on how to face rejection, adapt, and keep going. Reinventing myself and redetermining my path became second nature and if anything solidified it, it was moving to a country I’d never even visited at 18. Read More>>

Emily (MLE) Dang

I have my family to thank for my resilience. My family all immigrated to America from Vietnam so me being the first-born daughter, as well as a first-generation Asian American, contribute to my persistence. I was expected to be a straight A honor roll student and set an exceptional example for my younger cousins. In addition to the pressure of being the only child and raised as the first daughter, first niece, and first granddaughter, Read More>>

PHOEBE TEETERS

Resilience is something I believe we’re constantly learning. Over the years life has been my greatest teacher. In 2022 I had aneurysm and I have pushed myself harder than I ever have to come back from that and push towards everything I truly want in my life. Learning that we can truly have what we honestly want if we just continue to put the work in no matter the obstacles is by far one of the best lessons I’ve learned. Also, anyone I’ve truly respected and had any form of admiration for has been put to the test multiple times to achieve their personal greatness. Read More>>

Elena Schick

I got it from my Mama and my Papa! My Mom, Edith Cugini, worked two jobs while I was growing up and took public transportation to and from both jobs, made time to spend with our family, and loved to dance! My Pop, Frank Cugini, worked a full-time job and cared for both of his parents, Frank and Lena Cugini, who immigrated from Italy and settled in a three-story rowhome in Southwest Philly. Our 3 bedroom, 1 bath row home in Southwest Philly was home to me, my Mom, my Pop, my older brother, and my Grandmom and Grandpop.  Read More>>

Tyrone Void

I’ve never actually thought of anything I do as resilience. I’ve just had a habit of putting my head down and going forward. I’d like to say that I’ve never quite before, but I have. One of my biggest life regrets, but throughout the course of my life, I’ve always come out better when I just kept going. I’ve learned that many fears are a reaction to the unknown but aren’t real. I’ve also learned that most hinderances are a chance to possibly pivot off of what could have been a wrong course. Ultimately, I just believe that failure, at least in my experience, only occurs when I quit. So I keep going Read More>>

CJ Brown

I credit my resilience to God. He has taught me the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. Through life lessons, He guides me to stay strong even when things get tough, always encouraging me to keep going and create solutions rather than giving up. His example of unwavering strength, love, and determination in difficult times has shaped the way I approach challenges, reminding me that no matter how hard life gets, there’s always a way through. Read More>>

Pamela Pulido

I think I developed resilience during my childhood. My parents got divorced when I was little and from that experience, I think I developed this ability to adapt, to be independent, flexible and endure challenges. Nowadays I think that resilience comes from the love to life that I have. Read More>>

Eva Garcia

My grandfather was the embodiment of resilience—a man who lived to 99 and was deeply respected in our town. He always had a thoughtful, understated answer to every challenge, sharing his wisdom without ever making it feel like a lecture. His love for our family was boundless, and that spirit of care and dedication is something I carry with me every day. I truly believe that my passion for business stems from the values he instilled in me. Read More>>

Candi Carter

Where do I get my resilience from? That’s such an interesting question, because I’ve always just done it, or, like the Nike commercial says, Just do it. I remember growing up, my dad was one of the hardest working people I know. He traveled five days weeks, sometimes more and came home and worked. My mother, growing up, was working on two master’s degrees with two small children, doing extracurricular activities, running community organizations, etc, etc. Read More>>

Alexa Allamano

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a “watch me” kind of attitude. An internal drive where every shut door and no answer was taken as a challenge and redirection rather than a crushing defeat. It’s the type of quality essential to finding sustained success in a tumultuous world. Read More>>

Aleen Khachatourian

My love & lust for life.

I’m also competitive with myself and I never rest on what’s already come. Read More>>

Dorothy-Inez Deltufo

My resilience took root at an early age, right from the moment my birth mother abandoned my brother and me in an orphanage. Her departure left me heartbroken, but I learned to push forward, even when my world seemed to crumble. Growing up in a military family meant relocating every two to three years—constantly making new friends, then having to let them go, without the convenience of social media. These frequent transitions demanded that I adapt quickly, honing my ability to bounce back time and again. Read More>>

Lynne Smith

Resilience wasn’t something I was given—it was something I uncovered within myself, through every challenge, every heartbreak, and every moment I chose healing over fear. My early life held deep wounds, but even in the hardest moments, something inside me refused to give up. I knew there had to be more than just surviving. Read More>>

Margarita Yutsaytis

My resilience was shaped when I moved to the U.S. and had to start from scratch. With no connections and limited English, I relied solely on my skills and strong work ethic. Just three weeks after arriving, we went through a fire and lost most of our belongings, which gave me even more motivation to rebuild everything as quickly as possible. Read More>>

Adrian Garcia

I’ve lived in three countries and studied at three universities, each with its own language and culture. Constantly adapting to new environments taught me how to face challenges, stay flexible, and keep moving forward. As a physical therapist, that journey shaped my ability to connect with others and help them through their own recovery. Resilience, for me, is about embracing change and growing through it. Read More>>

Brianna McKinley

My resilience comes from a deep-seated determination to keep going, even when the odds are against me. When I first started screenwriting in college, I was told I wouldn’t be good at it. I was told by a professor, “we don’t need another Spike Lee”, ultimately that statement had me shocked because I love the beautiful works of art that Spike has created. Instead of letting that define me, I self-taught myself, starting back in 2016, from reading books about writing, investing in screenwriting software, and entering competitions. I failed many times, but every setback was a lesson, shaping me into a better writer. Read More>>

 Mary Stephenson

The saying ‘Life is a journey’ is so very true. You are constantly growing and learning about yourself, and that learning will never stop. I believe my resilience stems from just trying not to fear uncertainties, failure, unknown, rejection, and other thoughts or feelings that may challenge us from our feeling of security or out of our comfort zone. Because these are things that we will come across on our life’s journey and will help us evolve and transform. Easier said than done. Read More>>

Lori Cohen

I get my resilience from my family legacy. I am the grandchild of grandparents who survived the European Holocaust during World War II. I imagine some of the resilience I’ve experienced in my life is a result of hearing their stories and experiences, and recognizing that my day-to-day realities and privileges are so different, more manageable in the contexts that I operate in. I have the legacies of my history and the traumas my ancestors experienced—traumas I have been able to heal from—to provide me with the fortitude to persist in challenging circumstances. Read More>>

Lisa Liles

I love this question.
Growing up, I always had to master having a poker face. Having to bounce back from the toughest of situations can bring out anger in a person, or generosity.
After having a parent that was sick for most of my life, I taught myself how to be strong for both of us. During the most intense times – I always worked multiple jobs, went to school, and probably picked the relationships I did thinking I deserved to be treated poorly. Read More>>