“Before success comes in any man’s life,
he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure.
When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit.
That is exactly what the majority of men do.
More than five hundred of the most successful men this country
has ever known told me their greatest success came just
ONE step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them.”
This comes from Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
If you’re facing a challenge, or in spite of all your efforts, feel like giving up, you can get excited! Every leader, no matter how seasoned or capable, will encounter setbacks. A project stalls. A safety initiative doesn’t land. A promotion doesn’t come through. Teams resist change.
It’s in these moments that the temptation to walk away can feel strongest. Yet, as Hill discovered from over 500 interviews with successful leaders of his time, the breakthrough often lies just one step beyond the point of defeat.
Why this matters for leaders today
Leadership in mining, business, and professional life brings unique challenges:
- Pressure to deliver results under tight timelines
- Balancing production goals with safety and wellbeing
- Leading teams through uncertainty, change, and transformation
- Managing your own energy while supporting others
Temporary defeat isn’t a signal to stop — it’s often the invitation to grow. The real success lies not only in reaching the outcome, but in who you become as a leader in the process.
Mindset makes the difference
Successful leaders see setbacks as signals — feedback pointing to what needs to shift. They:
- Reframe problems as opportunities
- Stay focused on solutions rather than worst-case scenarios
- Guard their mindset from negativity and distraction
- Define success on their own terms, not in comparison to others
Unsuccessful leaders, by contrast, get stuck in frustration, blame, or “being realistic.”
What does success mean to you?
Success is deeply personal. For one leader, it might be building a high-performing team. For another, achieving harmony between work, health, and family. For someone else, it may be the confidence to lead decisively in complex environments or get that promotion you’ve been wanting.
** Spoiler Alert ** YOU’RE NOT MOTIVATED BY THE SAME THINGS YOU WERE 10 OR 20 YEARS AGO
The question is: Have you defined what success looks like for you?
When you’re clear on your own markers of success, you stop measuring yourself against others and start charting your own path.
Next step
Take a moment today to define what success means for you — in leadership, in life, and in the impact you want to have.
If you’d like clarity, perspective, and tools to move through challenges and step into that next level of leadership, I work with both experienced and emerging leaders through confidential coaching conversations.
Whether in Perth or across the globe via Zoom, I help leaders create the clarity and resilience to move beyond setbacks — and into success.
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