If you’re like me, you’re working hard toward big goals — but sometimes things don’t go according to plan.
Deals fall through. Projects hit delays. Plans look perfect on paper and still fall apart in real life.
I’ve learned that how you respond in those moments matters far more than what actually went wrong.
Failure isn’t final — it’s feedback to help you grow.
In her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Dr. Carol Dweck writes, “When you enter a mindset, you enter a new world.” Her research shows that the beliefs we hold about our abilities — what she calls our mindset — shape how we handle challenges, mistakes, and growth.
People with a fixed mindset see talent and intelligence as set traits. Success feels like a test of who they are — and failure feels like proof they don’t measure up. I’ve lived that feeling before. It’s paralyzing.
But people with a growth mindset believe that skills and strengths can be developed through effort and feedback. Challenges become opportunities to learn, and mistakes become data for what to improve next time.
That shift changes everything — in business, leadership, and parenting.
At Champion Investment Properties, adopting a growth mindset means viewing setbacks not as signs we’re off track, but as part of the building process. Every deal teaches us something about timing, people, systems, or patience. Every challenge sharpens our ability to lead better next time and protect our downside.
At home, I see it in my daughter when she practices her skills on the swim team or the recorder. Instead of praising her for being “good at it,” I celebrate her effort — the persistence it takes to hone her dive off the block or learning a new song to play. I want her to know that progress, not perfection, is what really matters.
The same lesson applies to all of us. Growth isn’t linear. Some seasons are slow, others test your resilience. But every step — even the ones that don’t go as planned — is part of your becoming.
My reflection: Failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s the classroom where success is built.
Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep growing.
And remember: Never give up. Always be better.
Liz Bapasola, Ed.D. is Partner at Champion Investment Properties LLC. She writes often about the power of habits, mindset, and strategies for reaching your goals. She can be reached at liz@championinvestcre.com.