The Resilience Framework

Every visionary, whether a leader, entrepreneur, or creator, will hit a wall.

That moment where the plan unravels, self-doubt creeps in, and the path forward blurs. The defining question isn’t whether you’ll face failure, because you will; it’s how you’ll respond when you do.

How you handle failure matters more than the failure itself.

Having invested in over 200 startups directly, I’ve also seen people weather tough storms and come through to the other side.  I’ve also seen true failures handled very poorly. 

When setbacks feel overwhelming, it’s easy to believe there’s no way forward. But history proves otherwise. The people who break through don’t avoid failure—they absorb it, reshape it, and transform it into fuel. They understand that failure isn’t the end of the road; it’s the fire that forges resilience.

One big lesson before we get to resilience is a method to help you understand whether you should quit.  My advice is always, “If you can quit, you should.”  

A Quick Story on Quitting

I was working with a founder raising money, and I knew having talked with a pool of investors that a funding commitment would arrive in about 2 weeks. I couldn’t tell this directly to the founder, but I told him that if he stayed the course on taking the meetings and going through due diligence he would be in good shape.

The founder, however, was running low on money and getting nervous. A week later he decided to quit pursuing his startup and shut it down. He was literally a week away but decided to quit.

But I didn’t say anything and accepted his decision. 

The reason being that the path ahead, even if he got funding, would get harder and harder, and that if he could quit so early in the game even before getting significant resources, then he would certainly fold in the future when the stakes get higher. At that point he would burn through hundreds of thousands of dollars which would be wasteful of his time and investor money.  

So if you can quit, you should. If you can’t, then keep driving forward.

Resilience Starts With You

Viktor Frankl said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” 

That’s where real power lies: not in controlling the uncontrollable, but in mastering yourself and the way you respond.  

Enter the Resilience Framework: a structured way to assess failure, adapt with purpose, grow yourself, and decide whether to push forward or pivot.

Step 1: Identify the Type of Challenge You're Facing?

Not all challenges, set backs, and failures are equal. Some are signals to adjust strategy, while others reveal foundational weaknesses. Before reacting, categorize the failure:

• Temporary setback: Execution missteps, external disruptions, or market timing issues.

• Structural flaw: Misaligned business model, lack of product-market fit, or unsustainable processes.

Your first step is to diagnose the category of set back you face and respond accordingly. Clarity in classification prevents wasted effort on unsalvageable ventures while ensuring fixable issues get the attention they need.  

Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before perfecting the lightbulb. Each misstep was a temporary setback, revealing what didn’t work rather than a reason to abandon the idea altogether.

Step 2: Decide on Whether to Iterate, Pivot, or Exit?

Once you classify the failure, determine the best course of action:

• Iterate: If the core vision is solid but the execution is flawed, refine the approach and test again.

• Pivot: If the vision is compelling but misaligned with market needs, reposition the strategy.

• Exit: If the foundation is weak and conviction is low, strategically disengage and move forward.

Avoid lingering in indecision—every great leader knows that clarity and speed matter.

Steve Jobs, after being ousted from Apple, didn’t wallow in uncertainty. He pivoted to NeXT and Pixar, gaining insights that later fueled his comeback and Apple’s revival.

Step 3: Strengthen Resilience with Adaptation?

Endurance isn’t enough—resilience requires active adaptation. When you change, things will change.  Ask yourself:

• What skills, mindset shifts, or behaviors must I adopt to succeed?

• How can I reframe this failure into an opportunity for transformation?

• Am I resisting necessary changes due to ego, fear, or outdated beliefs?

True resilience isn’t about stubbornly pushing forward; it’s about evolving yourself in response to obstacles.

J.K. Rowling adapted to repeated rejection by refining her manuscript and persistence strategy. Without that shift, Harry Potter may have never reached the world.

Step 4: Turn Problems Into Possibilities

Optimism isn’t passive hope—it’s an active problem-solving tool. To shift your mindset:

• Ask: “What if this were easy?” Simplifying complexity reveals clearer pathways forward.

• Reframe: Identify constraints as creative challenges rather than roadblocks.

• Envision success: Define a concrete vision of what a successful outcome looks like.

Seeing setbacks as solvable increases the likelihood of breakthroughs.

Failure Doesn’t Get the Final Say

When things get hard, quitting is tempting. But the real test isn’t whether you experience failure—it’s whether you let failure make the decision for you.

If the belief is still there, keep going. If it’s not, step away with confidence. Either way, make the choice yours.

History is filled with stories of those who refused to let failure be the end of their story. Your resilience, your willingness to adapt, and your ability to reframe failure as fuel—that’s what determines what comes next.

Book I’m Reading:

Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention — and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari

This book speaks to the modern crisis of diminishing human attention spans and concentration. Hari identifies twelve deep causes of this attention crisis, ranging from digital technology to societal structures that constantly raid our attention for profit.  

For leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives, this book is a wake-up call: reclaiming focus isn’t just about willpower; it’s about understanding the broader forces at play and designing habits, environments, and systems that protect deep thinking.

Quote I’m Pondering

That’s all for now!

If you want help becoming more resilient in your work, personal life, or business, I’d love to talk with you. Please sign up for a 30-minute free coaching call with me, and see if we’re a fit to work together. 

Thanks for reading, and see you next time!

Cheers,

Eric Mathews