How Many Times Can You Get Back Up?

Last night, I had the chance to meet one of the most remarkable people out there:

Steve Smith, an astronaut with four space missions and seven spacewalks under his belt.

Steve dreamed of space from the time he was a kid, but his journey wasn’t smooth.

He applied to NASA over ten years and faced half a dozen rejections.

He was disqualified permanently at one point due to medical reasons.

Any rational person would have moved on to something else. But Steve didn’t.

He kept his vision clear and fought his way back, eventually making it to space not just once, but four times.

He even worked on one of humanity’s greatest achievements, the Hubble Telescope—something only a handful of people on Earth can claim.

Steve’s journey speaks to a level of resilience that used to be almost universal. This is a guy who’s done it all:

• two degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford
• an MBA
• seven-time All-American in swimming and water polo
• NCAA champion
• Deputy Chief Astronaut for NASA
• and even diplomat for the U.S. at the European Space Agency.

The common thread?

Grit.

He was driven by a fierce refusal to quit, even when the odds were stacked against him.

The generation I grew up in had this same mentality.

When we wanted something, we understood it wouldn’t come on a silver platter.

We weren’t surrounded by “overnight success” stories or endless shortcuts that made grit seem optional. Instead, we saw hard work, persistence, and the reality of setbacks as essential parts of the process.

It was about putting in the hours, failing, learning, and getting back up, time and again.

But today, that resilience is in danger of fading.

Many young people are being fed a narrative of “quick wins” and instant results, which promises success without the sting of failure.

There’s an entire ecosystem encouraging the idea that you can reach the top without the grind. But that narrative doesn’t prepare anyone for reality.

In any meaningful journey, failure is a constant companion. And learning to get through it is where the real growth happens.

Steve didn’t make it to the stars because he found a shortcut. He made it because he faced setback after setback and still pressed forward.

The takeaway is simple: resilience isn’t optional. It’s the true fuel for success. And it’s on us to remind the next generation of that truth.

If there’s one lesson to take from Steve’s story, it’s this:

success isn’t about things being handed to you. It’s about holding tight to a vision, even when every sign says to let go.

P.S.: If you want to read more about Steve and his journey, here's a link you might find useful: https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/nasa-in-silicon-valley/throwback-thursday-featuring-veteran-astronaut-steve-smith/