What if not getting what you wanted was the best thing that could have happened to you?

As entrepreneurs and individuals, we’ve all been there—working hard toward something, only to have it slip through our fingers. It stings. You muster resilience, push through, and bounce back. But here’s what I’ve learned: Resilience is just the beginning. Real power lies in redemption—when what felt like a loss transforms into something greater than what you ever imagined.

I know this because I’ve lived it. Like many of you, I’ve had more losses than wins. I’ve chased opportunities that didn’t pan out, faced setbacks that knocked me down, and endured disappointments that felt unbearable at the time. But with time and reflection, I’ve realized that the very things I thought I lost gave me exactly what I needed—and they paved the way for success I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

Resilience vs. Redemption: The Key Difference

Resilience helps you survive—it’s the ability to endure tough times and keep going. It’s essential, but it’s not the whole story. Resilience gets you through the storm, but once you’re back on your feet, things are often still the same. You’ve endured, but you haven’t necessarily grown.

Redemption is about transformation. It takes what looked like failure or disappointment and turns it into an opportunity that wouldn’t have existed otherwise. It’s the moment you realize that what you didn’t get wasn’t a loss—it was making room for something better.

What I’ve Learned Through Setbacks

In my journey, I’ve experienced losses that felt like the end of the road—business deals that fell apart, partnerships that didn’t work out, ideas that never took off. At the time, those moments felt like failures. But each time, something unexpected happened:

• A deal I lost led me to pivot toward a new service that brought in more clients than I ever thought possible.
• A failed product launch forced me to re-evaluate my market, resulting in a better, more profitable offering.
• A partnership that ended opened the door to a new network and opportunities I wouldn’t have found otherwise.

I didn’t just bounce back from these setbacks—I transformed them. And that’s the difference between resilience and redemption.

The Power of Redemption in Business and Life

Did you know that 68% of people who work with a coach or advisor recover or exceed their initial investment? It’s because they don’t just survive their challenges—they reframe them, pivot, and create new paths forward. This is the power of redemption. It allows you to see setbacks not as dead-ends but as turning points toward something even better.

When I’ve looked back at the things I thought I wanted, I realized something: If I had gotten everything I thought I wanted when I wanted it, I would have missed out on bigger opportunities. Redemption isn’t just getting back what you lost—it’s gaining something you didn’t even know you needed.

How to Embrace Redemption in Your Journey

1. Reflect on Setbacks with Fresh Eyes – What felt like a loss in the moment may have opened a door you hadn’t noticed.
2. Reframe Your Story – Instead of focusing on what didn’t happen, ask yourself: What opportunity came because of this setback?
3. Take Strategic Action – Resilience keeps you moving, but redemption requires reflection and action. Revisit old ideas with new strategies, or shift your focus toward unexpected opportunities.

A Final Thought

Resilience helps you stay in the game, but redemption is what makes the game worth playing. It’s not just about bouncing back—it’s about building something new from what you thought was broken. Every time you pivot, reframe, or transform a loss into an opportunity, you’re practicing redemption.

So the next time life or business doesn’t go as planned, ask yourself: What door is opening because this one closed?

What I’ve learned is that the life and business you’re building through redemption are often far better than the one you thought you wanted. Every setback is just another brick—waiting to be transformed into a stronger foundation for what’s next.

Keep Building,

Adam