4-2-2: Maintain consistency even in the face of failure

Hi, 

How is your week going? 

Maintaining consistency, even in the face of failure and setback, is something I get asked about a lot. This past week, I’ve been thinking about key things I say to people when they ask. I hope these will help you move closer to achieving that world-class mentality.

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Turn Setbacks Into Setups

In football, I faced injuries, defeats, and moments where I questioned everything. But what I learned was this: every setback has the potential to set you up for a breakthrough. The world-class mindset doesn’t view failure as the end, it views it as feedback.

In business, the same principle applies. If something doesn’t go to plan, take the lesson, adapt, and move forward. Setbacks aren’t the opposite of success, they’re part of the path.

Comparison Kills Confidence

One of the fastest ways to lose momentum is by constantly comparing yourself to others. In football, we had players with all kinds of strengths, speed, vision, finishing, but the best ones focused solely on their own growth.

The same applies in business. Focus on becoming better than you were yesterday. The only comparison that matters is the one between your past self and your current self.

Consistency Beats Intensity

Anyone can have a great day. But the top 1% deliver at a high level day in, day out. They’ve built habits, routines, and mindsets that make excellence automatic. In football, it wasn’t the players who trained the hardest once a week who stood out, it was the ones who brought high standards every single day.

In business, showing up consistently with effort, clarity, and purpose is what separates the elite from everyone else.

Don’t Wait for Confidence, Build It

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build. Every time you do something hard, show up when you don’t feel ready, or make a difficult decision, you’re stacking proof that you’re capable. Confidence is earned through action.

Stop waiting to feel ready. Take the step, prove it to yourself, and let your confidence grow through experience.

Align on the Mission

In the best teams I played in, every player knew exactly what we were playing for. It wasn’t just about winning, it was about something bigger: pride, legacy, respect.

In business, great teams aren’t just groups of talented individuals. They’re unified by a shared mission. When everyone is pulling in the same direction, teamwork becomes seamless. Take the time to define the mission and make sure the whole team buys in.

Embrace Healthy Conflict

Avoiding conflict doesn’t create harmony, it creates resentment. The best football teams had disagreements in the dressing room, on the training ground, and even mid-match. But it was never personal, it was about the standard.

In business, healthy conflict allows ideas to be challenged, standards to be upheld, and teams to grow stronger. Encourage honest conversations. That’s how teams grow.

Set the Tone

As a player, I could always tell what kind of day it was going to be based on the manager’s energy. The best leaders set the tone every day through their actions, attitude, and expectations.

In business, your team will mirror your mindset. If you show up distracted, so will they. If you bring focus and belief, they’ll follow your lead. You set the emotional climate so make sure it supports success.

Teach the Why

World-class leaders don’t just tell people what to do, they teach them why it matters. In football, when we understood the reason behind a tactic or a formation, we were more committed to executing it.

In business, the same is true. When your team understands the “why” behind the mission, the strategy, or the standard, they’ll work with more passion, ownership, and resilience. The “why” fuels performance.

Changes won’t happen over night. But if you keep these tips in mind, you’ll be well on the way to embodying what you want to achieve.

Have a good weekend and keep getting after it.

Paul