What Was the First Hardship You Overcame, and What Did You Decide to Do About It?
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your journey—whether as an entrepreneur, a leader, or just someone striving for success—you’re not alone. Every great leader faces hardship. The difference between those who break through and those who break down is found in one word: resilience.
Resilience isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about leading with character, aligning your values with your actions, and staying committed to growth even when things get tough. I want to take you through five pivotal moments in my Hero’s Journey—moments that shaped me as an entrepreneur and continue to define my mission today.
1. The Call to Leadership – From Gymnastics Coach to Entrepreneur
My first leadership experience wasn’t in a boardroom—it was in a gymnastics training center. Coaching taught me that leadership isn’t about power—it’s about influence. I saw firsthand how trust, discipline, and belief could transform an athlete’s performance. That same truth applies to business. The greatest entrepreneurs don’t just build companies; they build people.
2. The Leap into Entrepreneurship – Turning Passion into a Business
Starting Deutsch’s Gymnastics Training Center was an enormous leap of faith. I had no blueprint, no guaranteed success—just a vision and a willingness to work. What I learned fast is that passion without discipline leads to burnout, and talent without character leads to failure. I had to become the leader my business needed, not just the technician running it.
3. The Struggles & Setbacks – When Leadership is Tested
Every entrepreneur will face moments that make them want to quit. For me, it was the reality of financial pressure, staffing struggles, and self-doubt. I had to ask myself: Do I really have what it takes? That’s when I learned my first great leadership truth—skills might get you started, but character keeps you going. Without a foundation of trust, resilience, and integrity, no business can stand the test of time.
Are You Struggling with These Leadership Challenges?
If you’ve ever felt like you’re running in circles, trying to lead a business, manage people, and stay motivated, you’re not alone. That’s why I wrote Coach-Ability: Leadership Begins with Character—to help leaders like you build a foundation that lasts.
➡️ Get Your Free Chapter Here: Coach-Ability Book
4. The Breakthrough – The Tricycle Effect & Scaling My Impact
The breakthrough came when I developed The Tricycle Effect, my leadership framework based on balancing Character, People Skills, and Technical Skills. I realized that most leaders struggle not because they lack knowledge, but because they lack alignment—their heart, thoughts, and actions are not in sync. That’s when my business, my leadership, and my mission began to grow exponentially.
5. The Mission Today – Coaching Leaders to Build Character-Driven Success
Today, my mission is simple: help leaders develop Coach-Ability, so they can lead with character and create lasting impact. That’s why I created the 90-Day Leadership Blueprint, a step-by-step plan to transform your leadership approach, master resilience, and unlock your full potential.
Why the Law of Attraction Alone Doesn’t Work
Many entrepreneurs buy into the idea that if they just visualize success, it will happen. While visualization is powerful (I learned this from my gymnastics coach, AB Fredericks, who did his doctoral thesis on it), it’s not enough on its own. Why? Because success requires congruence—alignment between your heart, values, thoughts, and actions.
If a leader’s mindset and actions are not in alignment with their character, they may attract short-term success but struggle to sustain it. If you’re saying you want success but your habits, decisions, and leadership style lack integrity, trust, and authenticity, you create internal conflict. The subconscious mind recognizes this incongruence, leading to self-sabotage, hesitation, and failure to follow through.
True influence and success come when your external leadership aligns with your internal values. When you lead with character—honesty, discipline, humility, and service—you naturally attract opportunities, people, and success that match that energy. Character is the real magnet for meaningful success because it fosters trust, builds strong relationships, and ensures that when opportunities come, you're ready to sustain and grow them.
The Bible’s Answer to Entrepreneurial Resilience
One of the most powerful scriptures on this truth comes from:
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Your heart (values), your thoughts (mindset), and your actions (leadership decisions) must be in alignment. That’s why character-driven leadership is the foundation of true entrepreneurial resilience. When your heart is strong, your vision is clear, and your actions are intentional, you don’t just survive the hardships—you thrive through them.
Final Thought – What’s Your Next Step?
So here’s my challenge for you: Where are you in your Hero’s Journey?
- Are you at the starting line, wondering if you have what it takes?
- Are you in the struggle, facing resistance and roadblocks?
- Are you ready for your breakthrough—but just need the right framework to get there?
Wherever you are, know this: resilience isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build.
That’s why I created the 90-Day Leadership Blueprint, a proven roadmap to help you develop resilience, overcome leadership challenges, and create lasting success.
➡️ Start Your Leadership Transformation Today: 90-Day Character-Driven Leadership Blueprint
Live, Lead, Love, and Trike On!
Dane Deutsch
#Leadership #Resilience #Entrepreneurship #CoachAbility #CharacterFirst
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