Building Mental Toughness for Success

Mental toughness in business consulting

Hi, team! It’s your friend, Mary, with the “I” in Team series where you can find, be, and build your positive influence. Something that all leaders need to face on their path is building mental toughness, which involves developing resilience, discipline, and a strong mindset to overcome challenges and persevere in the face of adversity. Leaders face all kinds of problems and obstacles with their people, processes, and technologies, therefore, growing in these areas is pertinent to their long-term success. If you find that you are struggling with your mental toughness, here are our top three tips for building your inner fortitude.

Develop a Growth Mindset

To be successful in any area of life, you must have a growth mindset. Dr. Carol Dweck theorized that humans typically fall into two types of mindsets: Growth and Fixed. Those who experience a growth mindset see the world as being full of opportunities and are confident in their ability to overcome challenges. They also believe that they will continue to learn and grow every day until they pass on from this lifetime. To them, there is no limit or barrier to continuing to develop oneself. Conversely, those who experience a fixed mindset believe they will not continue to grow and develop throughout their lifetime; instead, they believe they have learned everything they can and reached their capacity. When obstacles present themselves, they tend to give up and don’t have faith in their abilities to overcome them.

In reading the above, you will know which camp you fell into. The goal is to either already have a growth mindset or to switch to a growth mindset if you find you experience a fixed mindset. Many who are fixed-minded will not believe it is possible to switch, but Dr. Dweck’s research shows it differently. You can change your mind and the way you see yourself and the world. Yes, it will take some work, but it is possible and necessary in order to build mental toughness for success. Should you need a boost to get started, here are some affirmations you can say out loud to yourself three times a day:

I am capable of growth.
I am capable of learning.
I can overcome any obstacle that comes onto my path.
My reality helps me reach my fullest potential.
I can develop any skills I wish to see manifest in my life.

Set Clear Goals

Developing mental toughness includes discipline. One of the best ways to practice being disciplined is to set clear goals and attain them. Our top recommendation for setting and reaching goals is to use the S.M.A.R.T. process. S.M.A.R.T. stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. When setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, all you have to do is follow the acronym! Keep in mind that altering your goals once you have gotten started is completely reasonable and should be done in order to not abandon a goal in its entirety. Modifying a goal is not failure, it is growth mindset! Just like you, goals can change.

Let’s use an example to help you understand how to develop a S.M.A.R.T. goal. For example, let’s say you want to learn how to communicate more directly. Your S.M.A.R.T. goal might look like this:

S: I want to learn how to communicate more directly.

M: I will measure my growth by asking my friends, family, and colleagues for feedback on my communication skills.

A: I have a growth mindset, so I know I can accomplish this goal; it is attainable to me.

R: I have trusted people in my life that I can rely on to be truthful with me, so I will be able to measure my progress easily. It’s realistic for me to tackle this goal because I want to do it and can measure it easily.

T: I want to evaluate my growth every month; therefore, I will chat with those I trust every month. My goal is to become better at communicating directly within one year.

Keep in mind that there will be times when you will fail at your goals, but that doesn’t mean you are a failure or that you should give up. Abandon your fear of failure and lean on your growth mindset to bolster you to keep pushing forward or to reevaluate if the goal is truly attainable and realistic for you at this time. Pivoting is not failure; the only true failure is ceasing to try.

Manage Stress

Being tough, disciplined, and resilient can take a toll if you do not take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health. Mental toughness takes work, which means it takes energy, and not all of the experiences you find yourself in will be positive ones. You must know how to take the time to manage your stress, give yourself a break, and refresh yourself. Otherwise, you risk running into burnout. Everyone manages stress differently, so you will need to know yourself and what it is that helps you feel rejuvenated. For some, it’s a walk outside, reading a book, or going to the gym, and for others, it might be taking a bubble bath, baking some goodies, or taking a nap. You cannot be “on” all the time, so make space in your day to relax and reflect. Carving out this space for yourself will help you manage your stress.

Bottom Line

The biggest thing to remember throughout life is to try to remain positive and see the lighter side of things. Have faith that everything will work out the way it is meant to. You can manifest everything you desire by developing a growth mindset and putting in the work to reach your goals. However, guard against burnout by properly managing your stress by taking time for yourself at least every day, if not, then every week. Building mental toughness is necessary for success, and you can do it!

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How to Mitigate Financial Risk Using the S.M.A.R.T. Management System

June 9, 2025

In an increasingly volatile economy, businesses cannot afford to be reactive when it comes to their finances. Whether you're a startup founder, a growing enterprise, or a seasoned business owner, the risk of financial instability is real—and growing. At IA Business Advisors, we help companies proactively navigate these risks using our comprehensive S.M.A.R.T. Management System . S.M.A.R.T. is more than just a goal-setting acronym. It is a decision-making and execution framework that brings clarity, structure, and alignment to every part of your business. From six-week action plans to one-year targets and long-term strategy, S.M.A.R.T. ensures your financial operations support healthy growth and resilience. Understanding Financial Risk in Today’s Business Climate Financial risk is multifaceted. It ranges from cash flow disruptions and market shifts to internal mismanagement and over-leveraged growth. As Brian Smith shared on a recent Daily Influence podcast episode, unchecked growth can drive a company into bankruptcy. Scaling without intention—chasing fast growth without aligning the internal team and financial resources—leads to diluted communication, quality issues, and operational chaos. Mitigating financial risk begins by understanding that more revenue doesn't always equal more stability. True sustainability comes from building systems that support intentional, well-paced growth. The S.M.A.R.T. Framework in Action: Reducing Financial Risk Our S.M.A.R.T. Management System guides businesses in creating resilient, financially stable operations through: 1. Specific: Build with Intentionality Clarity is power. One of our podcast guests, Mike Heatwole (CEO of The Dala Group), emphasized the importance of sitting down to define what matters most—whether that’s paying down debt, investing in growth, or launching a new venture. When your financial goals are specific, your strategy becomes targeted and less prone to reactive decision-making. “If we don’t know what the goal is, how do we get there?” — Mike Heatwole, CEO of The Dala Group 2. Measurable: Track What Matters Many companies are blindsided not by invisible risks, but by unmonitored ones. We help clients implement tools to track cash flow, margin fluctuations, and budget variances in real time. Visibility into your financial health gives you the power to respond early and course correct as needed. 3. Achievable: Assign Financial Stewardship Risk is reduced when financial responsibility is distributed. Through teamwide financial literacy and clear accountability, we empower organizations to make stronger daily decisions. No individual person should carry the entire burden—and no key area should go unmonitored. 4. Relevant: Make Risk Management a Habit Quarterly or biannual financial health check-ins create a sustainable rhythm. These don’t have to be complicated—they just need to be consistent. Regular reviews embed risk awareness into your company culture and decision-making process. 5. Timely: Foster Honest Dialogue Financial silence is a hidden threat. As Brian noted on the podcast, emotions like fear or shame can prevent businesses from facing financial realities. We encourage honest, blame-free communication around financial performance, creating space for solutions and collective action. Case in Point: Short-Term Action, Long-Term Impact One of our clients, a family-run distribution company, had strong revenue but was bleeding cash due to aging receivables. Together, we built a six-week S.M.A.R.T. Plan focused on accounts receivable recovery. We implemented weekly check-ins, assigned ownership, and used real-time tracking. Within 90 days, their outstanding A/R dropped by 22%, freeing up capital and restoring operational confidence. It’s Never Too Late to Get Financially Intentional Many leaders in their 40s, 50s, or 60s worry they’ve waited too long. But as Mike Heatwole wisely shared: “It’s never too late. Just get started. Do something.” Progress—not perfection—is the goal. Start small. Build momentum. Take the next best step. This mirrors a concept we love from The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan: measure progress based on how far you've come, not just how far you have to go. Final Thoughts: Make Financial Stability a Strategy Mitigating financial risk isn’t about a dramatic overhaul. It’s about consistent action, visibility, and intentional decision-making. With the S.M.A.R.T. Management System, IA Business Advisors helps businesses turn risk into clarity, fear into focus, and instability into opportunity. If you’re ready to start, we’re ready to help. Let’s have a conversation about what matters most to you—and build from there.

Enhancing Interpersonal Relationships for Toxic Workplace Recovery

May 29, 2025

Hello, team! Mary here, continuing our journey through the I in Team series, where we challenge and empower you to Find , Be , and Build Your Influence. One of the most common things we’re asked to help our clients with is toxic workplace recovery. This directly connects to the culture of the team, and while rebuilding that culture takes time and intention, it is absolutely possible. In fact, with the guidance of our I in Team approach and S.M.A.R.T. Management system, we’ve successfully helped more than 19,000 teams evolve into high-performing, values-based cultures. If you’re ready to take the lead and breathe life back into your team, we’re here and ready to support you. Practice Emotional Intelligence One of the most impactful steps you can take on your toxic workplace recovery journey is to practice emotional intelligence (the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both your own emotions and the emotions of those around you). Toxic environments are often the result of emotional disconnection, poor communication, unnecessary competition, and a culture that avoids constructive feedback. Begin by shifting your perspective: respond with empathy, ask thoughtful questions, and use “I” statements. These habits model two traits, emotional regulation and empathy, that influence how your team interacts and solves problems. Start small. For example, set a personal goal to give one piece of sincere praise or recognition per day. This is a S.M.A.R.T. goal, and it starts to reinforce positive emotional exchanges. Over time, this contributes to a psychologically safe environment where people feel seen and supported. Foster Open Communication Once emotional intelligence begins to take root, toxic workplace recovery is just around the corner. Open communication becomes more natural because when team members are aware of their own and others’ emotions, communication becomes seamless. The number one rule? Listen. Really listen. Without listening, communication is incomplete. Try implementing monthly influence partnerships—team pairings that rotate so members can get to know each other beyond surface-level roles. This creates connection and, when done with consistency (Timely), fosters trust across your team. Another way to build open communication is by creating a structured feedback loop. Clarify how and when feedback should be given—perhaps during weekly one-on-ones or monthly review meetings—and make sure all team members understand the difference between criticism and constructive feedback. S.M.A.R.T. feedback is Specific and Relevant, and when delivered with respect, it encourages team members to grow without fear. Lead by Example As we say throughout the I in Team series, everyone is a leader regardless of title. Whether you’re in the C-suite or just starting your first job, how you show up directly shapes the culture of your team. To begin, set some respectful boundaries rooted in your values. Let others know what you need to succeed and what behaviors support or disrupt your work. When disagreements arise, demonstrate what respectful disagreement looks like—calm, focused on solutions, and free from personal attacks. If your workplace has leaned into competition, shift the focus to collaboration. Collaborate on micro-goals, like shared tasks or cross-functional projects. Make the results Measurable and celebrate wins together (publicly, if possible). Consider S.M.A.R.T.-based team-building events (like problem-solving challenges or goal-setting workshops) to reinforce collaboration in a meaningful way. Final Thoughts Toxic workplace recovery starts with you. Every interaction, every word, every moment of listening is a chance to model what’s possible. Show up the way you want others to show up. If your team is struggling to rebuild or you need expert guidance, reach out . We’re here to help. Let’s keep influencing responsibly and positively together.