Article 34 – Power of Perspective (POP)
The Power of Perspective Starts with You
The first way to overcome failure starts with ourselves and the power of perspective (POP). Like the first phase of leadership, failure and growth have one independent variable: you. Every challenge in life requires an impenetrable mindset—a level of persistence that outlasts your competition. Your mindset is the limiting factor between achieving success or remaining stagnant. To overcome failure, begin by changing your perspective—how you think and respond. Life is a razor’s edge, a delicate balance between too little and too much. Not enough action limits growth; too much can result in burnout or setbacks. But what if failure isn’t a fixed point? What if it’s all in how you see it?
"There is no doubt in my mind that there are many ways to be a winner, but there is really only one way to be a loser, and that is to fail and not look beyond the failure." —Kyle Rote Jr.
Train for Growth, Not Success
How you train is how you’ll perform under pressure. In the military, we say, train as you fight. The same applies to leadership. Like a football team that cuts corners in practice, you’ll collapse when it matters most if you don't train with intention. Combat Training Centers (CTCs) exist to replicate near-peer warfare so intensely that the real thing becomes manageable. That’s purposeful intensity. Purposeful Accountable Leaders (PALs) don’t go through the motions—they train and lead with intensity that builds mental toughness. When you train with 100% effort, you not only prepare your body, but you condition your mind to perform when it counts.
"The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat." —General Norman Schwarzkopf
Failure Is a Cycle
Failure isn’t a dead end—it’s a feedback loop. I call this the success loop, and it begins with trying something new. From there, you reflect on the outcome—did it go as planned? If not, you identify what to improve and develop a new plan. Then you reengage with renewed clarity. Each cycle builds confidence, capability, and grit. When you operate like this, failure becomes wisdom. You fail small and often, which makes your recovery easier and your learning greater. PALs are never afraid to try, fail, and grow again.
What’s Your Purpose?
Purpose is the fuel that powers persistence. Without it, you’ll burn out when adversity strikes. Your purpose is found at the intersection of your natural strengths and your deep-rooted passion. Reflect on what you do well. Connect it with your deeper "why." That’s your summit. John C. Maxwell said it best:
"More than anything else, what keeps a person going in the midst of adversity is having a sense of purpose. It is the fuel that powers persistence."
When you have clarity in your vision and align it with your strengths, passion, and purpose, you’ll be climbing the right mountain—not wasting effort on the wrong one. PALs climb with clarity because they know where they're going and why.
Remove Excuses
Our greatest adversary often stares back in the mirror. Excuses are the monsters we feed until they grow beyond control. As a child diagnosed with dyslexia, I was placed in remedial classes. But during a sixth-grade science fair, I tapped into my creative strengths—and I won. That moment changed everything. The lesson was simple: your strengths can cover your weaknesses, but only if you stop making excuses. PALs silence the inner critic and take action. They are defined not by the limitations imposed on them but by the power they find in persistence.
"Excuses are nails used to build a house of failure." —Jim Rohn
Celebrate Every Win
Small wins matter. They release serotonin and dopamine—chemicals critical to sustaining drive and morale. Serotonin deepens connection with our team and ourselves, while dopamine fuels our motivation to continue. But dopamine can also become addictive if the goal—not the growth—becomes the focus. That’s why celebrating each milestone matters. It keeps us grounded in the process and builds the emotional bonds that fuel high-performing teams. When PALs celebrate, they do it with purpose, using every win to sustain momentum and strengthen culture.
"Success is a series of small wins." —Tony Robbins
Burning Desire
When adversity strikes, your burning desire must be stronger than the storm. Abraham Lincoln once said:
"Always remember that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing."
Andrew Carnegie echoed this truth: "Give me a man with average ability but a burning desire to succeed, and I will give you a winner every time." Burning desire is what keeps us going when logic says to quit. Hernán Cortés burned his ships—eliminating retreat and committing fully. That’s what PALs do. They don’t give themselves a way out—they find a way through. A burning desire creates clarity, persistence, and unwavering direction.
Embrace Failure
My father once told me while hunting: "If this were easy, everyone would be doing it." That stuck with me. Failure isn’t the enemy—it’s a trusted companion that refines us. The Stockdale Paradox teaches us to confront brutal facts while maintaining faith in the end. Adversity, when embraced with gratitude, becomes the forge in which strength is built. Failure, when welcomed instead of feared, makes us stronger, wiser, and more grounded in humility. PALs understand this. They lean into hardship not because they enjoy suffering but because they know who they become on the other side.
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." —Henry Ford
Have a Clear Sight Picture
The fog of war is real—in life and combat. Clarity is your compass. To aim true, you must define your vision, establish anchor points to measure progress, and align everything with your true north—your core values. In the military, I would always build mission plans to 70% before sharing them with my team. Why? Because once the initial framework was in place, we could quickly iterate to 90% together. The same applies in life and leadership. Waiting for perfection means missing your shot. PALs lead through the fog because they are anchored in values, guided by vision, and always aiming true.
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week." —General George S. Patton
Develop a Battle Plan
Action without direction is chaos. Without a plan, even the hardest effort becomes wasted motion—like spinning tires in mud. But don't over-plan either. Develop a solid 70% strategy, then move. Once you’re in motion, momentum makes refining easier. Overcoming failure isn’t about avoiding mistakes; it’s about ensuring your energy is pointed in the right direction. PALs don’t wait for perfect conditions—they act with confidence, adapt with clarity, and lead with intent.
Final Thoughts
To overcome failure, begin by building an unbreakable mindset. These eight truths show us that resilience starts internally—with your perspective. Celebrate progress. Discover your purpose. Develop a plan. Then move out with courage. Failure isn’t fatal. It’s friction. And friction means you’re moving. - Follow Me.
After Action Review (AAR)
What victory should you be celebrating?
What is your purpose?
What action steps can you take right now to start growing?
My Mission: To help leaders grow with purpose, integrity & take inspired action!
Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives!!!
Every day is a gift, don't waste yours!
Joshua K. McMillion | Founder MLC
More Exclusive Content
To overcome failure, you must first change how you see it. In this powerful entry of the Anti-Fragile series, we explore how the Power of Perspective (POP) transforms failure from a stopping point into a starting line. Drawing from military leadership, personal stories, and timeless wisdom, this article reveals eight practical truths that help leaders build unshakable mental resilience. You'll learn how to train with intensity, embrace failure as a cycle of growth, remove excuses, and develop a battle plan grounded in purpose and persistence. Whether you’re in the fog of uncertainty or facing your next big decision, this is your call to shift perspective, take action, and become the leader your team needs.