“Everybody’s got a plan until they’re punched in the face.”
Mike Tyson wasn’t wrong. We cruise along, following our carefully laid plans, until—bam!—life throws a haymaker.
The Unforeseen Jab
That “punch” might be a top employee quitting. A major client walking away. A spouse saying “I’m done.” Interest rates spiking. A tax bill arriving. Or even something small, like getting cut off in traffic or losing a game on a bad call.
The real question isn’t if you’ll get punched—it’s:
👉 How do you maintain your composure when you’re seeing stars?
👉 How do you stay focused when the world seems intent on knocking you out?
Business Beyond the Bruise
For businesses, the secret is holding to the core vision with the tenacity of a barnacle.
When a customer erupts in rage, or when the lawyer’s letter lands in your inbox, don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. Remember the why.
Too often, I’ve seen organizations get so caught up reacting to daily drama that they forget their true purpose.
Take one school district: faced with budget stress, it chose to serve cheap, sugar-loaded cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Then, leadership was surprised when student behavior tanked. In trying to survive the daily firestorm, they lost focus on their real mission: developing healthy, well-adjusted human beings.
The Human Element
For us leaders, the same trap is waiting. If we don’t manage our reactions, we turn into cavemen—blaming, raging, and making excuses. It’s a neighborhood no one should live in.
That’s why accountability is non-negotiable. When you get hit, you need a system to reset. Here’s my 3-step “punched in the face” method:
1. Get It Together – Pause. Reclaim your attention. Breathe.
2. Get a Grip – Don’t react. Observe the frustration without letting it drive you. Pain doesn’t have to dictate your behavior. You choose.
3. Get Over It – Not denial—decisive action. The punch landed. Now what? Return to the plan. Or, if necessary, build a new one.
Step Out of the Ring, Into Victory
If you feel like every workday is a boxing match, the key isn’t to avoid the punches—it’s to recover faster and return to the plan.
That’s exactly why I created the Vision Mastery Playbook. It will help you anchor to your bigger purpose so you can take the hits, stay standing, and keep moving toward victory.
Request your free copy today—and master the ring without losing an ear.