“Life is not happening to you. It’s happening for you.” – Tony Robbins
I want to tell you a story that’s honestly a little hard to admit.
I lost over $70,000… in one day.
At the time, that was over a third of my net worth.
I had about $200,000 to my name.
And just like that—it was gone.
It was one of those moments where you just sit there staring at the screen.
Trying to process what just happened.
Trying to make sense of it.
And if you’ve ever taken a big loss—financially, emotionally, or in business—you know exactly what that feels like.
But here’s the truth.
That moment changed everything for me.
And looking back, it was one of the most valuable experiences I’ve ever had.
Let’s talk about why.
1. Failure Is Feedback (Not Final)
At the time, I was trading options.
I had this strategy—an “iron condor.”
And for a few months, it worked.
I was making money.
I felt confident.
Maybe a little too confident.
Then the market turned.
And I hit a maximum loss.
Just like that, everything I had gained—and more—was wiped out.
Now, I had a choice.
I could say:
“I’m terrible at this.”
“I’m a failure.”
Or I could say:
“What is this trying to teach me?”
That’s the difference.
Failure doesn’t mean you’re a failure.
It means you’re learning.
This aligns with principles from The Compound Effect, where small actions—good or bad—compound over time into massive results.¹
That loss taught me something critical.
I wasn’t great at that type of investing.
And more importantly—it wasn’t aligned with how I wanted to build wealth.
I realized I preferred more stable, long-term vehicles.
Things like real estate.
Things like oil and gas.
Things that produce consistent cash flow.
That one painful moment gave me clarity.
And clarity is incredibly valuable.
2. Blame Blocks Growth (Ownership Unlocks It)
Here’s what I see happen all the time.
Someone takes a loss.
And immediately, they look for someone to blame.
Maybe it’s the market.
Maybe it’s a partner.
Maybe it’s the operator.
Or sometimes—it’s themselves.
And both are equally dangerous.
Because when you blame, you stop learning.
If you blame others, you give away your power.
If you blame yourself, you shut down.
I had a friend who invested in single-family properties in Cleveland.
Things didn’t go well.
Poor management.
Bad tenant screening.
Avoidable mistakes.
And after that loss, they were done.
They didn’t want to invest again.
That’s what happens when failure turns into identity.
But it shouldn’t.
Because every deal—good or bad—is data.
Even in multifamily, I’ve had deals that didn’t go as planned.
And that’s not unique.
Even some of the biggest names in the industry have gone through the same thing.
Markets shift.
Interest rates rise.
Valuations drop.
Things happen that you can’t control.
But you can control how you respond.
According to research on goal-setting and performance, reflection and learning from outcomes significantly improve future decision-making and resilience.²
So instead of asking:
“Who’s at fault?”
Ask:
“What can I learn?”
That question will take you much further.
3. Reframe Everything (This Changes Your Life)
This is the biggest shift.
Instead of saying:
“This is happening to me.”
You say:
“This is happening for me.”
That doesn’t mean it’s easy.
It’s not.
When you’re in the middle of a loss, it’s uncomfortable.
It’s frustrating.
It can even be embarrassing.
But perspective changes everything.
One of the ways I’ve reframed losses is simple.
At the end of the day—it’s just money.
Now don’t get me wrong.
I take stewardship seriously.
Especially when it involves other people’s investments.
But I’m not calling someone and telling them they have two weeks to live.
This isn’t life or death.
It’s a lesson.
And if you treat it that way, it becomes incredibly valuable.
Books like The Magic of Thinking Big emphasize that how you think about challenges determines the trajectory of your life.³
If you see setbacks as permanent, you stop.
If you see them as part of the process, you grow.
And growth compounds.
Just like money.
Here’s what I want for you.
I want you to get every lesson possible out of your experiences.
Not just the wins.
But the losses too.
It’s been said a wise person learns from their own mistakes.
A genius learns from the mistakes of others.
So learn from both.
And don’t judge yourself in the process.
Just observe.
Adjust.
And keep moving forward.
Now I want to hear from you.
What’s a mistake that taught you something valuable?
Drop it in the comments.
Before you go, make sure to check out our special report on inflation investing.
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Disclaimer: I am not your investment advisor. This is for educational purposes only. I am not giving specific advice on what you can do. I am simply giving my opinions.
Works Cited
- Hardy, Darren. The Compound Effect. Success Media, 2010.
- Garner, Lauren D., et al. “Setting specific goals improves cognitive effort, self-efficacy, and sustained attention.” Journal of Experimental Psychology, 2025.
- Schwartz, David J. The Magic of Thinking Big. Simon & Schuster, 1959.
