“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
— Nelson Mandela

Failure is a part of the journey to success. And the more rewarding the outcome you desire, the more difficult the failures will be along the way.

I’ve run a business where we encounter failures with our clients daily, and I can tell you from personal experience and observation—failing sucks.

Being around high achievers—elite business professionals, professional athletes, and top-of-their-class entrepreneurs—success isn’t just expected; it’s demanded. So how do I help guide an elite achiever through the process of incorporating something new into their life—something that will be deeply rewarding but will require failure along the way?

Answer: Build structure. I call it The Elite Pyramid.

At the top of the pyramid is perfection—their current peak ability. Hence, the Elite level. That part is obvious.
Where we really need to dig in is at the bottom of the pyramid: the Elevate level. This is where we define the Minimum Effective Dose (MED)—the smallest, most essential action that still creates progress. Unless you live a singularly focused, myopic life, this is how change sticks and builds into something great.

For someone who’s achieved beyond the 1%, this conversation is often a tough one. They think they’re above human tendencies—and in some realms, they are. It took them years to attain that success and countless hours of practice to get there. But that time and repetition are often forgotten when it comes to starting something new or transitioning careers.

All that practice still holds value—it builds discipline, awareness, and confidence—but when learning a new skill, reps still matter. There’s a good chance that the drive and determination they’ve honed over decades will accelerate progress faster than most. But patience is required, and failure must be expected.

Once we’ve agreed on what perfection (Elite) looks like and what the MED (Elevate) entails, we can move to the Exceed level of the pyramid. This is where things get fun. Over time—and with consistent reps—we can expand this level to match the individual’s mindset and capacity.

“A rising tide lifts all boats.”
— John F. Kennedy

Let’s say a client is transitioning into a new career that frees up time, and they want to become exceptional at pickleball. Playing the game may be enough early on, but as their skills grow, we’ll explore practice outside of games, work with a coach at their skill level, and likely incorporate mental visualization.

Perfection will often remain just out of reach—especially as work demands ebb and flow—but an elite achiever won’t be satisfied with the MED alone. That’s where the Exceed level gives us room to create consistency in training, practice, and competition that adapts to life’s seasons.

Now, the elite achiever has structure, boundaries, and a framework that allows them to push themselves, fail, and still find success repeatedly.

My guess is—this can work for you too.