There’s a reason resilience was the first topic Nancy chose for the Makers Mindset Workshop Series. Before you master a marketing funnel, pitch an investor, or scale your team—you need to train the one thing that can’t be outsourced: your mindset.

As a former Peloton instructor turned entrepreneur and founder of soon to launch NKO Club fitness platform, I’ve learned that building a brand is a contact sport. You will get hit. What matters most is how quickly—and how powerfully—you get back up.

The Family Motto That Changed Everything

Growing up, my dad used to say, “They can knock you down, but they can never knock you out.” That mantra became the anchor of my life. In the face of failure, rejection, and self-doubt, I’ve always returned to it. It reminds me that resilience isn’t about avoiding hits—it’s about absorbing them, learning from them, and turning them into kinetic energy that fuels your next move​.

You’re the GOAT—Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

Founders are visionaries. But we’re also human. We battle imposter syndrome, self-comparison, and fear daily. I still remember getting hired at Peloton without ever teaching a cycling class. I lied, panicked, almost got fired—then found my footing by owning my story and betting on my potential.

You have to believe you’re the one meant to bring your vision to life. Not because you have it all figured out—but because no one else can do it the way you can​.

Resilience is a Practice, Not a Personality Trait

You’re not born resilient—you build it. Just like a muscle, it strengthens through stress, recovery, and repetition. Here’s how I do it:

  • Prime your brain before you open your inbox. Gratitude, breathwork, and silence—before the chaos begins.
  • Keep a ‘Why’ folder. Fill it with screenshots, messages, photos, anything that reminds you why you started.
  • Reframe your failures. Don’t call it a breakdown—call it data. Call it your next lesson. Call it the nudge that saved you from a bigger problem down the line​.

Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor

Let’s stop glorifying hustle and start honoring sustainability. Protect your peace. Name your inner critic (mine’s called Tina) and remind her she doesn’t get to drive the bus. Stay off social media first thing in the morning. Celebrate your wins—even the small ones. Especially the small ones​.

Resilient Founders Don’t Quit—They Pivot

The path isn’t linear. It’s messy. It’s winding. But the most successful founders aren’t the ones with the fewest failures—they’re the ones who keep moving through them. They ask for feedback after every “no.” They lead with humility. They remember who they are when everything feels uncertain.

That’s what resilience looks like in real time.

You’re Already in the Olympics of Resilience

If you’re building something from scratch, you’re already doing the hard part. Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep leaning into community—like this one right here.

Because the truth is, you’re not just building a company. You’re building you—a version of you that can hold more pressure, more power, and more purpose.

And I’m rooting for you every step of the way.

Kendall Toole is a former top Peloton instructor, motivational speaker, and founder of the soon-to-launch NKO Club fitness platform. Follow her on Instagram @kendalltoole and stay inspired.