Keep Showing Up

“The only way to succeed is to believe in yourself when others don’t.” - Shawn Dill

This past weekend, two very different athletes taught us the same critical lesson for business and for life.

Let’s start with Rory McIlroy.

If you’ve followed professional golf at all in the last decade, you’ve probably heard this narrative: Rory can’t win The Masters. He’s one of the most talented golfers in the world, but Augusta seemed to haunt him. Every year, he would show up, only to walk away without the win. Reporters would ask the same questions. Critics would say the same things. And yet—he kept showing up.

And this year, Rory McIlroy won The Masters.

It was his first major victory since 2014. That’s 11 years between major wins. And this one wasn’t just any major—it completed the career Grand Slam. Only five golfers in history have done that.

It was historic. And it was a long time coming.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the sports world, my business partner Michael Chandler stepped into the octagon at UFC 314. This was a high-stakes fight against Paddy Pimblett. Michael was coming off two losses. And unfortunately, he didn’t get the win this time either.

That’s three straight losses.

But here’s what you need to know about Michael: the man still showed up. He trained. He prepared. He put himself in harm’s way, knowing the critics were waiting to pounce. He stood on the biggest stage in his sport and gave it everything he had.

And he will do it again.

Entrepreneurs Don’t Just Win. They Endure.

Both of these men are professionals. They compete under pressure that most of us will never understand. Their wins and losses happen in public. Their pain becomes headlines. But still—they show up.

Entrepreneurship isn’t that different.

Maybe your last launch flopped.

Maybe your revenue has dropped three quarters in a row.

Maybe your competition is taking shots at you on social media.

You still have to show up.

The people who win in business—and in life—aren’t the ones who never lose. They’re the ones who keep going when it would be easier to stop.

Ignore the Critics. Believe Anyway.

One of the hardest parts of entrepreneurship is managing your mind.

You’ll get advice from people who’ve never built anything.

You’ll get judgment from people who never risked anything.

You’ll be misunderstood, doubted, underestimated.

So was Rory.

So is Michael.

So is anyone who’s trying to do something meaningful.

The only way to succeed is to believe in yourself when others don’t. To keep showing up even when it seems like it’s not working. To trust that your moment is coming—as long as you’re still in the game when it does.

The Win Might Not Be Today. But It Will Come.

As entrepreneurs, we’re always looking for the win. But sometimes the win isn’t immediate. Sometimes the real win is persistence. Sometimes it’s surviving long enough to thrive.

So here’s your reminder:

• Stay in the game.
  

• Keep taking the swing.
  

• Keep stepping into the ring.
  

• Keep showing up.
  

Whether you’re Rory right now—or Michael—the victory comes when you refuse to quit.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present.

And when your moment comes, make it count.