A leader is truly discovered when they face adversity, challenge or obstacle.
There can be many, but the ones that separate the top-level leaders from the rest are those where the challenge becomes a mental fight.
From the outside, it looks tough but manageable.
It looks like a setback, but one you can bounce back from.
But in your own internal dialogue, it feels like there’s no way out, unless you reframe it.
You feel like you’ve lost it, unless you reframe it.
You fear looking like a failure, unless you reframe it.
Last Sunday, Rory McIlroy won The Masters.
Eleven years since his last Major.
Why was this such a significant achievement?
For 11 years, he’s arguably been one of the most naturally talented golfers.
He had already won the other three Majors, The Masters was the only one missing to complete the career Grand Slam.
Only five people in history have done that.
That’s how big this was.
So, what can leaders learn from Rory’s win?
⛳ After Round 1, he was 36th on the leaderboard
⛳ 3rd after Round 2
⛳ Finished top after Round 3
⛳ Going into the final round, he was leading
Then, on the first hole, he hit a bogey (2 over par).
Now, without a solid mental strategy, it would’ve been easy to panic:
“Here we go again… I’m never going to win this.”
That dialogue would’ve pulled him out of the zone and spiralled his mindset.
But he didn’t.
He reframed it. He said it gave him a little reset and helped him relax.
The next 9 holes: 3 birdies, the rest par. He was cruising.
But then…
⛳ 11th: bogey
⛳ 12th: par
⛳ 13th: double bogey
⛳ 14th: bogey
He dropped 4 shots over 4 holes.
He was no longer leading.Only 4 holes left.
Without reframing, without staying in the moment, without shutting out the past, he would’ve lost.
Instead:
Next 3 holes: 2 birdies
18th: missed a putt to win. Playoff time.
In that moment, he could have felt he lost The Masters.
But here’s the reframe: Nothing is lost if you haven’t yet won.
Whether you’re one shot or ten shots behind, the result isn’t done.
No panic. He reset. Calm mind. Stayed present.
He won the playoff with a birdie.
So what can leaders take from Rory’s final round?
You may start ahead, but at any moment you can fall.
Reframe that moment, give yourself a new lens that serves you.
You’re close to winning a deal. A big challenge hits.
Do you shout “life’s unfair!” or do you stay present and trust the process?
Then… you’re one step away from winning — and you fail.
Do you feel sorry for yourself and play the victim?
Then you’ll keep losing. Rory didn’t.
He remembered: nothing’s lost because nothing’s been won yet.
So now, to win, you go again.
🔥 Same mindset.
🔥 Trust the process.
🔥 Stay in the moment.
🔥 Execute.
