Turn Rock Bottom Into Rocket Fuel

When people talk about grit, they usually focus on pushing through physical challenges or grinding harder at work. But sometimes the biggest test of grit comes when everything falls apart. Today, I'm sharing a story about the kind of resilience you can't build in a gym or boardroom—the kind that's forged in the crucible of complete failure. What I learned from Jimmy Rex's journey has changed how I think about true grit, and I believe it will change your perspective too.

The Power of Rock Bottom

Here's a story that will make you rethink everything you believe about failure. At 23, Jimmy Rex found himself $125,000 in debt after his business partner—a charismatic guy from the Netherlands—disappeared with their franchise money during a drug binge.

Most people would've declared bankruptcy. Instead, Jimmy taped a poster behind his closet door listing everyone he owed money to. That list became his fuel. Within a year, he sold 60 houses. The next year? 98 houses.

What struck me about Jimmy's story wasn't just the comeback—it was his unwavering commitment to pay back every cent when he could have walked away. That's the kind of grit that builds character, not just bank accounts.

Make Failure Your Superpower 

I recently sat down with Jimmy on my podcast, Grit It Done, to dig deeper into his journey from rock bottom to building a movement teaching healthy masculinity. We covered everything from his door-to-door steak selling days to how he transformed "not being good enough" into his superpower.

If you like what you’ve heard, please leave me a review wherever you listen to your podcasts.

The True Test of Grit

Real grit isn't about never failing; it's about what you do when you're at your lowest. Jimmy could have let that $125K debt define him. Instead, he used it to propel himself forward.

Here's what both Jimmy's story and my years of buying and operating businesses have taught me about true grit:

1. Own Your Reality: Jimmy didn't play the blame game or make excuses. He put every debt on that poster and faced it daily. That's step one of any comeback.

2. Let Pain Be Your Teacher: The sting of that betrayal taught Jimmy more about business than any success could have. Sometimes our worst moments become our best educators.

3. Choose the Hard Path: Bankruptcy would have been easier. Paying back every cent was harder. But that choice built the foundation for everything that followed.

Everyone faces moments that could break them. The difference between those who emerge stronger and those who stay broken isn't talent or luck; it's the willingness to learn from failure and change course.

Your Challenge

Think about your biggest "failure" right now. How could you turn it into fuel? What would change if you saw it as a launching pad instead of a roadblock?

Join me on LinkedIn to share your thoughts. I'd love to hear your story of turning setbacks into comebacks.