Most people don’t fail because they lack talent, opportunity, or intelligence.
They fail because they’re afraid to try.
They’re afraid of making a mistake.
They’re afraid of looking foolish.
They’re afraid of failing publicly.
They’re afraid of having to recover.
In Episode 664 of the TerryWilson3.com Podcast, I tackle one of the most overlooked success skills in business, leadership, and personal growth:
👉 Recovery.
Not avoiding mistakes.
Not pretending you’re perfect.
Not playing it safe.
But learning how to recover when mistakes inevitably happen.
Because they will.
Even Legends Mess Up — And That’s the Point
One of the most powerful stories I share in this episode takes us back to the year 2000 at the NAMM Show in Los Angeles.
My wife and I had done very well that year representing Yamaha, and as a result, we were invited to a special concert at the Shrine Auditorium to celebrate 25 years of Michael McDonald’s music.
If you know music history, you know Michael McDonald is a legend.
Doobie Brothers.
Steely Dan.
Endless collaborations.
A voice recognized instantly.
That night was a who’s who of artists he had worked with — including Kenny Loggins.
They began performing the hit song “Heart to Heart.” Everything was flawless. Professional. Polished.
Then something unexpected happened.
Michael McDonald stepped in to sing lead on the second verse… and completely blanked.
He forgot the lyrics.
In front of thousands of people.
What happened next is what makes this story unforgettable.
Instead of freezing… instead of stopping… instead of apologizing awkwardly…
He improvised.
He literally sang out:
“What you’re asking is for me to remember the words of this song… I want to do right… God, I wanna do right!”
The entire auditorium erupted in applause.
Not because he was perfect.
But because he was human.
Because he recovered.
Because he turned a mistake into a moment.
That’s leadership.
That’s confidence.
That’s recovery skill.
And that moment perfectly sets up the core message of this episode:
Even seasoned professionals make mistakes. What separates great leaders is how they respond.
Musical Greats Prove It: Recovery Creates Legendary Moments
This episode doesn’t just rely on one story.
We lean into other powerful musical examples that prove mistakes don’t ruin greatness — recovery often enhances it.
🎵 Ella Fitzgerald — Turning Forgotten Lyrics into a Grammy Moment
During a live performance of “Mack the Knife,” Ella Fitzgerald forgot entire sections of lyrics.
Instead of stopping, she began improvising and scatting on the spot.
The audience loved it.
That performance went on to win a Grammy Award.
What could have been a mistake became the most iconic version of the song.
🎵 Adele — Vulnerability Builds Connection
Adele has famously forgotten lyrics in multiple live performances.
Instead of hiding it, she laughs, jokes with the audience, and keeps going.
Fans love her more for it.
Because vulnerability builds connection.
Perfection builds distance.
🎵 Justin Bieber — Professional Recovery Under Pressure
Justin Bieber has forgotten lyrics live on major stages.
Rather than stopping the show, he transitions, adapts, and keeps moving forward.
Media coverage consistently highlights not the mistake — but how he handled it.
The message is clear:
Recovery is the real performance.
John Lee Dumas: “Choose Your Hard”
On this episode, we also reference a powerful truth shared by John Lee Dumas, founder of Entrepreneurs On Fire.
He says:
“Choose your hard.”
Because here’s the reality:
Building something is hard.
Failing is hard.
Starting over is hard.
Staying stuck is hard.
Living with regret is hard.
You don’t get to choose whether life is hard.
You get to choose which hard you’re willing to face.
Avoiding mistakes may feel safe — but it creates a much harder life long term.
Recovery, growth, and learning through failure?
That’s the hard that builds success.
ADA Neil O’Reilly: A Real Story of Loss and Comeback
One of the most impactful moments in this episode comes from ADA Neil O’Reilly, who shares my real story with a group of high-achieving entrepreneurs on a mastermind call.
It’s the story of:
• Starting my piano business
• Growing it
• Losing it
• Having to rebuild
• And coming back stronger in a room full of high-level performers
This isn’t theory.
This is real life.
This is what recovery looks like in business.
Not everyone talks about this part of entrepreneurship.
But every real entrepreneur has lived it.
Loss.
Setback.
Failure.
Rebuild.
Comeback.
That story resonates because it shows what I teach — and what I’ve lived:
Your worst moment does not get the final word.
Recovery does.
Why Fear of Failure Is Actually the Bigger Failure
Most people aren’t stopped by lack of opportunity.
They’re stopped by fear.
Fear of looking stupid.
Fear of getting it wrong.
Fear of failing publicly.
Fear of having to explain themselves.
Fear of not being perfect.
But here’s the truth I drive home in Episode 664:
👉 The fear of making a mistake has killed more dreams than mistakes ever have.
Most people don’t fail out of the game.
They freeze out of the game.
They never launch.
They never try.
They never step up.
They never take the risk.
Not because they can’t —
But because they’re afraid they might mess up.
Recovery Is a Leadership Skill
This episode teaches a simple but powerful framework:
1. Own It Fast
No blaming. No excuses. Ownership builds trust.
2. Normalize It
Mistakes are part of growth. Period.
3. Learn From It
Every mistake is tuition for wisdom.
4. Adjust and Move Forward
Don’t camp in regret. Turn the page.
This is what leaders do.
This is what entrepreneurs do.
This is what people who win long-term do.
Why You Need to Listen to This Episode
If you’ve been sitting on:
• A business idea
• A career move
• A leadership opportunity
• A creative project
• A ministry calling
• A personal goal
And fear of messing up has kept you frozen…
Episode 664 is your permission slip.
Not to be perfect.
But to move.
Not to avoid mistakes.
But to recover fast.
Not to live in fear.
But to live in growth.
Listen Now
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
👉 https://terrywilson3.com/podcast/how-to-recover-from-mistakes/
This episode will change how you see failure, leadership, and your next move.
Because progress beats perfection.
Recovery beats regret.
And your comeback matters more than your mistake.
This was for me. Terry thank you for sharing this. I found you through LinkedIn after really feeling a bit discouraged and then you popped up. This was so helpful. Definitely subscribing to this pod for sure!