By Kyle Dutton, DLE Marketing and Membership Intern, Finance and Marketing major with a minor in Economics at Syracuse University, NY
Ft. Lauderdale-based business owner and DLE alum Frank Fuentes was among the millions worldwide who experienced a job loss after the pandemic hit in 2020.
The incident elevated his resilience and determination. Frank set lofty goals–including competing for the U.S. Olympic Rowing team and starting an architecture firm. He accomplished both.
Practices that he used to rebound and rejuvenate generated a lively conversation at the June 18 Breakfast Club on the topic: How Getting Active Can Affect Your Mental Drive.
Here’s a recap of Frank’s power points:
- Have a “we mindset.” Whenever you are placed in a competitive environment, know your body’s limits but also know how far you can push yourself to gain that competitive advantage over others.
- Be resilient. Frank shared this quote: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Never back down or give up just because you failed once. Keep going until you’ve achieved your goal or even personal satisfaction. This applies to any field of work as long as you diligently dedicate time toward it.
- Keep revaluating yourself. Frank said, “Always reflect on yourself and do what works for you.” By trying different things and reevaluating yourself, you can understand your purpose and potential, which can help ensure you lead that healthy mental lifestyle. Take time out of your day for breathing exercises. This has proved to be very useful to Frank over his years in rowing.
- Utilize every given opportunity wisely. Never take time for granted. Always think of practices that change your lifestyle for the better. Make good use of your free time by thinking of ways to grow and develop your physical and mental state of mind.
- It’s okay to fail but it is not okay to not try. Regardless of the difficulty level of the task, make it a habit to always give it a shot by disregarding the outcome. By doing so, you open up a space for self-improvement.
Click here to watch the conversation with Frank and be sure to subscribe to the DLE YouTube Channel to take advantage of our fun and educational resources.
