I CAN’T (YET)-

As I was recently reworking my website, I couldn’t help but notice the two seemingly lonely and forgotten blog posts sitting here at Mindset Matters. I took pause. Another reminder of a well-intended idea, this one both an entrepreneurial pursuit and a cathartic outlet, stalled. A

false start. Great concept. No bandwidth to

execute.

That was the story I started telling myself, the familiar, self-sabotaging loop that begins as reflection and slides into negative self-talk. I caught it mid-spiral and did what I ask the athletes I coach to do: pause, notice, reframe. This wasn’t a failure. It was a reset. And for good reason.

Over the past 16 weeks, I have been immersed in training toward my ICF accreditation. That work includes more than 60 hours of coursework, mentorship, and extensive peer-to-peer practice coaching, and it will continue as I complete the required hours to sit for the exam.

After thirty years on the field, it became clear very quickly that this is a different arena. It is not about the Xs and Os anymore; it is about creating space and evoking awareness so young people can stand up to the unrelenting pressures they face. It is humbling, challenging, and precisely the kind of growth I want to model.

I’m sharing this because it reminded me of something simple that keeps showing up in my work and my life: the power of yet.

Actually, my therapist reminded me of it last week. It just happened to be applicable here. A concept popularized by psychologist Carol Dweck, it is simple and powerful. Yet reframes failure as progress in motion. It turns “I can’t” into “I can’t… yet.”

Think about a moment you have been frustrated. The golf shot that will not draw. The high note that keeps cracking. The project that just will not click. The moment you catch yourself saying “I can’t,” add that one word. Yet. It changes how your brain relates to the work in front of you.

Back in May, when I first launched Optima, I wanted to sprint. I wanted it to be ready. The truth is, I wasn’t there. Not yet. 

I couldn't have imagined then what this pause has provided. It allowed me to refine, grow, and strengthen the fundamentals before pushing forward again. And I realize, Optima isn’t a false start. It is a work in progress that is better grounded, better equipped, and ready for what is next.

That is the same idea I bring to mindset coaching. I help people learn to see setbacks not as failures but as opportunities, proof that you are still growing. Whether it is an athlete chasing consistency, a student rebuilding confidence, or a parent trying to support without overstepping, YET is where progress lives.

As this space evolves, I will use it to share quick hits and practical tips that build confidence, focus, and resilience that actually hold up under pressure. I also want to hear what is working for you, and what goals you are reaching for but cannot quite hit… yet.

Next up: The Three Types of Confidence.