Surprise part 2

As many of you know, Jiu-Jitsu is a huge part of my life. I’m drawn to the art, the sense of community, and the mental chess match that’s just as demanding, sometimes more so—than the physical side.

A few weeks ago, I competed at the World Masters Championships for the third time in four years. Every time, the energy is electric and the competition is intense. Each trip required about eight months of focused preparation.

My first year was all about the experience. It was my debut at a major international tournament, and while I went in with high hopes, I didn’t come home with a win. Sure, it stung to lose after so much effort and investment, but I wasn’t upset. The highlight was meeting amazing people, including legends like Wellington "Megaton" Dias. Even now, thinking about those moments brings a smile to my face.

In the second year, my focus shifted to health and weight management, perhaps a little too much. I let it distract me from my game plan. Facing the number one seed in my first match didn’t help either. I walked away disappointed, feeling like I’d let myself and others down after all the sacrifices I’d made. But I didn’t dwell on it for long. I got back up, dusted myself off, and started planning for the next shot.

This year, I felt ready. My health and prep were dialled in, my game plan was solid, and I’d trained hard for every scenario. On fight day, I was nervous (my fitness watch definitely noticed), but I was ready to execute.

I advanced to the second round, nerves still buzzing, but my plan intact. Then, during a crucial moment, I went for my signature throw. Out of nowhere, my opponent stepped just right, and I slammed hard onto my back. Everything happened so fast—I was stunned, and before I could recover, my opponent capitalized and finished the match.

As the referee raised his hand, I was still trying to process what had gone wrong. My opponent showed genuine concern for my well-being—reminding me why I love this community so much. But as I left the mat, disappointment hit hard. Months of prep, undone by a freak moment. It took a few days (and a lot of comfort food) before I could even watch the fight replay.

Reflecting on this year, I realized how closely these tournament experiences mirror real life—and business. You can prepare for months, have the perfect plan, and still get blindsided by something you never saw coming. That’s life. The real challenge isn’t avoiding surprises—it’s learning how to adapt, recover, and build new strategies to handle them next time.

Whether it’s on the mat or in a high-stakes project, the lesson is the same: setbacks are inevitable, but they’re also opportunities to grow. Now, instead of beating myself up, I focus on mitigating those risks and responding better when the unexpected happens.