Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Mindset matters most because your mind can work with you or against you. Given that your subconscious mind always wants to keep you safe, things that are familiar will always be attractive. Therefore, developing a growth mindset is crucial to build the resilience to move forward. For example, I worked with someone who set a very high revenue goal. It was high in relation to where she’d been. We hit the goal in two months! Two months later, she’d returned to her previous revenue. Why? Because it’s what felt familiar. So to keep from going in cycles and circles we added a lot of mindset work coupled with action so her growth could be sustained. She cycled back a few times until her ‘new normal’ actually felt normal.
Resilience has been described as the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Times are not easy now. How do we develop greater resilience to withstand the challenges that keep being thrown at us? In this interview series, we are talking to mental health experts, authors, resilience experts, coaches, and business leaders who can talk about how we can develop greater resilience to improve our lives.
As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Leticia DeSuze.
Leticia DeSuze is a highly accomplished holistic mindset coach and business strategist, renowned for her work with C-level executives and established entrepreneurs striving to surpass the 7-figure milestone. With a track record of coaching over 1200 senior leaders and entrepreneurs across diverse industries, she firmly believes in the power of mindset in overcoming challenges. Leticia’s exceptional ability to uncover deep-seated thought patterns that hinder growth and her talent in designing personalized roadmaps for accelerated success have transformed the lives and businesses of her clients, enabling them to realize their true potential and create intentional, fulfilling lives.
Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory?
From being a real estate broker in 2009, I quickly realized that my true passion lay elsewhere when I told a friend, “I don’t love this. I want to be a coach.” Soon after, the real estate market crash impacted my business, and I found myself doing consulting work, which led to receiving four coaching sessions as a gift. Hearing about the coach’s success, making $125 per hour while working from her home and connecting with people worldwide, inspired me, though I couldn’t quite believe it was possible for me at the time.
Although I wasn’t ready to fully embrace coaching then, I started coaching within an organization and continued for nine fulfilling years. During this time, I traveled across the nation, working closely with senior executives who were let go from Fortune 500 companies. My dedication led me to become a certified business coach. In 2018, I took on a role with a law firm coaching company as a fractional CEO, supporting over 30 law firms for a little over a year.
While I loved the work, the company’s culture didn’t align with my values, so I made a life-changing decision and resigned in early 2019. I haven’t looked back since then. I seized the opportunity to start my own coaching business, where I can fully leverage my innate curiosity and fascination with human behavior to empower others to reach their full potential. It has been a transformative journey, and I’m excited about the future and the positive impact I can create as a coach.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
When I first started my coaching business, one of the most challenging aspects was feeling lost and uncertain about where to begin. It seemed like everything was disconnected and lacked a clear structure. As someone who values intentionality, this disarray was quite unsettling. While I knew I had coaching skills, running a coaching business was an entirely different endeavor, and I had my doubts about it. Despite having helped others succeed in their businesses, applying the same principles to my own venture presented unique challenges. I had to confront my own fears, insecurities, and uncertainties, which made the journey particularly difficult.
Throughout this process, I never considered giving up, but I knew that trying to do it all alone wouldn’t be the wisest approach. Instead, I made a crucial decision to hire a coach within the first four months of launching my business. This turned out to be the best thing I could have done. My coach provided valuable guidance not only for improving my mindset but also for laying a solid framework to build my business upon. Drawing from his own experiences, he challenged my thinking and offered insights I hadn’t readily considered.
As a result of working with my coach, I left with a clear plan and actionable strategies that became the springboard for building my business. Having that support and mentorship early on made all the difference, and I’m grateful for the transformative impact it had on my entrepreneurial journey. It taught me the value of seeking help when needed and reinforced the power of coaching in empowering both myself and others to achieve success.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
I stand out because of the way I am invested in my clients’ success and it goes so far beyond their businesses. I am high-touch, deeply personable, and accessible. It’s why I work with a limited number of people 1:1 so that level of commitment is never compromised.
Last year, one of my clients suffered the loss of a very close loved one. I felt it deeply because my motto is, “Once a client, always family.” I wasn’t a coach during this time of transition. I was a friend. I was a sister. I was a confidante. I was a support in any way she needed. In fact, she stopped coaching for six months while she worked through her healing process. I stayed in touch with her just as much (if not more) than when we were working together with the only concern being her well-being. She just recently started coaching again. I had no idea that would happen but if she never returned to coach with me, the relationship would still have been the same.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
My coach. He helped me see myself in the proper light. He called me out of hiding. He challenged me to grow into the person I needed to become and not just set arbitrary goals. He expanded my mind and helped me to believe bigger. For example, when I started working with him, he suggested a price point quite close to his for one of my service offerings. To know that he saw me in the same league was mind-blowing. It took me a while to get used to the idea but I trusted his faith in me until I saw the results.
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of this interview. We would like to explore and flesh out the trait of resilience. How would you define resilience? What do you believe are the characteristics or traits of resilient people?
Resilience, to me, is the ability to bounce back and adapt in the face of challenges, setbacks, and adversity. It’s the strength to persevere, maintain a positive outlook, and continue moving forward despite difficult circumstances. Resilience involves both emotional and mental toughness, allowing individuals to navigate through tough times with a sense of hope and determination.
Characteristics of resilient people typically include:
Positive mindset: Resilient individuals have a positive outlook, seeing setbacks as temporary and opportunities for growth. They focus on solutions rather than dwelling on problems.
Emotional intelligence: Resilient people are in touch with their emotions and can effectively manage and cope with them. They are self-aware and can understand the emotions of others, which helps them build strong support networks.
Adaptability: Resilient individuals are flexible and open to change. They can adjust their plans and strategies when faced with unexpected situations.
Optimism: Resilient people maintain a sense of optimism even during challenging times. They believe in their ability to overcome difficulties and see the potential for positive outcomes.
Problem-solving skills: Resilient individuals are resourceful and adept at finding solutions to problems. They approach challenges with a proactive and constructive mindset.
Courage is often likened to resilience. In your opinion how is courage both similar and different from resilience?
Courage and resilience share similarities in their ability to face adversity and challenges head-on with inner strength and determination. Both qualities involve maintaining a positive outlook and effectively managing emotions during difficult times.
However, courage often arises in specific moments that demand bold actions, such as confronting fear or taking risks, whereas resilience is a more sustained quality that enables individuals to recover and adapt consistently over time. While courage focuses on external actions, resilience is an internal capacity to bounce back from setbacks and continue moving forward. Courage may be a response to acute situations, while resilience is a quality that helps individuals endure ongoing challenges and grow from experiences. Together, courage and resilience empower individuals to embrace change, overcome obstacles, and emerge stronger from life’s trials.
When you think of resilience, which person comes to mind? Can you explain why you chose that person?
When I think of resilience, my partner comes to mind. His ability to navigate tough times and bounce back with renewed hope truly stands out. I’ve seen him build businesses from scratch, face setbacks, and then pivot to rebuild. It’s a flame that reminds me that resilience is not a fleeting attribute, but a lifelong commitment to rise, adapt, and thrive — an enduring testament to the resilience that resides within us all.
Has there ever been a time that someone told you something was impossible, but you did it anyway? Can you share the story with us?
There was a time when I was determined to secure a full scholarship to college for my daughter. Everybody thought I was out of my mind because she wasn’t an athlete. She was accepted into a program that offers full scholarships to students in their now 50 partner colleges. Despite skepticism, Vanderbilt University saw her potential, and we embarked on a journey that defied expectations.
Not only did she receive a full scholarship covering tuition, room, and board, but she also enjoyed a personal allowance and more. Though its magnitude may not have struck her then, the significance of that achievement resonates powerfully now. This experience taught us a vital lesson: Never let others define the boundaries of possibility.
It’s a reminder that determination and resilience can break down even the most entrenched barriers and that believing in the seemingly impossible can lead to exceptional achievements. This chapter of our journey underscores the value of charting our own path, regardless of what others may deem achievable
Did you have a time in your life when you had one of your greatest setbacks, but you bounced back from it stronger than ever? Can you share that story with us?
One of my greatest setbacks was when I lost nearly everything. Or so I thought. House. Car. Business. I spent 18 months trying to figure out my life. It was actually a huge blessing in disguise. It was the wake-up call I needed to take full responsibility for my life and commit to becoming a different person. It was also when I started coaching and slowly rebuilt my life. It took a while but it was worth it because I’ve never looked back. I’m financially responsible. I don’t blame others for anything in my life. My mindset is completely different. And I’ve seen different results as a result. I also believe, however, that oftentimes you’re most challenged in the areas where you’re called to make the greatest impact. So I think it was a part of my path unfolding.
How have you cultivated resilience throughout your life? Did you have any experiences growing up that have contributed to building your resiliency? Can you share a story?
Throughout my life, I’ve cultivated resilience through various experiences and mindset shifts. Growing up, I faced several challenges that played a significant role in building my resiliency. Being an only child actually helped me to become resilient. I had to learn self-reliance in a way that may have been different if I had siblings. I spent a lot of time alone. I learned to trust myself. I learned to depend on myself. In all actuality, I learned myself. So even when things were at their worst, I could always trust myself to figure something out because the resilience muscle had been built. Aside from my mother, I didn’t have many people to depend on and she was a very independent woman. So in that regard, I believe a resilient mindset was developed by default.
Resilience is like a muscle that can be strengthened. In your opinion, what are the 5 steps that someone can take to become more resilient? Please share a story or an example for each.
Absolutely, resilience can indeed be strengthened through intentional efforts. Here are five steps that someone can take to become more resilient, along with examples for each:
- Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Mindset matters most because your mind can work with you or against you. Given that your subconscious mind always wants to keep you safe, things that are familiar will always be attractive. Therefore, developing a growth mindset is crucial to build the resilience to move forward. For example, I worked with someone who set a very high revenue goal. It was high in relation to where she’d been. We hit the goal in two months! Two months later, she’d returned to her previous revenue. Why? Because it’s what felt familiar. So to keep from going in cycles and circles we added a lot of mindset work coupled with action so her growth could be sustained. She cycled back a few times until her ‘new normal’ actually felt normal.
- Build a Supportive Network: While I do gather socially with others from time to time, I rarely network in the traditional sense. You need quality people in your network to support your growth. You need people who will love you as you navigate ups and downs, but who will also tell you the truth. You need people who will tell you when you are veering off your purposed path. That means they need to know it. I don’t have a large quantity of people in my network but I have key quality people. They know what I do and why I do it. They know my values. They know if and when I’m out of integrity with myself and they will call me on it. They love me enough to challenge me to continue growing. And sometimes those are hard conversations.
- Practice Awareness and Self-Care: It’s important to be aware. When you see something you can shift it. So many of us don’t change things because we lack awareness. Going back to having supportive networks, you need people who can see your blind spots and help you chart a path forward. Recently I experienced some changes in my business and the first thing I did was internalize them and make them mean something about me personally. My mentor helped me to see that I’d outgrown my current business model and needed to pivot. She brought a level of awareness that I was missing. And I was able to shift gears as a result.
- Set Realistic Goals and Take Incremental Steps. I will be the first to admit that when I’m out of balance I can go to extremes. So I would either grossly underestimate or overestimate how much I could accomplish. With the help of many coaches, I’ve learned to set realistic goals, but more importantly, determine who I need to become to achieve them. That keeps with me a level of focus on more than a goal itself. So, for example, if I’d like a certain revenue goal my question is who do I need to become to earn this consistently? What do I need to improve or change? This becomes so much more than the goal but a process of growth and evolution. I know I’ve achieved the necessary level of growth when I’ve achieved the goal.
- Develop Problem-Solving Skills: The only way to develop problem-solving skills that I know of is to not run away from your problems. Tony Robbins says the biggest problem we have is that we think we’re not supposed to have any. I don’t shy away from problems. I get frustrated with the same problems. However, I welcome new problems because it means I have an opportunity to build my problem-solving muscle in a way I hadn’t before. For example, I have a very close relationship with someone. I’ve noticed a pattern of ‘problems’ that keep surfacing. Rather than pointing fingers, or deflecting, I see the continued problems as a way to develop my problem-solving skills as it relates to empathy, communication, and consistency to name a few. That doesn’t require the other person to do anything differently. I can develop these skills by choosing to face the challenge head-on. We can do this in any area of life but all too often we’d rather shy away, or sweep things under the rug as if they don’t exist.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
As a mindset coach, the movement I would aspire to inspire is centered around promoting self-empowerment and positive thinking. I firmly believe that our thoughts shape our reality, and by encouraging individuals to cultivate a growth mindset and harness the power of positive thinking, we can bring about transformative change in countless lives.
This movement would encourage people to embrace the belief that they have the capacity to overcome challenges, grow from setbacks, and achieve their goals. Through workshops, online resources, and community engagement, I would strive to empower individuals to break free from limiting beliefs and adopt a mindset of possibility and resilience.
Imagine a world where everyone believes in their potential and approaches life’s hurdles with confidence and optimism. This movement has the potential to empower individuals to pursue their passions, take risks, and embrace personal growth.
Ultimately, I hope to trigger a shift in perspective and inspire individuals to embrace their inner strength, overcome self-doubt, and unlock their full potential. By empowering each individual, we can create a powerful force for good that reaches far beyond individual lives, contributing to a more confident, compassionate, and thriving world.
We are blessed that some very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them 🙂
Yes! Dr. Gabor Maté.
After watching the documentary, ‘The Wisdom of Trauma’ I became more fascinated with the topic. He explains trauma in a way that’s easily digestible for a layperson. Even though I’ve been studying it for some time, I gained a lot of insight from the documentary and other resources. I’d really love to pick his brain.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
LinkedIn & Instagram: yourbizdoctor
Website: http://www.leticiadesuze.com/
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!