What separates an elite athlete from a high-performing CEO? For Fábio Gurgel, former jiu-jitsu fighter and four-time world champion, the answer lies less in talent and more in how each professional deals with their mistakes, routine, and pressure.
Author of the book "Unshakeable: Jiu-Jitsu Principles Applied to Life and Business," Gurgel believes that resilience is a skill that can be built from small defeats.
“If I fall on Sunday, I’ll train on Monday… what you do when a failure happens is what defines you,” said Carlos Burle, during an interview with Bravamente, a program in partnership with NeoFeed .
For him, just like on the mat, losing is part of the business process. Therefore, executives should understand that mistakes are a great tool for growth.
This mindset becomes even more relevant in high-pressure environments, where quick decisions and constant adaptation are required. Both athletes and CEOs face challenges where discipline and consistency are essential.
“It’s not that we have little time, it’s that we misuse our time,” he said, arguing that performance starts with the basics — sleep, training, nutrition, study, and good personal relationships. “Do the basics well and you’ll already be 90% ahead.”
Away from competing on the mats, Gurgel now works as an entrepreneur, leading a large network of jiu-jitsu academies. In his free time, he has found a new challenge in surfing.
The interview with Burle, in fact, took place right after the two shared a session in a wave pool. At the end of the conversation, Gurgel reaffirmed that the lesson that runs through sports and business is that high performance lies in the ability to maintain consistency, especially when things don't go right.
"Don't let it paralyze you, whether in good times or bad... the only thing that will keep you moving forward is to keep going," he stated.
