The Resiliency Project

“I have to learn by getting the shit kicked out of me.” - What happens when failure stops being a setback and starts becoming the strategy?  Executive coach, author, and entrepreneur Rhett Power joins Nik Agharkar to break down the brutal realities of entrepreneurship, from losing millions on failed products to nearly running out of money while trying to keep a business alive. Instead of avoiding failure, Power explains how repeated setbacks forced him to rethink his business model, sharpen his mindset, and develop the resilience needed to survive.  The conversation explores why most entrepreneurs have to become a little delusional to keep going, the dangerous impact of negative self-talk, and the mental systems that help leaders push through adversity. From sleeping in vans to landing major retail deals, this episode digs into the uncomfortable truth behind perseverance: resilience is not built through motivation, it is built through repeated hardship, reflection, and adaptation.  What You’ll Learn: • Why most successful entrepreneurs learn through failure, not theory • How Rhett Power rebuilt his business after losing millions on failed products • The role mindset and self-talk play during adversity • The “Catch, Confront, Change” framework for breaking negative thought patterns • Why resilience often requires irrational belief before results show up • How product failures ultimately led to a stronger business model Episode Links: Check out Rhett Power: https://rhettpower.com/

“I failed spectacularly… and I did it publicly.” - What happens when a bet you believe in completely… fails? Shawn Walchef, restaurant owner of Cali BBQ and founder of Cali BBQ Media, shares what went wrong chasing the ghost kitchen model during the pandemic, where the assumptions broke, and how he knew it was time to walk away. This is not just a bad business story. It is about what happens when belief meets reality, and why having the courage to own failure matters more than avoiding it. From five years of making no money in media to building a thriving business, this episode sets the tone for the show: no highlight reels, just the truth about what it takes to keep going. What You’ll Learn: • The biggest miscalculation behind the ghost kitchen strategy • How to know when it’s time to stop chasing a failing idea • How five years of making no money led to a breakthrough in media • The difference between what people post online and the work that actually matters • Why resilience is built in the dark, not in the spotlight Episode Links  Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/  Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/

Real conversations about failure, resilience, and starting again Nik Agharkar, founder of Crowne Point Tax, hosts The Resiliency Project, a long-form interview podcast focused on what happens after failure. Through candid conversations with founders, executives, professionals, and creators, the show explores real setbacks, reinvention, and the mindset shifts that make resilience possible. Each episode reframes struggle, offering practical insight listeners can apply to their own challenges.