Photo via Fast Company
What separates top-performing entrepreneurs and executives from their peers isn't always strategy or market timing—it's the internal dialogue they maintain under pressure. Podcast host and founder Alexa von Tobel has spent seven seasons interviewing over 300 ambitious business leaders, and nearly all of them rely on a repeated phrase or mantra as an anchor during difficult moments. Whether it's a single word, a short sentence, or a three-part rhythm, these mental anchors become automatic tools that shape decision-making and resilience when circumstances test their resolve.
The science behind this practice is robust. Psychologist Ethan Kross and other researchers have documented that intentional self-talk—particularly when using second or third person language like 'you can do this' rather than 'I can do this'—produces measurable improvements in emotional regulation and stress persistence. According to Martin Seligman, founder of positive psychology, leaders who treat setbacks as temporary rather than permanent demonstrate greater long-term resilience. This isn't motivational rhetoric; it's behavioral science that applies directly to how Charlotte business leaders navigate market pressures, employee challenges, and growth obstacles.
Von Tobel's own mantra, 'get up, dress up, show up,' reflects this principle in action. Other successful founders echo similar themes: May Habib's single word 'forward,' Mikey Shulman's inclusive 'go team,' and Dr. Becky Kennedy's actionable reminder that 'if something feels too hard, it just means the first step isn't small enough.' Each mantra serves as a neural shortcut—a mental circuit that fires automatically when stress peaks, converting a conscious phrase into something closer to instinct.
For Charlotte entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, the takeaway is straightforward: developing a personal mantra isn't a soft skill or motivational gimmick, but a trainable cognitive habit that directly influences performance. The most effective leaders don't wait for ideal conditions to feel confident or resilient; they manufacture those mental states deliberately through daily repetition. The question worth asking yourself this week isn't about your next strategic initiative—it's simpler and more foundational: What phrase anchors you when no one else is listening?
