As the founder of Australia’s fastest growing automotive platform Motor Culture Australia, Tom McPherson is rapidly gaining a reputation as an entrepreneurial superstar. From his humble beginnings in the hospitality industry, he has progressed to a seven figure portfolio with several new business ventures in the works. Always happy to share his experiences with budding young entrepreneurs in school settings, McPherson often focuses on the importance of resilience.
Resilience is usually defined as the ability to recover from setbacks, adapt well to change and keep going in the face of adversity. It’s an important skill that helps us recover from setbacks by allowing us to bounce back; and these days, it’s more important than ever. The pandemic, relationship problems, health problems and financial worries all contribute to significant causes of stress for many of us.
According to McPherson, being resilient doesn’t mean that you won’t experience difficulties or distress, but it does mean that you can learn to control your own thoughts and behaviors to not only minimize your anxiety, but also to empower you to grow as an individual.
Aside from the everyday stresses of life, McPherson found that he needed to develop resiliency particularly because of the negativity he encounters on a regular basis.
“When I first started out I had friends telling me to stop taking risks, to stop wasting time and money. People would tell me I should just get a job and play it safe. Then once I became successful, the hateful comments started showing up online. People hiding in anonymity ridiculing me; making nasty comments and threats – I’ve even had scandals and rumors made up about me. It’s hard to take, but funnily enough, those people who want me to fail take my desire to succeed up several notches. They inspire me to do even better!”
McPherson says he also finds inspiration from the people around him, from close friends and family who encourage and support his ambitions, and from other entrepreneurs who have built incredible brands and businesses worth emulating.
“I always do my best to keep things in perspective and to stay focused on my goals. I stay on course because, in spite of all the setbacks that cross my path, I know I would never be satisfied working a nine-to-five job or going back to the hospitality industry. I’m lucky to get a lot of support from my family, but in today’s world, when people online are ridiculing you, resilience and focus are the only things that will keep you on track.”
McPherson also recommends working on achieving a healthy work-life balance and engaging in self care, while remembering that change is an inevitable part of life.
“If you want to stay at the top of your game in life and at work, you have to learn to develop your resiliency,” he concludes. “Just be sure to chase happiness first and money later, because you’ll only have success when you have both of these things.”
