In this episode of the Leadership and Learning Podcast, Randy Goruk talks with Carol DeMarco, veteran counselor, author, and creator of “Pearls of Wisdom” (POWs), about how to build a resilient mindset before and during life’s toughest moments.
Drawing on more than four decades of helping people through conflict, change, and crisis, Carol shares practical, memorable tools leaders can use to bounce back, adapt, and move forward—at work, at home, and on the jobsite.
Through real-world scenarios from the construction and building materials industry, Randy and Carol explore how resilient leaders think and act when facing shrinking markets, high turnover, safety hypocrisy, and “mediocre” performance.
Carol’s POWs give listeners simple language and strategies they can immediately put into practice.
Listeners will also discover how to:
- Understand resilience as a learned mindset, not an inborn trait
- Separate what they can control from what they can’t, especially under pressure
- Replace automatic negative thoughts with more constructive thinking
- Use small, practical steps to get out of their comfort zone and build confidence
- Lead more effectively by ensuring people feel understood and appreciated
- Handle tough realities like turnover, safety conflicts, and performance issues without reacting emotionally or taking everything personally
- Start using short, “sticky” POWs to reinforce better choices and strengthen resilience every day
Resources
Carol Demarco
Veteran counselor, author, and creator of “Pearls of Wisdom”
