TThe Diary of a CEO
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Mindset

Next-Chance Reset

Limit a setback to the moment, get active, and prepare for the next chance

Difficulty
Moderate
Time to result
~weeks to results
Steps
5
Confidence
88%

Across the interview, Toney repeatedly distinguishes a difficult period from the next opportunity. He describes trying to stay positive after missing the World Cup, getting active on mornings when training felt hard, and telling a teammate that a missed chance does not make him a robot or determine the next attempt. The mechanism is a short reset: acknowledge the event, extract any useful correction, resume a constructive action, and prepare specifically for the next chance. This is a performance routine, not a clinical treatment or a demand to hide emotion. Toney also says he tends not to share feelings and acknowledges that distress can eat away at him, so the framework includes seeking support when low mood, isolation, or impaired functioning persists.

Origin

Extracted from The Diary of a CEO

Core principles

  • 01A bad moment does not require surrendering the next one
  • 02Action can restore preparation even when motivation is low
  • 03The next opportunity deserves more attention than the last miss
  • 04Confidence should coexist with acceptance that imperfect outcomes occur

How to run it

  1. 1

    Contain the event

    Describe what happened without converting one outcome into a permanent judgement about your ability or future.

    Pro tip Use the narrowest accurate description of the setback.

    Watch out Containment is not denial; acknowledge the emotional impact.

  2. 2

    Extract the correction

    Identify one controllable lesson that can improve preparation or execution next time.

    Pro tip If no useful correction exists, avoid inventing personal blame.

  3. 3

    Restart useful movement

    Take one constructive action even if motivation has not fully returned, such as training, rehearsing, or asking for support.

    Pro tip Shrink the first action enough to begin today.

    Watch out Do not train through an injury or unsafe condition.

  4. 4

    Prepare the next chance

    Visualize the likely next opportunity and practise the specific response it will require.

    Pro tip Focus on the next controllable action, not a guaranteed outcome.

  5. 5

    Escalate persistent distress

    If low mood, isolation, anxiety, or impaired functioning continues, speak to a trusted person or qualified professional rather than relying only on the reset.

    Watch out A performance routine is not a substitute for mental-health care.

In the wild

Resetting after a missed chance

Toney says he tells teammate Bryan Mbeumo not to dwell after missing a chance because strikers are not robots. The focus moves to believing the next chance can be scored and preparing to take it.

Toney says Mbeumo improved at managing misses and continued scoring.

Training through a hard morning

During his suspension, Toney describes mornings when he did not want to get up or work. He says becoming active and training helped him see the longer-term value of doing the work rather than postponing it again.

He continued preparing physically for his return while separated from club training.

Common mistakes

Turning resilience into suppression

Moving toward the next attempt should not require denying distress or refusing support.

Demanding certainty

Preparation can improve the next attempt without guaranteeing a successful outcome.

Is it for you?

Best for

People in repeated-performance environments where another attempt will follow a setback.

Not ideal for

Suppressing grief, ignoring injury, or treating persistent mental-health distress without qualified support.

From the transcript

Another day is another day to put things right and try and be as positive as I can.

Ivan Toney · (39:30)

You're not a robot. You can miss chances. When the next chance comes, you'll score.

Ivan Toney · (1:43:00)

From the episode

Ivan Toney: I’m Finally Ready To Speak! The Truth About His Football Ban And His Future Team!