Business Development, Failure, and the Art of Trying Again with Author Steve Kamb

In this conversation, I sit down with Steve Kamb to explore what it really means to keep moving forward when things don't go according to plan. We talk about why success in business development, leadership, fitness, and creative work often has less to do with having the perfect strategy and more to do with developing the ability to adjust, learn, and make another attempt. Steve shares lessons from stand-up comedy, golf, entrepreneurship, and his own experiences building businesses and writing his latest book, How to Try Again, offering a practical framework for navigating setbacks without getting stuck in them.

A major theme throughout our conversation is the tension between outcome-focused thinking and process-focused action. We discuss Steve's PACT framework, the role of self-compassion after disappointment, why experimentation lowers the stakes of trying something new, and how high performers recover from setbacks more quickly by learning rather than dwelling. Whether you're pursuing new clients, launching a project, building relationships, or simply trying to make progress in an uncertain situation, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective on resilience, adaptation, and the long game of meaningful growth.

Topics We Cover in This Episode: 

• Why comedians, entrepreneurs, and business developers all rely on repetition more than perfection

• How the concept of "pre-accepting any outcome" can reduce anxiety and improve performance

• The difference between persistence and continuing to push in the wrong direction

• What Steve's PACT framework teaches about responding to setbacks constructively

• Why treating challenges as experiments can make change feel more approachable

• How curiosity can be more useful than self-criticism when evaluating past failures

• What separates people who recover quickly from disappointment from those who stay stuck

• Why genuine generosity and relationship-building often outperform transactional networking approaches

If you've ever found yourself wondering what to do after a missed opportunity, a failed initiative, or a result that didn't match your expectations, I think you'll find this conversation both practical and encouraging. Tune in, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share it with someone who could benefit from a fresh perspective on learning, adapting, and trying again.

Resources Mentioned:

Steve's Website: stevekamb.com

Order Steve's Book: https://stevekamb.com/howtotryagain/

https://www.nerdfitness.com/

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