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What if the things people told you were impossible were actually the very things meant to propel you forward?
In this episode of Recounting Life Lessons, we sit down with Kofi Douhadji, U.S. Air Force officer, entrepreneur, and author of Unbroken Optimist. Kofi's story is one of resilience, mindset, and proving that no dream is too big.
Growing up in a small villiage in Togo, West Africa, Kofi saw an airplane for the first time and immediately asked his father when they could fly on one. His father's response? "That's not for us."
Instead of accepting that limitation, Kofi has made it his mission to change those kinds of beliefs—not just for himself, but for everyone who might be told the same thing. Today, he's a leader, author, and mentor, helping others turn their struggles into strengths.
In this episode we discuss:
- How to use your mindset as your greatest asset
- The Pilot Mindset—a powerful approach to navigating challenges
- How to transform setbacks into stepping stones
- The benefits of having unbroken optimism in your goals
- Why sharing your story and gifts is one of the most powerful things you can do
Listen now and discover how to turn setbacks into stepping stones with unbroken optimism!
5 Life lessons for success: how to train your brain for more growth & opportunities
Kofi's story goes beyond personal success—it reveals life lessons that anyone can apply to achieve their goals and shift their mindset. Here are five key success principles we pulled from this episode that you can start using today.
- Reprogram Your Focus for Success: Your Reticular Activating System (RAS) filters what you notice in the world based on what you believe is important. If you focus on obstacles, you'll see more of them. But if you train your mind to look for opportunities, you'll start spotting them everywhere.
- Use the "Pilot Mindset" to Stay the Course: A pilot doesn't abandon the flight because of turbulence. Instead, they adjust and keep moving forward. Treat your goals the same way—expect obstacles, but don't let them ground you.
- Turn Doubt Into Drive: People will tell you what you can't do—but you get to decide what's possible. Kofi didn't let his father's words define him; instead, he used them as fuel to prove otherwise.
- Your Story Gifts Have Value—Share Them: A tree doesn't eat and taste its own fruit. Your experiences, struggles, and insights aren't just for you—they can inspire and help others. When you share what you've learned, you create a ripple effect of impact.
- Setbacks Are Just Feedback—Keep Going: Failure isn't the opposite of success—it's part of it. Every setback gives you new insights, stronger skills, and a better strategy. Keep moving.
More ways to listen:
Main Takeaways from This episode
Kofi's story is filled with valuable insights on mindset, resilience, and success. Here are the biggest takeaways from our conversation:
- Your focus determines your reality. Train your RAS to recognize opportunities, not limitations.
- Don't abandon your goals mid-flight. Use the Pilot Mindset to adjust and keep moving forward.
- Doubt can be fuel instead of a sign to stop. Let others' disbelief push you toward providing what's possible.
- Your are the author of your story. Don't let someone else's beliefs limit your potential.
- Every challenge is a stepping stone. The hardest moments often shape the strongest leaders.
"Your dreams are the missing pieces in someone else's vision."
For an in-depth exploration of these takeaways and more, be sure to listen to the full episode below.
Tips for applying these takeaways:
Want to take action on what you've learned? Here are five simple ways to start implementing Kofi's mindset and success principles into your daily life:
- Set a Clear Vision: Write down one goal you want to achieve and revisit it every morning and night.
- Train Your Brain to Spot Opportunities: Each day, note one unexpected opportunity that aligns with your goal.
- Reframe Setbacks as Lessons: If something doesn't go as planned, identify one thing you learned from it.
- Share Your Story: Whether it's a conversation, post, or journal entry, express something meaningful from your experiences.
- Practice the Pilot Mindset: When challenges arise, adjust, don't quit.
And if you'd like to take things to the next level, our Best Year Ever Blueprint can walk you through a process to set a clear vision, optimize your mind to recognize opportunities, prime you mind to overcome obstacles, and create a simple system to keep you moving forward.
Listen now to learn how to apply the Pilot Mindset to stay focused, adapt to challenges, and achieve your biggest goals!
connect with kofi:
Want to reach out to Kofi, follow along on his journey, read his book, or work with him?
Use the links below to do so:
Grab a copy of Unbroken Optimist here.
Kofi's website: kofidouhadji.com
LinkedIn: @kofidouhadji
Instagram: @kofiruns
Your dreams are the missing pieces in someone else's vision. And when you work together and you dare to throw your ideas, your dream out there and ask for help, someone might be like, "Oh, you just want to build a bridge? I need to get to the other side of the river. Let's work together."
final thoughts: Use optimism to prime your mindset for success
Kofi's story is a powerful reminder that the way we see the world directly impacts what we achieve. When he was told, "That's not for us," he didn't accept it as truth—he used it as fuel to rewire his own story. His journey proves that mindset, focus, and resilience are the keys to breaking through limitations and turning dreams into reality.
No matter where you are in your journey, you have the ability to train your mind for success. By shifting your focus, reprogramming your Reticular Activating System (RAS), and adopting the Pilot Mindset, you can navigate obstacles, spot new opportunities, and take consistent action toward your goals. The path won't always be smooth, but as Kofi shows us, setbacks aren't stop signs—they're stepping stones. Your future is waiting. The only questions is: are you ready to take flight?
We are Sione & Alana
Co-Hosts and Owners of
Recounting Life Lessons
We're a married couple from Hawaii who are now living in Vancouver, Washington.
Two things that we are passionate about are:
1) Uncovering the success principles and life lessons that help us all grow into our best selves.
Our favorite ways to uncover success principles and life lessons are by sharing stories from our own adventures and interviewing inspiring guests from all walks of life on our podcast.
2) Making personal growth and consistently leveling up in your life simple and sustainable, no matter what your circumstances are.
We take special care to craft the programs and resources we create, in a way, that keeps things simple and easy to follow-through on.
Through our blog, podcast, courses, and programs, we aim to empower you to grow into your best self, live with purpose, and make a meaningful impact on the world around you.
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