[LL]: The First Phoenix Lever, From Setback to Springboard

Hey Leader! 🙌

Adversity is life’s guarantee.

It doesn’t ask permission.

It shows up, unannounced, uninvited, and usually when you least expect it.

And when it does?

You have two options:

Get crushed by the weight,

Or use it to rise.

This is where the Phoenix Levers come in, a five-step framework I engineered to transform life’s toughest moments into the fuel for your next level. 

It’s the backbone of my upcoming book in Q1 2026, and today, I’m giving you the first lever.

Lever #1: Embrace the Flames

Before you can rise, you must stop resisting the fire. You have to face the truth that adversity isn’t the detour; it’s the path.

For me, that realization started in the backseat of a cold Michigan car, listening to my mom explain why we couldn’t ask for candy at the grocery store when I wasn’t even 10.

 I didn’t know the word for it back then, but that was my first Phoenix moment.

No one was coming to save us.

So I stepped up, became a 12-year-old soccer referee, started bringing home money, and took ownership.

That same instinct has guided me ever since. And it’s something I’ve seen in every elite leader I coach:

They don’t flinch when life gets hard.

They embrace the flames, they rise from them.

So here’s your leadership call to action:

Think about your current challenge. Then stop asking, “Why is this happening to me?”

Start asking, “How can I use this?”

Because the fire isn’t here to destroy you,

It’s here to forge you.

And if you let it, you’ll come out the other side stronger, wiser, and more equipped to lead.

Next week, I’ll reveal Phoenix Lever #2.

Until then, lead through the fire.

Bryce Henson
CEO, Fit Body

The 5 Immutable Rules of Leadership

1. Take Extreme Ownership: Everything is your responsibility—even when it’s not your fault.
2. Put Your Oxygen Mask On First: Lead yourself before leading others.
3. Wield Influence Through Moral Authority: People follow who you are, not what you say.
4. It’s Not About You—Never Was, Never Will Be: Elevate others, build legacy.
5. Turn Adversity Into Advantage: Pain is your power—use it.