Rebel Talk: Knocked Down

Chumbawamba - today's blog instantly reminded me of this one-hit wonder from the 90's. I just had to get that out there. :) Life has a way of testing us. It doesn’t care about our age, experience, or how prepared we think we are. It throws obstacles in our path, knocks us down, and asks us a simple question: Are you getting back up?

Today, I was reminded that the answer to that question is buried deep inside all of us. The fire to keep going never dies—it’s just a matter of whether we’re willing to fan the flames.

The Mountain Will Knock You Down

I took my kids skiing today. My older one has been at it for a while—confident, controlled, pushing his limits. But my youngest? He’s only been a handful of times. Today, he faced that mountain like life itself—full of excitement, but also full of wipeouts. And there were a lot of them.

Every time he got up, I saw the frustration on his face. The fight in his eyes. The pure determination in his little frame as he brushed the snow off, adjusted his helmet, and pushed forward. No complaining. No quitting. Just raw, relentless drive.

Then, at one point, he pointed up to the biggest ski run at the resort and said:

“Dad, I’m going down that today.”

I chuckled, not thinking much of it. It was a huge step up. But I nodded and said, “Okay.”

I didn’t expect to see it. But life has a funny way of reminding us what we’re made of.

Persistence Wins

After countless falls, trials, and adjustments, something changed. He started improving. The falls became fewer, the confidence grew stronger, and the grit never wavered.

And sure enough—by the end of the day, there he was. Standing at the top of that run.

No hesitation. No fear. Just sheer determination.

He made it down. And then he did it again. And again.

The same kid who spent half the day eating snow had now conquered what he set out to do.

That’s the lesson. Getting knocked down is inevitable. Staying down is a choice.

Your Mountain, Your Battle

We’ve all been there. Maybe not on a ski hill, but in life.

You set a goal. You start strong. Then the falls come—business setbacks, financial struggles, personal battles, self-doubt. I've had my share. If you're just getting to know Relentless Rebel, here's our story. The mountain seems bigger than you thought. You hit the ground hard. You question yourself.

But here’s the truth: It’s not about how many times you fall. It’s about how many times you rise.

That’s the relentless spirit. That’s what separates those who settle from those who conquer. That’s what Relentless Rebel stands for.

When life knocks you down, wear your battle scars proudly. When the odds seem stacked against you, double down on your drive. When people doubt you, prove them wrong—not with words, but with action.

Because just like my son on that ski hill today, the only thing between you and your goal is your refusal to stay down.

Whatever your mountain is—climb it. Whatever knocks you down—get back up. The victory is waiting at the top.

Stay Relentless,

Ryan