Turn Failures into Opportunities: What Gibbs from NCIS Teaches Us About Mindset Rule 11
Bruce Schutter- May 6
- 5 min read
The other day, I found myself in a cozy diner—the kind where the coffee is always hot, the pie’s always fresh, and the regulars know each other by name. I was minding my own business, about to dig into my breakfast, when I heard a voice behind me ask, “Mind if I borrow the salt?”
I turned around, and to my surprise, it was none other than Gibbs from NCIS—Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the stoic, rule-bound leader of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
He looked a bit worn down—the kind of tired that comes from years of chasing criminals and carrying more than he lets on. “This is a great diner,” he said, sprinkling salt on his eggs. “But man, I’m beat. The work never stops.”
I nodded. “You know, Gibbs, that actually sounds a lot like my battle with mental health. I spent 20 years fighting Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. It left me feeling so lost and powerless that I even tried to end my life.”
He gave me that classic Gibbs stare—the one that says I’m listening. Keep going.
“But in that darkest moment,” I continued, “I realized something life-changing: Mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
And with that knowledge I created the Mental Health Warrior Program—a new SELF-HELP approach designed to help anyone take charge of their emotions, triumph over challenges, and build the life they really want.”
Gibbs nodded slightly.
“One of the biggest lessons on that journey?” I said. “Learning how to view failure—not as something to fear, but as something that fuels growth. Because when we change how we see our missteps, we change how we move forward.”
Reframe Failures
And a big part of that program is my book, 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior. These Mindset Rules are more than advice—they’re powerful warrior tools, forged through real struggle, designed to keep you emotionally grounded no matter what life throws your way.
Each Mindset Rule offers a clear path through stress, helping you stay centered when emotions run high. Instead of being overwhelmed by turbulence, you learn to face it with focus and strength. When challenges hit, these Mindset Rules empower you to respond with clarity—not chaos—transforming obstacles into opportunities to grow stronger, more resilient, and more in control of your life.
That caught his attention. “Rules, huh? What kind of rules?” “Well, for example, there’s Mindset Rule 11: Your failures can be your greatest lessons if you’re not afraid of them.”
It’s about reframing failures as opportunities for course correction in your journey.” Gibbs nodded, intrigued, so I told him more about it. “When you remove the fear of failure, you can actually learn from your mistakes instead of letting them hold you back.”
He completely agreed and shared some of his own tips—three of them, in fact—about how to use Mindset Rule 11.
Tip 1: Trust Your Instincts
“Sometimes, I’ve trusted my gut and gotten it wrong,” Gibbs admitted. “But those mistakes taught me to refine my instincts, to trust them more precisely. Every misstep was a lesson in how to be better next time.”
He leaned back, reflecting on one case that still haunted him. “There was a time when I followed my gut about a suspect. I was convinced he was guilty—everything in my bones told me so. But I was wrong. We wasted critical time, and the real criminal almost got away.
It was a tough pill to swallow, but it taught me something important. My instincts weren’t the problem—my execution was. Now, when my gut tells me something, I back it up with facts. It’s a balance.”
Our Turn:
When a decision doesn’t pan out, don’t beat yourself up. Take a step back and ask: What was my instinct telling me? How did I act on it? What can I learn for next time?
Like Gibbs, we get better not by ignoring our instincts—but by sharpening them through experience. Each misstep is a training ground, not a defeat.
So trust your gut—but train it like a warrior!
Tip 2: Use Your Team
Gibbs continued, “I’ve learned the hard way that going it alone doesn’t always work. My team’s got my back, and I’ve learned to rely on them, even when I’d rather do everything myself.”
He told me about a mission that nearly ended in disaster. “There was a time I didn’t trust my team enough. I went off on my own, trying to track down a lead, and ended up walking into an ambush. If McGee and Ziva hadn’t been monitoring me, I wouldn’t be here today.
That day, I realized that it’s not weakness to lean on others. Sometimes, your team can see things you miss, and together, you get the job done.”
Our Turn:
In your own journey as a Mental Health Warrior, remember that you don’t have to do it all alone. Reach out to your support network—whether that’s friends, family, or even our “furry” friends (yes, our pets can be a confidant)—and lean on them when you need to.
Just like Gibbs relies on his team, you can rely on yours to help you through tough times!
Tip 3: Every Failure Has a Lesson
“Even the cases that don’t go the way I want teach me something,” Gibbs said, finishing off his coffee. “Every failure, every success, it’s all part of becoming better at what I do.”
He smiled faintly, sharing a story from one of his most difficult cases. “We had this cold case. It haunted me for years. Every time I thought we were close, something would fall apart. At one point, I considered shelving it for good. But instead, I went back and re-examined every misstep, every dead end, and that’s when it clicked.
What I had thought was a dead-end was actually a clue in disguise. That failure became the breakthrough we needed.”
Our Turn:
Think of your life like a series of cases. Not every one will wrap up neatly. Some will feel like dead ends. But even those moments—especially those moments—hold lessons.
Failures don’t mean you’re broken. They mean you’re learning. They reveal what didn’t work, so you can find what will.
So when something doesn’t go the way you hoped, don’t toss it aside. Pause. Reflect. Ask yourself: What can I learn from this? Because it’s not about never falling—it’s about rising with wisdom every time you do.
Wrap Up
As our conversation wound down, I handed Gibbs a copy of my book, 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior. He flipped through a few pages, then looked up with a rare smile.
“You know, Bruce,” he said, “next time, I might need to borrow more than the salt. These rules... they could come in handy.”
That moment reminded me of something powerful: mental strength is for everyone. Whether you're a seasoned NCIS agent or someone fighting an invisible battle with your own mind, the tools are the same. The challenges may differ, but the mission is universal: Face it. Learn from it. Rise stronger.
Gibbs didn’t hand me his badge—but he reminded me of something even better: We’re all warriors. And we all have what it takes to win.
So, the next time life knocks you sideways, remember Mindset Rule 11:Reframe your failures. See the opportunity. And keep moving forward. Because that’s what a Mental Health Warrior does!
Bruce Schutter
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