Former NFL star Tom Brady is known as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in NFL history with 10 Super Bowl appearances, and seven Super Bowl wins under his belt. But in a recent commencement speech to Georgetown University students, the athlete-turned-entrepreneur focused less on his championship wins and more on how failure, self-doubt, and resilience have shaped his career.

Brady used the Patriots’ historic comeback from a 28-3 deficit in Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 as a larger lesson about navigating adversity in work and in life.

“When the odds are stacked against you, when you're facing your own 28-3 moment—and believe me it's coming—you'll have a choice to make to quit or to fight your ass off,” he told the graduates. “The choice seems pretty obvious and it's easier said than done.”

Here is Brady’s top advice to recent graduates on how to navigate inevitable setbacks and failures in order to reach success.

Know That Nothing Is Guaranteed

Brady explained that going into Super Bowl LI they were considered the favorites to win as a more veteran team who had already won four Super Bowls at that point.

“But the experience or reputation only takes you so far. And it's true beyond sports,” he said. “History is littered with businesses, mature ones, that took their competition for granted and then got disrupted by ambitious young entrepreneurs. Do you guys remember Blockbuster, Kodak, Nokia, Blackberry? I didn't think so.”

His point, he explained, is that credentials and early successes will only take you so far. It’s grit, hard work, and the courage to push past self-doubt that will really lead you to having sustained success.

“Trust me when I tell you, overcoming fear and doubt in the face of those challenges is where you're going to gain the confidence to make your best choices when things aren't going the way you want,” he said.

Don’t Run From Challenges That Feel “Too Hard”

Brady reflected on struggling early in his college football career, including waiting until his fourth season at the University of Michigan to start. At the time, he said, he questioned whether he belonged. But looking back, he realizes that difficult moments are often where growth happens and he encouraged graduates to remember that as they enter a competitive job market.

“Where you choose to work might also seem too hard for you,” he said. “You'll be up against a lot of people from equally great schools who are just as smart and talented as you, and they want it as much as you do. You'll be asked to do things you've never done before, to work long hours harder than you ever have with people you might not like. But what makes it too hard is exactly the thing that makes it the perfect place for you.”

He explained that it’s the hard moments that offer you the opportunity to develop the skills and abilities needed to overcome obstacles on your path to success. “And this is the key, you don't quit and you don't make excuses,” Brady said.

Instead, he said, you rise to the occasion and put your best foot forward to meet the moment, adding that “the only time you’re sure to lose is when you quit.”

Understand That Failure Is Preparation for Success

While Brady is often recognized for his career accomplishments, he made it clear that his professional journey was also filled with many challenges and difficult moments where he had to prove what he was capable of.

“I hope you've already begun to try things that are very hard with long odds,” he told the graduates. “I hope your failures have forced you to find new pathways to success. I hope they force you out of your comfort zone and show you the boundaries in your life that are there to be broken through. And my challenge to you is to always keep fighting.”

He acknowledged that not everyone’s 28-3 moment in life ends in a victory like his Super Bowl win. The point is, he said, “these are all just momentary tests where failure isn’t final, only quitting is.”

“The choice to fight is an opportunity to succeed, yes, but it's also your chance to grow,” he said. “To show everyone that while you may be beatable, you are unbreakable.”

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