Foster: Changing perspectives can bolster resilience

During his closing keynote address at AONL 2025, entrepreneur Chad Foster described powerful ways to upend and reframe counterproductive thinking patterns. After losing his eyesight in college, Foster was determined not to fall into a “victim mindset.” Acknowledging that he could choose his response to his fate, Foster eventually focused on the positive. Imagining what success looked like during bleak moments, or “cognitive reframing” helped him set goals and stay focused. Resilience, he noted, revolves around a person’s perspective. “You don’t get do-overs in life,” Foster told attendees. “Victims stay trapped. Visionaries bounce back.” He encouraged nurse leaders to reimagine their challenges not as barriers, but as opportunities to innovate and lead.