Life’s Tough.
Be Tougher.

Built on lived experience and professional expertise, Life’s Tough – Be Tougher offers practical, real-world strategies to build resilience in the face of setbacks and explores the impact of physical resilience, emotional resilience, social resilience and psychological recovery.

Life is unpredictable and tough times are inevitable, but it’s how we respond that defines us. Life’s Tough—Be Tougher is a straight-talking guide to building resilience and thriving when hard times hit.

David Buttifant and Nick Farr draw on decades of coaching experience, as well as their own stories of personal loss and challenge, to show that resilience is not innate—it’s a skill you can learn. They outline the four pillars that underpin this—Physical, Emotional, Social and Psychological recovery—and provide proven strategies, daily habits and practical exercises you can put into action straight away.

These same principles form the foundation of our resilience training, where individuals and teams learn how to apply these skills in real-world environments under pressure.

Blending insights from ancient philosophy, behavioural science and their pioneering work with Resilience Builders, Buttifant and Farr offer a roadmap for turning setbacks into growth. More than survival, this book shows you how to thrive, build strength and embrace opportunities from whatever comes your way.

This work also underpins our psychological safety training, where these principles are applied within teams to build trust, open communication and consistent performance under pressure.

“Reminds us that resilience isn’t a rare trait given to the few — it’s a muscle we all can grow.”

Turia Pitt, author and advocate