“How Do You Rise Above Obstacles and Turn Them into Opportunities for Growth?”

Fearless Entrepreneur & Leader: Julia Leckey’s Blog

By Julia Leckey | 14th November 2024

Welcome to the 9th bi-weekly edition of Think. Plan. Do for Fearless Entrepreneurs & Leaders.

This week’s blog is inspired by Ryan Holiday and his insights from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. I had the pleasure of seeing him speak in London on Tuesday night—an unforgettable experience! Building my businesses requires me to keep “filling my cup,” and this experience did just that!

For anyone balancing big goals with life’s challenges, this one’s for you.

Here’s to fearless leadership and growth!

Julia x

Thinking Fearlessly

THINK ??

"How Do You Rise Above Obstacles and Turn Them into Opportunities for Growth?"

Ryan Holiday has distilled Stoic wisdom into practical guidance for our world today. His work remains grounded in Stoicism's four pillars—courage, wisdom, discipline, and justice—pillars that guide us toward a good life when practiced. I loved it!

Key Highlights from the Talk:

See Obstacles as Growth Opportunities:?Not every obstacle is easy, but we can choose how we respond. Instead of frustration, we can grow through challenges. We may not control situations, but we control our reactions, shaping our path.

Stoicism teaches responsibility for our actions. By engaging with challenges, we shape our circumstances—“making our own luck.”

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." — Seneca

This reminds us we can’t just “hide under the quilt,” even though it's tempting some days. Growth requires facing challenges. Constant comfort stifles us; embracing obstacles strengthens us. I believe in growth through adversity—an approach that has opened doors as I navigated motherhood, cancer, and other major challenges.

The Four Pillars of Stoicism:

1. Courage: Whether physical or moral, courage is essential. An entrepreneur going all-in on a big idea, a leader challenging assumptions, or an explorer venturing into the unknown all embody courage. Life is daunting, but courage empowers us to take risks and grow. Acting courageously means refusing to blend into the crowd and instead embracing your unique self.

• The challenge is not to be broken by the brokenness around you.
• The challenge is not to be crazy because of the craziness around you.
• The challenge is not to be angry because of the anger around you.

Example: Florence Nightingale exemplifies courage. Despite societal and family expectations, she felt a calling to help others but struggled with "imposter syndrome" for years. Eventually, she overcame her doubts, willing to defy expectations to serve. Her courage changed millions of lives.

2. Discipline keeps us focused on what truly matters. Stoicism places us at the center of a circle with rings radiating outward: Self, Family, Friends, Community, Humanity, Earth. We’re urged to draw these rings inward, connecting to a common good. Integrating this practice daily acknowledges our bond with Earth, the foundation supporting all other circles.

3. Wisdom: Wisdom is the product of experience, understanding, and time. It’s not something we are born with or can be given, but something we earn. Wisdom grows through lifelong learning and effort. As Marcus Aurelius noted, “Wisdom is a verb, not a noun—it’s a practice, a habit.”

4. Justice: Justice is our guiding north star. It takes courage to see the bigger picture and stay focused on what’s right, especially in crises or when others are lost. Let justice ground you, holding true to it through every challenge.

Example: One young man’s question at Cambridge in the late 1700s—whether it was lawful to buy, sell, and own human beings—sparked a movement that led to the abolition of the slave trade. Thomas Clarkson’s courage to challenge accepted norms inspired change and ultimately helped end the transatlantic slave trade in 1807, proving how one person’s conviction can reshape history.

A Few Things Are Certain

The future is uncertain. We’re all going to die, as Ryan reminded us at the end of his talk.

Direct but true.

After my cancer diagnoses, this truth resonated with me deeply. Realizing this changed my life for the better. I don’t hide under the quilt; I live fully and without fear driving my car. Don’t put off what matters for a “later” that may never come. This awareness reveals life’s preciousness and gifts.

It pushes us to dig deep, ask hard questions, and keep growing.

Question: Are you holding back due to imposter syndrome or fear of judgment? Don’t let others’ opinions limit your potential. We each have unique gifts; courage allows us to fully express them.

For those interested in exploring Ryan Holiday's work further, check out?The?Holiday?Collection?on?Amazon?for a compilation of his powerful books like?Ego is the Enemy,?The Obstacle is the Way, and?The Daily Stoic.

?Bringing it Back to My Two Businesses:

At Thinking Fearlessly,?my coaching business, I help entrepreneurs and leaders harness the power of Stoic principles—courage, discipline, wisdom, and justice—to push past self-doubt, embrace resilience, and create meaningful impact. By focusing on strategic growth, mindset, and values-driven action.

At?Land of Colourful Creatures,?it all started with a book. That book has since evolved into a business filled with art, creativity, and storytelling. Here,we encourage people to find joy in self-expression and connection, inspired by the beauty and complexity of the world around us. The creative journey at Land of Colourful Creatures embodies the Stoic belief in embracing each moment and crafting something meaningful from it.

Meditations—one of my favorite books, even after 2,000 years—captures Marcus Aurelius' reflections on the person he aspired to be and the essential questions we should ask ourselves. It’s a timeless work of philosophy. For more Stoic insights, explore the?Stoic?Wisdom?Collection?on?Amazon.

For a great Video of Ryan Explaining All:?Watch?on?YouTube

Make time for THINKING ??

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2/ PLAN ??

I love a Plan.

We’re deep in the creative process for?Land of Colourful Creatures, following our plan step-by-step. This week, we completed the artwork, designed the exhibition stand, and chose incredible furniture for LOCC—it’s looking fabulous!

Trust the process. Each step, even challenges, builds purpose. The real treasure is in the journey, not just the destination. Fear can paralyse you more than any real obstacle, but facing it creates room for growth.

Question for you:?How do you use obstacles and turn them into opportunities for growth?

Thank you again to Marie-Julie Trijasson and Eddy Edwards for being stars!

?I love a good plan ??

3/ DO ??

Small victories are powerful, so let’s celebrate the recent wins. Here’s what I’ve accomplished over the past two weeks—fun, family-oriented, and foundation-building:

1. Fun: Attended a talk by Jon Ronson, author of The Psychopath Test. It was brilliant! I first read his book in 2013, and it’s fascinating to see how applicable his insights still are. Worth a read! Two of my favorite authors in two weeks!
2. Foundation: Excited to be speaking on the Hargreaves Lansdown panel for Fearless Finance on November 20th.
3. Family: My parents’ house sale fell through last week, but just three days later, a new offer came in. My mom and dad’s resilience is inspiring! No obstacles get in their way. :)

What can you…

THINK??

PLAN ??.

DO ??

This week to power your boat.....

I hope this helps,

Julia x

Copyright (C) 2023 Thinking Fearlessly Ltd|*. All rights reserved.

Next Event: “Next Event:?“Hargreaves Lansdown” Event -?Fearless Leaders, 20th November 2024.

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Julia Leckey: Parents: Salvation Army officers, Social Worker, Accountant, Headteacher, Artist, entrepreneurs. Studied at Nottingham Trent. WPP as a Director.? Started own business at 31 with a baby; grew to high 7 figures. Sold it. Started new business at 43 with two boys; grew to 7 figures. Sold it. Started Thinking Fearlessly. Started Land of Colourful Creatures.Two cancers. Learned not to let FEAR drive my car.

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