Leveling Up Amidst Adversity

As we are in the middle of 2024, it’s clear that we face a lot of uncertainty. With an upcoming election, inflation and economic turmoil, changes in laws, and world unrest, it’s easy to feel uneasy about the future. You might find that almost everything you’re doing right now seems to be more about failing than winning. I’d like to share some insights that might make looking into the future a little easier.

I recently read a book by Bhrett McCabe titled, Break Free From Suckville. Bhrett’s book had a few things that I think have helped me with some perspective. It does not matter if you are a leader, salesperson, athlete or just trying to keep your household afloat, some of the things Bhrett shared are likely applicable. A quote from the end of the book that I loved was: “Life is a classroom. Your experiences have prepared you for something you will encounter later. It is hard to understand what the future holds, but you must believe you are ready for any challenge you will face.”

I’ve often heard the phrase, “Anything worth doing isn’t going to be easy.” You are likely to fail, be frustrated, or challenged. The tough times in your life have shaped you into someone capable of remarkable things and helping others. McCabe said, “Learning cannot grow into wisdom unless there is a painful fight associated with it.” Much of what happens in life is beyond our control. However, there are a few things we can do to elevate whatever we’re pursuing.

How you think about things matters – The things that have happened to you are only experiences. How you label them in your mind—positive or negative—affects how you move forward. Either way, what happened has happened, but you can still find your way to success. Might as well look for the positive in what happened.

How you go about preparing for the next thing matters – Use what you’ve learned to plan for what’s ahead. Look to fix or solve the issues that have caused you distress. Anticipate difficulties and equip yourself and your team with the knowledge gained from past experiences.

How you execute through difficulty matters – If you look at difficulty as an opportunity to find a new path or process rather than a disappointment or failure, you will start to see how you can take advantage of the situation. Focus on what you can do instead of dwelling on negative noise. You’ve practiced, planned, and are ready—believe in your capabilities.

McCabe suggested that finding success is like advancing in a video game. When you start playing, it’s pretty easy, but as you move up levels, it gets harder. The amount of work you put into reaching the next level is one of the only things you can control. If you learn, practice and look to execute, you can possibly advance. What lies ahead are opportunities, but like in a video game, there will be obstacles. You need a plan; there are no shortcuts, and your mindset determines how you approach what’s ahead. You can control your attitude and work ethic.

Like McCabe, I would challenge you to look at the moment you are in. Is it different than other difficult moments in the past that you have overcome? Just like before, you made it through, learned, and can progress into the future knowing that your experiences you have been through set you up one step closer to moving on to the next level.

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