Take the Hard Way
Mark Haner
Director, North American Sales @ LinkedIn | Driving growth, culture, and value
If each of us was asked about how we’d like to go ahead down a path; “Would you like the easy way or the hard way?” I know, even without personally knowing everyone reading this, an extreme majority of us would reply with “The easy way obviously!”?
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Human nature has evolved over thousands of years to pursue that path of least risk, least resistance, and the safest and most reliable outcomes. Which is all super useful and practical if we’re out in the wilderness trying to survive and thrive. But we’re not living out in the wilderness trying to survive, we are building our social and professional lives in pursuit of our own definitions of success, meaningful impact in our careers, and developing our own selves to prosper in life. This means we need to sometimes question our natural instincts!??
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Not all that long ago, I was listening to a speaker talk about their fear of public speaking. The topic was Imposter Syndrome, and they were referencing how public speaking is a very vulnerable thing to take part in. Especially as an individual who suffers from bouts of imposter syndrome (we all fight this by the way), when they stand on a stage and speak about at topic, they are officially opening themselves to critique, challenge, and being questioned. But they step on that stage anyway. Each time! Unlike the way humans have evolved, that speaker does not play it safe and avoid risk, they pursue resistance in the name of growth, and they go ahead onto the stage even when they don’t know the outcomes. They take the hard way over the easy one.??
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Choosing the take “the hard way” doesn’t mean we are thoughtless or uncalculated. It also doesn’t mean we are winging it or unprepared. Taking “the hard way” means we avoid the desire to take short-cuts or stay in our comfort zone. Taking “the hard way” means when given a choice about doing something half-way or fully, we do the whole thing. Taking “the hard way” means we do what we know we should do, not just what we have to.??
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A video clip has been circulating social media lately that shows football icon Tom Brady sitting in a barber chair getting his hair cut. While the barber is cutting his hair, Tom explains that “to be great, it doesn’t matter if you’re tired. It doesn’t matter if your body hurts. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel like it. To be great, you need to do what must to be done anyway.” Tom is talking about taking the hard way.?
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This week we will each be given the choice a dozen or more times. “Would you like the easy way or the hard way?” Let’s all take the hard way!?
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“Easy decisions lead to a hard life. Hard decisions lead to an easy life."?
CEO at Breck Inc.
4 个月You guys unilaterally changed our contract and didn't communicate it, then want us to pay for a service that has none of the functionality we use anymore. Your response has been "too bad." Is that the easy way or the hard way?
Social Media Manager | Mental Health Ally | Decade-long LinkedIn Alum
10 个月Great read, Mark! Choosing the hard path fosters growth by pushing us beyond our comfort zones, leading to long-term success and personal development. This approach, while challenging, cultivates resilience and opens opportunities for a more rewarding life.
Global Speaker | Success and Career Coach | Bestselling Author Founder of Young Achievers Mastermind - Empowering Aspiring Youth to Break Barriers and Build Bright Futures
10 个月The road to success is all uphill, baby! As they say, "the elevator to success is broken, you gotta take the stairs!"
Managing Director, Data Enablement
10 个月Nailed it! If you need a good read, check out Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. Great book that’s super relevant to your post.
We Help You Accelerate Your Growth, Profits and Productivity I 675K + Members.
10 个月The Greeks have a word in their vocabulary called an AGON. It signifies the exertion of struggle and great effort while pursuing a goal or worthy challenge. Competition and challenge were part of everyday Greek life…they were important tools in the shaping and forging of character. Each agon was designed to test one’s bodily or mental toughness and prowess in athletics, art, music, debate…all areas of life. The Greeks learned early on that life is one long string of agons …daily challenges that they were required to rise to and therefore incorporated them into their lives. What great adventure or challenge are you passionately pursuing? Do you really think it will be achieved without your commitment being tested…without being pushed to your limits…and without being permanently evicted from your comfort zone? Nothing of pride or of any lasting value has ever been, nor will it ever be created without an agon. One last point...A challenge is a form of finishing school. Once you’re able to rise up to take the hard way and meet the demands of daily challenges… you’ll be finished with self-limiting beliefs, finished with settling for less, finished with excuses, and finished playing a small game. https://100daychallenge.com/