How You Respond

How you respond to adversity says a lot about you.

Hell, it might say EVERYTHING about you.

A lot of people shrink when they experience adversity.

They let thoughts of inadequacy creep into their mind and take over.

They allow their confidence to be stripped away.

One little setback and most people give up.

They use the setback as “proof” that the goal they were chasing REALLY was too big for them.

They use it as a reason to slow down, take their foot off the gas pedal, and become more “realistic”.

That’s bullsh*t.

We grow in the face of adversity.

In fact, if we don’t face adversity, we are never given the opportunity to prove ourselves; we are never given the opportunity to really showcase our strength to the world.

It is truly the adversity and the challenges that we face that offer the greatest opportunity.

That’s why not only should we embrace the adversity, but we should hope for it.

We should pray for it.

We should expect it.

We should smile when it shows up and see it for exactly what it is…

An opportunity for growth.

If you’ve never listened to Jocko Willink you should put that on the top of your list.

He is a military guy who is known for having a bit of an abrasive style of leadership.

He’s a tough guy.

He got into this habit anytime somebody would tell them about a huge problem, challenge, or setback.

This was in the military and in business.

He would straight at the person telling him about the problem or challenge, he would smile, and he would simply say, “good”.

His subordinates would come to him and say, “Jocko, we don’t have enough supplies to last the week and we just blew out a tire on the Hum-vee…”

Like a broken record, Jocko, with that James Bond-ish smirk would respond with exactly what everyone began to expect…. he would say, “good”.

He addressed the adversity by smiling and recognizing it as an opportunity.

That’s the approach we should all take in our lives.

You lost that big business deal?

Good.

Get back to work and find a bigger one.

You failed to finish that marathon you’ve been training for?

Good.

You have an opportunity to train better for the next one.

It’s all perspective, in life, in sports, and in business.

If you can see the opportunity in every challenge then nothing can stop you or move you off course from your purpose.

If you use every challenge and moment of adversity as an OPPORTUNITY then what could ever stop you?

This is the approach.

Work hard.

Expect to be challenged.

And be thankful when you are.