Nothing worthwhile is easy. Shortcuts aren’t short. Fast starts frequently fizzle.
So it’s normal to think about quitting. Giving up. Letting go of your goal or dream. But don’t do it.
Overnight success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s actually fifteen years in the making. That’s the truth.
If you aim to accomplish anything meaningful, you better anticipate roadblocks. In fact, here is the key to navigating the whitewater rapids on your current journey: expect resistance and welcome it as a way to make you stronger, smarter, and more committed.
Embrace Resistance
Rolling out the welcome mat and inviting hardship into your home is difficult. Your emotions can get the best of you. I know this all to well.
Projects inevitably hit speed bumps and require rework. Stakeholders will have competing priorities. And sometimes you just don’t see tangible results even though you arrive to work early and stay late.
It’s easy to be dramatic, take things personal, and assume the worst. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Instead, you can use resistance as an opportunity to tap into your strengths. Below is a checklist of five assets to use:
- Your vision - You’ve done well to get where you are. Now is the time to reconnect to why you care about this project or cause in the first place. It’s easy to forget the big picture. Don’t let distraction and doubt derail you.
- Your talents – You are world class in one way or another. Really, you are. Tap into what you do best. Now isn’t the time to be humble. Double down on what you do well.
- Your experience – You’ve been in tough situations before. Experience, as they say, is what you get when you don’t get what you want. Get the return on that previous experience by learning from it. How is this bump in the road similar? How is it different?
- Your team – You’re not in this predicament alone. People in your network know you, like you, and want to help. Don’t isolate yourself from them. This is a common trap. It’s ok to ask for advice and support. You’ll learn about the quality and depth of your relationships in the process.
- Your work ethic - You already go above and beyond. You must continue to do so. Sheer determination has solved more than one challenge. Catch your breath for a moment. Then get back to work.
Your Breakthrough Awaits
Dave Ramsey says momentum is focussed intensity over time. He’s absolutely right. Start reframing resistance as a gift, not a curse.
When things get really tough, that usually signals a meaningful breakthrough is right around the corner. If the goal is noble and your intentions are pure, you must persevere. You owe it to yourself to endure.
Question – How do you persevere when things get tough?
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