The Art of Overcoming Adversity

Most of us have heard that it’s not about what happens to you or around you; it’s how you react. That discipline may be the single most important quality a person can possess when it comes to success. Talent is overrated, and luck is out of our control. Grit, on the other hand, is a superpower. 

Despite what some might think, nobody is born tough; a strong mindstance is learned. A 2-minute video by the former Navy Seal turned author, Jocko Willink, gives me chills every time I see it. In the video, Willink says, “When things go bad, don’t get all bummed out, don’t get sad, don’t get frustrated; just say ‘good.'” Think about that for a minute. It’s a simple concept, but deeply profound, especially when you understand the off-the-charts discipline it takes to have that mindstance. By the way, I am consciencely using the term mindstance rather than mindset. My cousin Matthew Fernandez, a licensed mental health professional, enlightened me on the term, which is similar to mindset but with greater emphasis on adaptability. In addition to having a strong mindstance, the following is my outline for dealing with adversity. 

Uncertainty is Exciting

We are all creatures of habit, and most don’t like change. However, change creates opportunity. The best investors wait for downcycles to find the best investment opportunities. Entrepreneurs are similar. People become complacent when times are good. It’s human nature. Affluence is dangerous because it breeds complacency.

Conversely, desperation is a powerful drug. It heightens our awareness and makes us sharper. Andy Grove, the founder of Intel, wrote a book that became a staple in Silicon Valley titled “Only the Paranoid Survive.” The best time for disruption is when people feel a sense of urgency. The fight or flight instinct prepares our bodies and our minds for action. It also separates the winners from the losers. If you are feeling a little uncertain about the market and the direction of the industry – Good! Use the juices only fear can produce to catapult yourself to an even higher place. 

Know Your Strengths 

You are your most valuable asset. It’s not your business, the money you have in the bank, or the real estate you own; it’s you. What makes you great when you peel off everything else as yourself? Is it your leadership skills, salesmanship, or expertise in a particular subject? Understanding your strengths (and weaknesses) becomes your foundation to do as Willink says and reload, recalibrate, and reengage. You can lose everything, but you can’t lose your most valuable asset, which is you and what you have in your head. Use it! 

Emotional Intelligence and Cautious Optimism 

When times are tough, people gravitate to those who remain calm and can think clearly. Emotional intelligence is more valuable in business than cognitive intelligence. The people who can take a step back and analyze with minimal emotion will not only make good decisions, but people will flock to them. 

Being positive is critical. However, positivity is not delusional. People who respond to adversity by spouting platitudes aren’t taken seriously and shouldn’t be. The best leaders are cautiously optimistic, which means they have the ability to remain optimistic while recognizing legitimate threats. They can play out various scenarios in their mind and can choose the appropriate path forward. Emotionally intelligent people know when to power through something and when it’s time to pivot.     

The Chinese Farmer

Last year, I blogged about the Chinese farmer parable. The story goes that a farmer lived alone with his son, and they had one horse. One day, the horse ran away, and later that evening, all the farmer’s neighbors came by the farmer’s house and said, “That’s too bad,” and the farmer said, “Maybe.” The next day, the horse returned with seven other horses. The neighbors came by and said, “What good fortune for you!” and the farmer said, “Maybe.” The following day, the farmer’s son was trying to tame one of the horses and fell off and broke his leg. The neighbors came by and said, “How unfortunate for your son!” and the farmer said, “Maybe.” The next day A military leader came by the farmer’s house to draft any able-bodied young men to fight in the war. But he spared the farmer’s son from joining the military when he saw that he had a broken leg. Later that day, the neighbors came by and said to the farmer, “How fortunate your son is to avoid fighting in the war,” to which the farmer replied, “Maybe.” 

Of course, the lesson of the story is that it is impossible to determine in the short run whether something is either good or bad. 

Adversity and outright failure create the opportunity for the greatest defining moments in our lives. Get up, dust yourself off, and get excited! 

You can watch Jocko WIllink’s short video here.