Obstacles & Optimism

I’m reading a really good book called The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. What I really like about the book is how it relates to business and what is happening in my rebuilding process.

So many of us, myself included, look at obstacles as roadblocks to success. But the premise of the book is to look at the obstacle as a way to get better, stronger, smarter and ultimately win in life and business.

We all have obstacles in business and life. It is our perception and how we react to them that makes the difference. We can certainly freak out or we can try to find solutions, to get around our obstacles, to use them to our advantage, to help us learn a new way or see things from a different point of view.

Lets face it running a business is full of obstacles every day. YOU face them every day and I’ll bet for the most part you don’t let them get in your way for too long. But what happens when you face a BIG obstacle, something out of the ordinary, something more than your Foreman not showing up (again). How do you react?

Big obstacles can be game changers; the following have all happened to me: Your competitor recruits your employees and they accept. A new company comes in and low balls your customers. Someone steals your trucks, trailers and equipment TWICE! This stuff happens and I can’t say I always reacted in a level headed way when it did.

So lets talk about right now. I am still facing many obstacles in my business as I am sure are you. I have always been an optimist, well for the most part anyway. The problem with optimism is that in and of itself optimism only works if it’s backed up with knowledge, persistence and a willing to win at any cost.

So I listen to podcasts, books on tape, talk to my friends in the business and read books like The Obstacle is the Way. I want to back up my optimism and knock it out off the park. How about you?

Thanks for reading.