Sometimes the Biggest Problem… Is Not Having a Problem at All
Why not experiencing adversity can lead to complacency
This article is meant to start a conversation.
This article is meant to pose questions.
This article is meant to express that I do not have the answers, and I would love your help.
A Ponderous Conversation
I was having a conversation with my friend Brandon LaBella the other day, and we both realized something. We were plateauing in our writing, in our speaking, in our outreach, and most importantly, in our impact we were making on others.
This was certainly not for a lack of trying, creativity, or hard work and determination. We still exhibit these qualities daily.
We chatted some more and thought about some of the most successful people we looked up to.
Lewis Howes lived on his sister’s couch with no money to his name and built The School of Greatness in a matter of years.
Casey Neistat was living in a trailer park with a young son, when at the age of 20 he decided to move to New York and begin making videos, which ultimately turned into YouTube fame.
Tony Robbins was beaten both physically and emotionally by his mother and had to protect his brothers by using behavioural psychology, beginning his expertise in the field, which turned into his empire.
These people became everything when it seemed like they had and would be nothing.
Brandon and I thought about our lives. I’ll be honest with you. We come from privilege, we went to top universities, we have been spoon-fed opportunities, internships, and life experiences. We have financial freedom for the time being, and we are using our stability to take risks and for the most part, they have been paying off.
And even now, in taking the leap to build our businesses and brands and go off on our own, ridding ourselves of financial stability and a steady paycheck, we still are not facing any real problems.
And this is what led us to think we were being complacent. When we are experiencing our small wins, our steady growth, and our lack of setbacks, we feel like the world is our oyster and we are reluctant to take the next big step in our business.
And this is not to say we do not realize and appreciate the lives we have been provided. We do! But when the main obstacles we have faced are getting a laptop stolen and then immediately getting a new one 2 days later and tearing an ACL before a marathon only to turn that into breaking the world record for running a marathon on crutches, it’s safe to say life hasn’t exactly thrown Mike Tyson like right hooks at us.
It could always be worse.
We had continued our discussion and thought that we had to create a situation for ourselves in which we had nothing to lose.
“The only thing more dangerous than a man with unlimited resources… is a man with nothing to lose.” — Chuck Rhodes, Billions
This is where my questions to you come in.
How do we create a mindset that emulates one in which we have nothing to lose?
How do we put ourselves in a situation in which we can only go up?
Is it true that in order to get to the top, we have to learn what the bottom feels like?
Is it healthy to think this way?
My simple ask of you
I would appreciate more than anything any responses, thoughts, or general comments related to these questions.
Let’s start a dialogue.
Let’s interact.
Let’s read and interpret.
Let’s connect.
That is what we are all here to do, isn’t it?
I know that there are different pathways to success, everybody is different, and there will not be a right answer to any of these questions, but your insight is incredibly appreciated.
Thank you!!!
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