How Hard Will We Fight To Rise Above Adversity?

“Human beings change through study, habit, and stories. Through my story, you will learn what the body and mind are capable of when they’re driven to maximum capacity[…]Because when you’re driven, whatever is in front of you…becomes fuel for your metamorphosis.” This is a statement from David Goggins, author of the bestseller Can’t Hurt Me. I am glad that I read this book, but I can’t tell you it is an easy read. David Goggins’ story is how he transcended his birth circumstances of poverty and abuse, and became one of America’s fittest athletes through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work. It is an understatement to say this guy had some brain-grinding challenges. His story is a shining example of how hard we will fight to overcome adversity.ter something has already gone wrong. Great IT providers take a different approach. They constantly test your systems, search for weak points, and address them before they cause problems. They stay current with the latest technology and are always finding new ways to protect what you’ve worked so hard to build.

One Of Goggins’ Key Points About Adversity

“Very few people know how the bottom feels…It’s like quicksand. It grabs you, sucks you under, and won’t let go. When life is like that it’s easy to drift and continue to make the same comfortable choices that are killing you, over and over again.” I found this very appropriate for some days of this last pandemic year. For many small business owners there were toss-up days. Do I tread water and wait it out (which would be comfortable,) or do I try and possibly fail to work my way out of this global crisis? (Not so comfortable.) The mass expectation was, I believe, surely things cannot continue like this for another week? And yet after over a year, we are still not done with Covid-19 and the repercussions. I have given a great deal of thought to what it takes to move out of one’s comfort zone. I see it a lot in the volatile and fast-evolving Information Technology arena.

Goggins’ 40% Rule—An Observation About People In General

“Most of us give up when we’ve only given around 40 percent of our maximum effort. Even when we feel like we’ve reached our absolute limit, we still have 60 percent more to give![…]Once you know that to be true, it’s simply a matter of stretching your pain tolerance, letting go of your identity and all your self-limiting stories, so you can get to 60 percent, then 80 percent and beyond without giving up.” His is a harsh assessment of most of our best intentions. When you read about his physical and mental obstacles as both a soldier and an endurance athlete, however, he shows why he can support the above statement.

Per Goggins, Compare To How A “Governor” Can Limit A Car’s Engine

“Our governor is buried deep in our minds, intertwined with our very identity. It knows what and who we love and hate; it’s read our whole life story and forms the way we see ourselves and how we’d like to be seen. It’s the software that delivers personalized feedback—in the form of pain and exhaustion, but also fear and insecurity, and it uses all of that to encourage us to stop before we risk it all. But, here’s the thing, it doesn’t have absolute control.” This assertion made me take a hard look at my efforts in life and in business. Was I letting myself off the performance hook, citing circumstances beyond my own control? And this is also why I read. There are vital ideas and insightful authors out there who can inspire me to take an honest look at myself.

If You Suspect You Are Too Comfortable With Where You Are Now—Give Me A Call

Aptica has short handouts that can help you think and ask questions about the efficiency of your IT structure and whether it continues to improve your productivity. Making your IT work for you is our specialty. No headaches, no drama, just performance. If that sounds like a solution, please give me a call. Chatting is free. Jason Newburg, 260.243.5100, ext 2101, is the founder and owner of Aptica. This IT management and support company has been serving small to medium-sized businesses for 19 years in the region that includes Angola, South Bend, and Fort Wayne, IN, Battle Creek, MI, and Toledo OH.