The Obstacle Is The Way

One Idea

Perhaps you’ve heard the story of the two salesmen in the early 1900s assigned a remote, rural region of the world to sell shoes. After two weeks on the ground, they both send telegrams back to their superiors. The first writes, “Situation hopeless. Stop. They don’t wear shoes here!” The other writes, “Glorious opportunity. They don’t have any shoes yet!”

Source: kvknox.com

One circumstance. Two perspectives. Which is more helpful? 

So far this season, I’ve been talking with the team about the power of perception. I’ve argued that if we can change how we think about what we see, what we see changes. There is no good or bad circumstance. There is only the event and the meaning we attach to it.

This is especially true of the obstacles we face. A salesman tasked with selling shoes to people who don’t know what shoes are is an obstacle, but thinking it a good or bad obstacle is entirely up to the salesman.

In his book, The Obstacle Is The Way, author Ryan Holiday suggests that every obstacle we face holds the answer we’re looking for. Holiday writes, “The obstacle in our path must become the path. Within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.”

Obstacles are only as terrible or as wonderful as we perceive them. In most cases, our obstacles guide us forward. They provide clarity, needed direction, and help us to see what must happen next.

Two Quotes

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” - Marcus Aurelius

“Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective. Focus on the moment, not the monsters that may or may not be up ahead.” - Ryan Holiday

Three Takeaways

1. There’s always another way to look at things. Imagine something you’re up against–an obstacle or unexpected circumstance. How is this the best thing that could’ve happened? How is this obstacle showing you the way? What opportunity is presenting itself because of this challenge you face?

2. There is a difference between an event and the emotions we attach to that event. Losing a key team member to injury is an event. That being the worst thing ever is a story we attach to the event. As a leader, it’s your job to maintain ruthless objectivity when faced with challenging circumstances. It’s important for you to distinguish between the events of the season and the stories we tell ourselves about those events. 

3. Behind mountains are more mountains. Obstacles everywhere, and that's the whole point. Navigating this challenge with success won’t rid us of any further challenges. Overcoming this obstacle doesn’t lead to a land of no obstacles. What a boring life that would be! No, this journey is made interesting by the challenges we face and the challenges we will face. Your input and creativity is needed because of these many obstacles. Lean in. Embrace the challenge. Expect more and better obstacles to present themselves.