The Struggle Is Part of Your Journey

I’ve always loved the John Adams quote, “People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity.”

Collectively and individually, we learn little about ourselves when things are going well. In fact, we tend to take our success for granted. The more comfort and security we achieve, the more this outcome becomes an expectation. Unfortunately, this also means our tolerance for discomfort or challenge goes in the opposite direction. We can get soft, lazy, and complacent. Comfort is the enemy of progress.

Our country is currently facing a challenging time. Yet, I do believe the end is in sight. We can choose to continue focusing on how difficult the situation is and why we wish things were different, or we can embrace our reality and take the necessary steps to accelerate our progress out of this challenge. The choice is always ours. Leadership is easy when times are good; It is essential when they are not. We should constantly ask ourselves, “Are we contributing to the solution or exacerbating the issue?”

Yes, this year has been a prolonged period of frustration and challenge. And, yes, there will be more challenging times ahead. Instead of resisting this reality, let’s come to terms with it. Weak nations, organizations, and families are torn apart by adversity. The opposite can also be true. Sometimes, it is our shared need to overcome a challenge that bonds us together. The struggle can and will define us. Adversity is a part of every life, let alone those who aspire to leadership responsibilities.

I’m still regularly surprised when I speak to leaders who complain about how difficult their job is. I want to say, “Didn’t you know what you were signing up for?” Did you think it would all be just good times and positive results? Leading people is messy. Human beings are complicated. They have their own challenges and struggles. It’s part of being human. And, when you group a bunch of people together, it can be a bit chaotic and challenging to manage. When you combine a competitive marketplace with a constantly changing external environment, the essence of the job becomes clear.

Leadership is arduous work:

You need to…

• bring clarity to confusion;
• bring order to disorder;
• bring confidence to anxiety;
• show people they are capable of much more than they think they are;
• solve complex problems (your competition cannot);
• get people to work together who are very different from one another to work together;
• manage interpersonal conflict and differences of opinion;
• navigate the changing realities of your marketplace even when they are unpredictable or non-conducive to your plans,
• hold others and yourself accountable to what you say you are going to do, even when it’s hard;
• and live your values, especially when they are tested.

John Adams understood that America would not simply come into being. Creating a new nation would require challenging work and sacrifice. It would take time, and the road would be very bumpy. We’d have to confront a powerful adversary who had many advantages over us. There would be rigorous debate and the need to compromise. Resources would be stretched thin. Logistical challenges would be too many to count. We’d need to think more broadly and consider new possibilities. Our assumptions would face challenges and frequently prove to be incorrect. We’d have to learn many new skills to overcome the obstacles before us. In certain instances, we would be treading on uncharted territory. Ultimately and sadly, it would require many individuals to risk losing their lives for a cause they believed in.

Fortunately, none of us must face the challenges our Founding Fathers and ancestors faced when they launched this country. Because of them and others before us, our struggles are different, and we face better problems. I am an eternal optimist, and I believe that most people are capable of remarkable things, provided they have the opportunity. In my professional role, I have the privilege of witnessing individuals continually stretch and grow. I’ve seen leaders overcome all types of challenges and become better bosses, colleagues, spouses, parents, and friends because of them. Yes, the struggle is part of the journey. The sooner we accept this, the more likely we are to maximize our lives and businesses.