The book discusses a stoic philosophy – Obstacles existing to make us better.
I loved this book and have pencil marks all over it.
Problems are like video games levels. Each needing practice, creativity, persistence, or teamwork to accomplish. In that sense, every problem is an opportunity to become better …
Here are some stories I loved …
Rockefeller
Obstacle is the way
John D Rockefeller used the great depression as a learning tool. He cleared the level to become one of the richest men in the world.
Was he born this way – NO. This was learned behavior.
While many others experienced the same problems as Rockefeller did. But few reacted as he did.
Not many trained themselves to see the opportunity inside the obstacle. People saw the bad economy and not the learning opportunity.
The obstacle ( economic depression ) gave way to Rockefeller.
As a software engineer …
As you see, solving each problem helps us move to the “next level” in our lives.
Ulysses S. Grant
Steady nerves
General Grant once sat for a photoshoot. The studio was dark, so the photographer sent an assistant up to the roof to uncover the skylight.
The assistant shattered the window, sending shards of glass from the roof, like knives.
The horrified photographer saw – Grant looked up to see the hole. Then he looked back at the camera as if nothing had happened.
Gen. Grant had cleared the level of steadying his nerves. No wonder he won the war for the Union.
Does getting upset provide you with more options ?
Blitzkrieg
Flip to see the opportunity.
The term Blitzkrieg means lightning war. During WW II, Germans used the tactic as an offensive that caught the enemy unprepared.
After allied General – Dwight Eisenhower ordered looking at Blitzkrieg as an opportunity. The allied forces trapped Germans into what was called a “meat grinder”.
Did not save the document ? You will have to do it again 😞😔😣
Rival at work ?
End of your rope ?
Espy
25 More to go
James Pollard Espy was a great nineteenth-century pioneer of meteorology. He did not read or write until age eighteen.
On a chance encounter with orator Henry Clay. His friend shouted for him “He wants to be like you, even though he can’t read”
Clay grabbed one of his posters, with the word CLAY on it. He said … “You see that, boy ?”
Pointing to a letter … “That’s an A. Now, you’ve only got twenty-five more letters to go”
(mental level of difficulty cleared) Within 1 year, Espy started college.
We dive endlessly into …
Then we wonder why we don’t have the energy to actually deal with our problems. 😁😄😃😂
If we had just got to work, we’d probably be done already !
What works is right
Buy em out
In 1915, two American fruit companies fought for a piece of disputed land. This was at the border of Honduras and Guatemala.
The bigger, United Fruit, dispatched an army of lawyers to both countries. The lawyers worked to find every piece of legal paper and fight at the biggest levels in the courts.
The smaller simply bought the land from all owners !
Cleared the level with a creative solution.
I know few successful individuals that got ‘creative’ with parts of their resume.
Right or Wrong ?
Question is – Did it work ?
Roosevelt
Inner fort
The macho US president – Theodore Roosevelt spent early years struggling with asthma.
Until his father came to his room and said “Theodore, you have the mind but you haven’t got the body. I am giving you the tools to make your body. It’s going to be hard drudgery and I think you have the determination to go through with it”
Exercising hours each day for years on … Roosevelt worked the weakness out of his body.
With hard work, he cleared the level and went on to become the president.
Each one of us knows our inner fort. We also know the time the fort was breached.
Build and strengthen it. Sooner or later, life will invade.
Ben Franklin said “The things that hurt, instruct”
in other words … Clear the level !