Ryan Holiday’s book ‘The Obstacle is the Way‘ has the subtitle ‘The Ancient Art of Turning Adversity to Advantage’. The last year has given us plenty of opportunity to face into ‘adversity’ for many small business owners. By sharing stories and ideas from the past Ryan suggests three steps that are needed to help us through the ‘Obstacles’ we face.
The first is ‘perception’ – by looking at the obstacles with objectivity, we can open our eyes to any potential opportunity within the obstacles we face.
The next step is ‘action’ – only by taking action do we have a chance for change. And if we tie action with perception we allow for the ‘right action’ through thoughtful and considered responses, rather than re-action.
The third step is ‘will’ – this is the internal power that keeps us going when there seems to be no hope. It is the quiet resilience and flexibility like water that keeps us going through the hardest of obstacles.
By mastering the calmness of will, we can direct our actions, understanding the opportunities in the obstacles that we face.
So seeing things objectively, taking the action we can, and enduring what we must. This is how we understand “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” from Marcus Aurelius and then ‘The Obstacle’ becomes ‘The Way’
