Some people (wrongly) believe delays, setbacks and disappointments should only persist for “wrong doers”. If such happens once too often for them to rationalize, they get paranoid.
Then the “Devil” (poor guy) gets accused of trying to make them fail!
In about 750 words, I explain why you’re better off embracing YOUR adversity!
“I often tell people who readily accuse the “devil” at every opportunity, that the chap has so much on his plate – from God – to deal with daily, he rarely even notices most people who claim he’s after them!” – Tayo K. Solagbade
If it’s not the devil, people “finger” someone in the “village” for “using remote control” to make their fortunes go sour. Even worse, sometimes friends/relatives tell the affected person that it’s his/her mother, house help, or neighbour, who is a witch, keeping him/her from succeeding!
In extreme cases, the person may be told s/he is possessed, and needs deliverance from “failure”.
I exaggerate NOT. That last one was actually proposed to ME!!!
…AND of course I PROMPTLY threw it out the window!
What I have highlighted above is quite common – especially in my part of the world.
Too many here wrongly believe difficulty should never take long to be overcome, in one’s life.
If it persists, as far as they are concerned, sinister forces must be at work!
Yet the evidence all around us, even historically, clearly indicates those who pass through difficulty successfully, end up achieving often superior levels of successes.
James Cook in his New York Times best selling book (The Start-up Entrepreneur) said years of studying the lives of many successful entrepreneurs, revealed a distinct trend to him.
He noticed those entrepreneurs who had adopted “modest objectives” went through “modest stress and adversity”.
On the other hand, those courageous enough to settle upon “larger ambitions”, before finding success, had to “endure painful struggles and overcome long, bitter periods of intense anxiety”.
From the evidence he amassed, Cook rightly concluded, that the “greater the suffering” an entrepreneur passed through, the greater the rewards s/he inevitably reaped”.
Indeed, in sharing his own story, Cook later on referred to the “frequent bad experiences” as “shrewd instructors”, that help entrepreneurs build character needed to achieve lasting success.
I drew understanding and deep inspiration from reading Mr. Cook’s analysis in that book, to boldly confront my demons as an entrepreneur, in my early start-up years.
It was a time when inexplicable bad experiences frequently came my way!
I honestly believe that if I had not read that book (and Napoleon Hill’s Think & Grow Rich), the seemingly pointless hardships of those years, from 2002, would have made me quit long ago.
Incidentally, I was also able to draw useful inspiration from recalling a saying common amongst my people, here in Nigeria – the Yoruba.
Long ago, while a student in the university, a colleague of mine had first used it. He said:
“Eni ti o ba fe se nkan ti eni kan o se ri, O ma fi oju ri nkan ti eni kan o ri ri”
Contextual translation: He that wishes to do what has never been done before, will have to confront obstacles/challenges never before seen!
Since I had big ambitions of achieving name recognition and credibility on an international level, this Yoruba saying made me feel my “prolonged suffering” signified that I was on the right path.
What I started out doing back then, is basically what I still do today – as a provider of Self-Development/Performance Improvement Information & Education (talks, articles, books, reports etc), Farm Business Best Practice Solutions, and Low Cost Excel-VB solutions
The information shared by James Cook, in his book helped strengthen my resolve.
And all of that made it easier for me to stay committed to my cause…
Even when others indirectly questioned my sanity…or the sense in what I was doing.
Today, with the growing success I now enjoy, which is consistent with what I envisioned over 10 years ago, no one can argue that I was wrong to have followed the path I did!
Final Words: If you embrace YOUR adversity, you WILL ultimately succeed as well!
In conclusion, I strongly advise ANY entrepreneur (start-up or not) to develop a sound understanding of the “purpose of adversity”, and keep it at the back of his/her mind.
Use the information shared above, and also explore the 2 books I mentioned (by Cook and Hill respectively).
They offer invaluable guidance on how to reap powerful benefits from adversity.
If you do it right, you will paying your dues, with regard to adversity, and ultimately “earn” your right to the enviable heights of success you aim for.
Good luck.
PS: Read my article (written in 2006) titled “Practical Guiding Philosophies For Entrepreneurial Success“.
It offers additional useful insights. (Note that the byline at the bottom of that article still links to my former 9 year old domain; spontaneousdevelopment.com – which will NOT work when clicked. Find out why HERE(CLICK). I continue working to update all links on my site and elsewhere.)