Adversity has a remarkable way of bringing out the best in you, which is exactly what happens when you start burning the ships. This act becomes a symbol of your unwavering commitment to your goals.
When those ships go up in flames, all means of escape vanish, leaving no safety net or fallback plan behind.
Through this situation, success becomes a matter of life or death, and the only way forward is through sheer determination, resilience, and perseverance.
The question is: are you ready to go through this?
Read on to find out more about burning the ships and manufacturing adversity.
Not all Stress is Bad
Hearing the word “stress” comes with a ton of negative connotations. However, what most people don’t know is that not all stress is bad.
You see, stress also has its upsides and downsides. Sure, we’re all familiar with the downsides – sweaty palms, terrible headaches, a racing heartbeat, the overwhelming pressure. But let me clue you in on a little secret: stress can actually be a motivating force.
Think about this. How would you prepare somebody–let’s say a heart surgeon–to do what many consider to be one of the toughest jobs in the world?
Well, chances are pretty good that you would include some things that would make them uncomfortable. In other words, you would put them under stress so they’d be ready for when challenges arise.
Contrary to what most people think, stress can actually push us to step out of our comfort zones, tackle challenges head-on, and unlock our full potential.
The Power of Burning the Ships
So how do you practically manufacture adversity to push yourself out of your comfort zone?
Here’s a golden quote from the book The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
“Throw your soldiers into positions where there is no escape. If they will face dire consequences, there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men alike will put forth their uttermost strength. Soldiers in desperate straits (or on desperate grounds) lose the sense of fear. If there is no place of refuge, they will stand firm.”
Sun Tzu’s concept is the same as the popular phrase we’d usually hear from motivational gurus today – the burning the ships mentality.
Burning the ships could mean placing yourself in a situation where you have no safety net and are committed to achieving your objective. In other words, you only have plan A, and there is no plan B at all.
It could also mean intentionally creating a situation where there are consequences if you don’t perform—in other words, manufacturing adversity.
If that’s the case, then how do you manufacture adversity for yourself and your team?
Listen to the full episode above or watch it HERE to know more about the practical ways you can manufacture adversity and how you can become the best version of yourself.
Additional Resources:
– Listen to Episode 274 with Torrey Hawkins HERE
– FREE training on how to get paid for estimates HERE
– FREE webinar on how to make your business run without you HERE
– Hear success stories from our clients HERE
– Book a FREE call with our team HERE
– Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE
Books Mentioned:
– Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
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The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time.
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