On Challenges, Uncertainty and Becoming a Supreme Badass

Hard work.

Taking the road less traveled.

True Grit.

The grind.

All of these are synonyms with the seemingly difficult task of accomplishing whatever it is that you set out to achieve.

It could be making it through the weekend without committing the kind of dietary debauchery that would make Shaggy & Scooby Doo drop their jaws in awe.

It could be the act of getting out of your chair and taking a walk when you’d much rather continue the fierce work of creating your own custom butt groove (trust me – my chair groove is quite spectacular).

It could be the simple task of sitting down at the end of a long day and choosing to set some plans for tomorrow instead of vegging out and leaving it all to chance.

Think of one goal that you really, really, really, really, REALLY x infinity want to achieve – got it? Good, because here’s the “secret” to making it happen, courtesy of my friend Julien Smith: Whatever you want is usually easier to get than you think, as long as you are willing to adapt and do what is necessary.

Success is kind of like wandering around a dark room that you’ve never been in before, being forced to stumble around until you find what you’re looking for. Oh sure, someone may occasionally turn the light on for a second or two, but rarely will you at any point be able to say with 100% certainty  “this is exactly what I need to do/where I need to go.”

To get what you want, you’ll have to plow through the moments of uncertainty.

Can I do this?

What makes me think I’ll succeed?

To move beyond talking about something and actually doing it, you’ll have to fight through the difficult challenges that you’ll inevitably encounter along the way. Challenges are life’s way of keeping those who don’t want it bad enough out and forcing those who do to pay the cost to be the boss.

Challenge aren’t even necessarily meant to be overcome, either – the goal is to give it your best shot. Each time you fight the good fight, no matter if you succeed or not, you scrape away at the edges of your own barriers & limitations, finding out that you’re capable of much than you thought you were.

You didn’t die; you’ve lived to fight another day. You can take the lessons learned and apply it to your next attempt.

Adapt. Keep moving forward.

Little by little, bump after bump in the road, you begin to separate what doesn’t work from what might work.

Adapt. Keep moving forward.

Keep at it long enough and eventually you’ll separate what might work from what does work, and after that it’s only a matter of time & action until your knocking loudly on success’ door.

At this point you’ve earned yourself an awesome pat on the back. Congratulations – you’ve done more than most people ever will.

Don’t let it stop here. Keep pushing; keep stretching yourself beyond what you think you’re capable of now so that one day you can look back on what once seemed impossible and laugh. And not just any laugh, but the most maniacal laugh EVER!

“Because in the end, being badass isn’t about beating others — it’s about testing yourself, and in the process, finding yourself.” – Leo Babauta