Lecture Notes: Overcoming Challenges and Persisting Through Hard Times

Feelings of Overwhelm and Persistence

• Normalcy of Feeling Overwhelmed: Common to feel burdened, especially in new business ventures or new career levels
  • Reason: Lack of previous experience and evidence of success

Creating Evidence for Future Self

• Daily Progress: Each day's struggles serve as future evidence of capability
• Action as a Believer: Emulate actions of someone who has already achieved the goal
  • Example: Weight loss journey of the lecturer

First Experience of Impossibility

• Weight Loss: Lost 35 lbs, brain couldn't recognize change due to long-term self-image
• Business Ventures: Starting a business felt like fumbling in the dark
  • Lacked skills and trust in judgement
• Reflection on Hard Times: Retrospective appreciation of character-building moments

Skills Developed Through Struggles

• Persistence
• Patience
• Tolerance to negative feelings
• Learning to prioritize and manage urgent tasks over time

The Reality of Goal Setting

• Initial Enthusiasm: Followed by the harsh reality of skill deficits
• Feeling of Deficits: Constant reminder of inadequacies
• Choice: Let challenges drive to success or failure
  • Importance of actions irrespective of feelings

Personal Struggles and Business Challenges

• Early Business Hardships: Experiences of financial instability, health issues, and lack of support
• Perpetual Stress: Constant feeling of unease without relief during initial years
• Personal Downturn: Health and wellness took a hit
  • Embarrassed feelings, hiding emotions

Important Realizations

• Success Through Persistence: Success attainable by not giving up
• Emotional Resilience: Willingness to experience negative emotions crucial for success
• Ownership of Problems: Taking responsibility for problems, regardless of the source

Communication and Sharing

• Sharing Struggles: Importance of opening up to partners and seeking support
  • Difference between venting and informative sharing
• Support System: Sharing creates opportunities for others to help

Emotional Regulation and Relationship Management

• Avoiding Emotional Dumping: Act rationally by planning responses to emotional triggers
• Language and Perception: Precision in language can influence emotional calmness
  • Misuse of words like anxiety vs. care

Conclusion

• Care and Success: Deep care necessary for success, can lead to stress if not managed
• Power of Language: How language can either escalate or soothe emotional states
• Persistence: If still moving forward, the feeling of incapability is not true