What Stands In The Way, Becomes The Way
“What stands in the way becomes the way”
-Marcus Aurelius
One of the requirements of being successful in the media industry is to find opportunity in obstacles. American marketer and entrepreneur Ryan Holiday makes a case for why successful people use adversity as opportunity and how we can’t always control what happens to us, but we do choose how we react and persevere. In his book “The Obstacle Is The Way”, Holiday explores the stories of successful people throughout history and breaks down the science of resiliency into three main points:
Perception - If you choose to see things as unfair, failures, or insurmountable obstacles, that’s how things will be. The story you tell yourself about something has great impact on what that thing is.
Action - How you choose to act is how you show or fail to show stoicism. If you want to be successful, you need to actively choose to act with creativity, persistence, and ingenuity rather than with blame, shame, or fear.
Will - Your will has to do with how you deal with the things in life you can’t change. It’s about choosing joy in the moments that seem insurmountable when you have no control over the outcome.
Whether you’re nervous to pitch an idea for a new series, unsure about the creative value of your work, or can’t seem to find the funding you need to get your project off the ground, Holiday says “in everything that happens to us, there is a chance to practice excellence”.
If you’re interested in watching the author's animation about the book click below.
Unique Media of the Week: The Coors Light vs. Bud Light Feud
Perhaps in response to weariness of negative media, Coors Light recently released their #RefreshTheConversation campaign. It features the world's very first smart beer tap that they call "The Coors Light”. Essentially, every time Bud Light posts something negative about the competing brand on social media, the smart tap will light up and those present will receive a free Coors Light. The new Coors Light marketing campaign is a shining example of taking negativity and finding opportunity in it. Watch the refreshing spot below: