While leaving New Marketing Labs today we ran into these geese walking with their little guys and gals. At first I smiled, took a picture and watched them head into the woods behind the office. As I watched them it got me thinking of all the small hurdles those little ones must have to overcome. I mean, they’re pint size and most things in life are bigger, stronger and meaner than them. How do they overcome these hurdles? Surely, some of them must seem impossible. Maybe they get help from their brothers and sisters or maybe their parents give them the little nudget they need. Even better, maybe they’re so determined that they figure it out on their own. Point is that they find a way to overcome that hurdle.
Don’t we face that all the time? I get asked a lot about how to convince bosses about the importance of social media. Sometimes I have a project that seems impossible to accomplish in the time frame provided. Other times you’re dealing with very deep personal hurdles. There are a million hurdles that we encounter throughout our personal and professional lives. When presented with a hurdle, we have 2 choices: fight or flight. It’s natural human instinct. Which do you do? I choose to attack. I choose to find a way to get past my hurdle whether it’s a person, a time constraint, a project, or anything else that stands in my way of accomplishing my goals.
You should too. Don’t let hurdles prevent you from accomplishing what your goals are. If your hurdle is a person or group of people who aren’t supportive of you, find a group of people who are. Your boss doesn’t get social media and thinks buying email lists is still good? Find some other key stakeholders who will support you. Whatever challenges you’re faced with, don’t let them get the best of you. You will regret it. Instead put together a plan, if necessary, to crush your hurdle. Don’t just get around it. Run right through it.
What are some hurdles that you have faced and what did you do? Fight or flight? If you fought then how did you overcome the hurdle?
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How do you react to hurdles? – http://is.gd/xty4
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How Do You React to Hurdles http://bit.ly/14CBu4
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Helpful thoughts Justin. Thanks.
For almost all hurdles, I start with two steps. First, I assess which elements are familiar and have been solved before (I find reference and confidence there) … the second step is to admit which elements require innovation and new tactics.
The most successful people are the ones who don't give up when faced with a challenge. They may fail dozens of times, but keep bouncing back and eventually come out on top. Glad to see you're one of those people!
The biggest hurdle I have had to overcome in the last 6 months? Moving back from Chicago to Boston to relaunch my consultancy. I had to do this cold, with very few contacts and a limited amount of blogging fire power. I'd focused 100% of my energy into going out to Chicago…and now I was moving back to Boston.
I had to rebuild a network that had never previously existed. I was determined to make it however…and have done my best to show up and get noticed since early February. I think I'm beginning to make head way…but the economy is making the litmus test of success an elusive one. Hoping things will have completely gone nuclear by this summer
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grt msgs RT @chrisbrogan: Great post by @justinlevy on dealing with hurdles – http://is.gd/xty4 . We all saw those geese yesterday.
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Don’t let hurdles prevent you from accomplishing what your goals are. http://is.gd/xty4 from @JustinLevy
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When a block wall appears before me, I build a ladder! :~)
Excellent post, Justin! Thanks for sharing this! It really was terrific meeting you!
Wow…GREAT ARTICLE…so glad I read it today! Thanks for inspiration and encouragement!
http://bit.ly/HLzob
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I am very much a tilter of windmills, and dreamer of dreams. Hurdles are just steps on the way to leap over (or topple, depending) head first. Nice post.
Great post!
When I decided to leave my job in Chicago to move to San Francisco (pretty out of the blue), people were either super excited or unsure / concerned. I knew it was right for me and nothing could stop me, but it was definitely a challenge having to justify and explain myself. I fought by listening to my inner voice and following the path that I knew was right. Everything turned out better than I imagined.
Great post!
When I decided to leave my job in Chicago to move to San Francisco (pretty out of the blue), people were either super excited or unsure / concerned. I knew it was right for me and nothing could stop me, but it was definitely a challenge having to justify and explain myself. I fought by listening to my inner voice and following the path that I knew was right. Everything turned out better than I imagined.