Summary

The author discusses overcoming personal and professional challenges by focusing efforts, clearing energy channels, and maintaining belief in oneself.

Abstract

The article titled "Sometimes You Just Get Curves and Knuckleballs: How You Can Move Past the Obstacles" delves into the author's recent struggles with launching a new course, facing Facebook account hacking, and dealing with ineffective Google Ads. The author outlines three main problems encountered and presents solutions to navigate these challenges. The first solution is to narrow one's focus to ensure that energy is not spread too thinly, allowing for better results with a committed team and clear vision. The second is to clear energy channels through meditation and prayer, which helps in identifying and overcoming blockages. The third solution is to believe in one's ability to succeed, viewing obstacles as opportunities to learn, complete unfinished tasks, and gather necessary resources. The author emphasizes the importance of daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly routines and plans to stay aligned with one's mission, or Northstar.

Opinions

The author believes that a wide focus can lead to ineffective results and that scaling back can lead to better outcomes.
There is an emphasis on the importance of teamwork and stakeholder input in achieving success.
The author suggests that meditation and chakra work are effective methods for addressing energy flow issues and overcoming challenges.
Prayer is presented as a tool for perspective, with the author advocating for asking "what" rather than "why" to understand life's lessons.
The author is confident that obstacles serve to test commitment and provide learning opportunities, rather than being insurmountable barriers.
The article conveys a strong belief in the power of perseverance and the necessity of taking action, even in small steps, to move forward.
The author promotes the idea of using challenges as a means to sharpen the mind, tie up loose ends, and adopt a more collaborative approach.
The author encourages readers to support writers on Medium by subscribing and connect with them on other platforms like LinkedIn.

Sometimes You Just Get Curves and Knuckleballs

How You Can Move Past the Obstacles

There are times that life seems stacked against us. We get few opportunities for success. And on our worst days, we have to face our biggest challenges. That has been happening a lot to me recently. Instead of giving in, striking out with the bat on my shoulder, or continuing to swing and miss, I am working the count to improve my chances for a hit. Here is how.

Problem number 1

I am preparing to launch a new course and was set to promote it with a Facebook live. The email invitations were sent, and the event had been boosted. Scores of people within my community had RSVPed that they were attending. Fifteen minutes before the event, I checked everything, and all systems were go. Then, as I was reviewing my deck a final time and awaiting the start, my internet went down.

After 30 minutes of trying to reconnect, I gave up. Posted an update that I would try again on Sunday and answered all the messages I received about being unable to access the event. Sunday’s event was not much better. Just as I was going live, I had a cough attack and muted my mic. I was ⅔ of the way into the event before I realized it. The only bright spot was my 10-minute presentation about my change in mission since completing my first online course, Discovering Your Ikigai: Assist 100,000 people to find success in life as their authentic selves.

Problem number 2

My Facebook account was hacked, and someone posted nude photos on my page. That resulted in the FB administration AI blocking my account for 30 days. Ok, so no lives and no course promotion using FB. But also no administration access for the groups I manage or the Tuesday Men’s Group meet-up where I volunteer my coaching services.

Problem number 3

I started running Google Ads to market my business two weeks ago. To date, I have 0 impressions. How the heck can I grow my business if no one can find me!?

I had to take a hard look at the reasons for experiencing these disastrous problems simultaneously, and I came up with three solutions.

Focus

If our focus is too wide, it is difficult to put enough energy into the tasks that need our attention. In the case of problem 1, I began to understand that I was pushing too much and too fast. My partners and contributors were not ready because of my race to get to the finish line.

To overcome a focus issue, scale back and give yourself space to reflect. Prioritizing activities that will lead to the best results, changing project deadlines, and listening to stakeholders. You can get more done and with better results if you have a committed team, effective elements, and a clear vision. That beats the alternative of racing to the finish line with a trail of missed or ineffective deliverables behind you. It will take longer to reach your goal if you slow down to reflect and readjust. But, the results will be better.

Clear Your Energy Channels

Encountering problem after problem, made me think there is an energy flow issue. Discovering what is blocking a smooth course is essential for getting back on track. Meditation is an effective way to connect with your inner-self or spiritual side.

Through meditation, we can find the calm to analyze success blockers. Then, recognize effective strategies to dissipate them. I usually use chakra meditations. I work through all seven energy centers, listening for where the dissonance is. Those are the areas that need the most work.

Unlock Your Self-control with Meditation and Mindfulness

Quiet Mind, Focused Action

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I also pray. A common prayer we use when things go wrong is why me, Lord? That is the wrong question. Because what we experience now is preparing us for the future.

The real question to ask is what. What am I supposed to learn from this experience, Lord?

Asking what, I discovered that I need to level up my thinking about how to reach my next life level. In the book I am reading now, The Gold Medal Mind by Doug Jowdy, Ph.D., my chapter for the day was, fortuitously, Making Your Northstar a Reality. This is the lesson I needed to incorporate: How to prepare for success through the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly routines and plans that take me towards my mission.

Believe

If a mind can perceive it, then the body can achieve it. That is something that drives me. However, when we feel overwhelmed, it can be difficult to move forward.

In reality, during those times, any step is one in the right direction. You’ve made a plan. Now take action. Then check that you are moving in the right direction. Finally, you can take action again in the same or a different direction based on the analysis.

I 100% believe that obstacles are put in front of us for two reasons. First, to evaluate our level of commitment. And secondly, for us to slow down and gather the necessary learning, complete the unfinished tasks, and acquire the resources required for the next leg of our journeys.

My obstacles are telling me I have some unfinished business, preventing me from moving forward: I need to sharpen my mind, tie up loose ends, and take a more collaborative approach as I follow my Northstar.

Clearing the road is not something that we can do in an instant. But, at least I have discovered the tools I need to do that: focus on the essentials, align my energy, and believe I can succeed.

Victory Comes One Battle at a Time

You will see what you focus on

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