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Welcome to Stuff I Learned Yesterday. My name is Derek Olsen, I drive a 95 Camry that’s about to explode, and I believe that if you aren’t learning, you aren’t living. In today’s episode of Stuff I Learned Yesterday I share a lesson from a book I’m reading.
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What I Learned Yesterday:
I’m reading a book called The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph. Author Ryan Holiday.
It’s a great read and I highly recommend it.
As you can gather from the title, it’s a book about facing down and dealing with obstacles in life.
Let me bring us into the books concept by telling two stories, the first being historical and the second personal.
The books teachings remind me of what life must have been like for the pioneers traveling West across the what would become the United States. I can just imagine all the obstacles that were in their way. We first start with the mental obstacles of choosing to make the journey. I know how difficult it can be to make a major life decision, one that uproots you and changes everything. Just imagine making the decision to leave everything behind and travel into the unknown wild where everyday is a struggle. Just the choice to do it must have been a difficult mental obstacle to overcome.
Next we face obstacles like bringing all the supplies and food for the journey. I’m sure the horses and wagons weren’t as easy to operate as a 2009 Dodge Nitro. Simple day to day living would have been enough of a challenge to prevent some from continuing.
Now the real obstacles get in our way. You know, small stuff like mountains, rivers, deserts, heat, cold, rain, wind, and relentless, unforgiving sunshine that you can’t hid from very well.
Lets leave our pioneers on the wagon trail for a minutes and talk about a few obstacles in my way.
I’ve mentioned that Im writing another book right now. It’s coming along pretty well right now and there is an end in site. However, writing and publishing a book is like an endless series of obstacles.
There are so many days I would rather the thing just write itself. Putting your fingers on the keyboard for hours at a time might not seem like such a tough thing to do, but trust me, there are plenty of inner personal struggles and outside obstacles to overcome.
I am very guilty of putting things off, welcoming distractions, and generally fighting against the process. I want there to be an easier way. I don’t want to face the challenges that come with such a project, even the ones that are basic and easily accomplished. Like the pioneer staring at the mountains in the distance, I sometimes hang my head and with there was a way around.
But here’s the thing. Like the book says, the obstacle IS THE WAY.
The river that is blocking your path is the way.
The mountain that you have to climb over is the way.
The chapter that won’t write itself is the way.
The introduction that just doesn’t feel right and needs to be re-worked is they way.
When the journey West is finally over, the path that you took was full of obstacles and those obstacles make up the path. And they aren’t to be avoided. They are to be taken. And the less complaining and avoidance, the more quickly the obstacles get dealt with.
When the book is finally for sale in December, the path that brought it to life will have been full of obstacles. There are no short cuts to writing a book, its fingers on the keyboard or nothing at all.
Heres what I learned:
Those things that are blocking your path that feel like obstacles aren’t really obstacles at all, those things are the way. They are the path. They aren’t to be avoided. The obstacles that are standing between where you are now and where you want to be are the very things that will get you there.
I’m Derek Olsen and this has been stuff I learned yesterday. Well, if you haven’t heard, I’m leaving Stuff I Learned Yesterday behind. October 29th will be y final SILY show. It was a tough decision, but one I had to make. I’ve really enjoyed my time with you and I hope you enjoyed having me.
I’d like to say thanks and farewell . I have a little something fun for you. If you email me your mailing address I’ll send it over. You REAL mailing address, not just email. You can email me at derek@derekandcarrie.com
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