In order to be successful you must cultivate a both/and mindset in life…

“Difficulties are just things to overcome after all.”

Sir Ernest Shackleton

How do you view the difficulties and challenges that rise up in your life? Are they insurmountable barriers to your goals and desires or are they simply things that must be dealt with in their own time?

Life isn’t going be all sunshine and roses. The world isn’t perfect and we are all going to have to deal with things that we are both unprepared for and ill equipped to handle, in that moment… The key to overcoming is to carry a “both/and” mindset in all things.

We must see BOTH near AND long term; seeing life through a duality of time lens. One one hand we must see things through a near term lens, i.e., “what do I have to do RIGHT NOW to persevere through this challenge.” AND at the same time we have to be able to maintain an over the horizon perspective. “How do I need to adjust my actions today to ensure that I still maintain focus on my long term goals?” How will my choices in this challenge impact my ability to reach my over the horizon destination?

To understand the perspective that Sir Shackleton speaks from I highly recommend his book “South: The Endurance Expedition.” It’s a great read and highlights some of his extraordinary leadership in the worst of conditions. The difficulties in life are things we just have to overcome.