He was the last person you’d nominate for greatness. Sickly at birth and possessing a speech impediment that rivalled that of Moses. His father would die when he was just seven. His inheritance would be stolen and squandered by the very people entrusted as guardians. Yet, somehow, Demosthenes managed to survive childhood, take his criminal overseers to court (and win) and become the greatest orator of Athens, perhaps of all time. All this with a speech impediment and no support system.
Now what’s your problem again?
Because you aren’t able to answer for purposes of this discussion, I’ll tell you what mine is.
I own and operate a small advertising agency. I don’t usually write about it here because I don’t want this to become confused with that. Today it’s necessary. My business, in reality, doesn’t look like the one that I see in my mind. Not exactly an epiphany, I know. Isn’t that the case with most businesses and pretty much most other things? True. I beg you to allow me to continue.
That bit about Demosthenes was inspired by a book my good friend TJ Muraca lent me, “The Obstacle is the Way” by Ryan Holiday. He offers Demosthenes as an example that is worth repeating here. You may be thinking, “I get it. There are people with greater struggles than I have who have risen to achieve remarkable things so I should stop my complaining and get back to work.” You’re correct. But there’s more to it than that. Here’s a question Mr. Holiday poses to us in an earlier chapter:
“When we believe in the obstacle more than we believe in the goal, which will eventually triumph?”
Bet you haven’t thought about it this way before, huh?
I hadn’t.
We all have visions for ourselves. Hopefully they’re beautiful and we are living beautifully in them. Each of us will encounter obstacles as we work out that future and tame it as the present. Everybody talks about believing in your vision. Few talk about believing in your obstacles, and that, to your future’s demise.
So the question that follows like a twin birth is “How real is your vision?”
Is it more real than the obstacles that will attempt to stand in your way?
It better be.
I’m realizing that I’ve allowed my obstacles to at times present more prominently than my dreams. It’s almost excusable, isn’t it? The obstacles, by definition of encounter, are certain. Your vision? It might be, or might not. Can’t blame a guy for flinching, right? I’m learning there are two parts to every obstacle. What it actually is, and the story you tell yourself about that obstacle, what you determine it means. The way you apply perception will make the difference. What follows is either right action in support of your future or wasted time bemoaning, avoiding or fighting the impediment.
For these reasons, I hereby denounce my belief in obstacles. Not to say that they don’t exist. I just refuse to let them leech away my best. Though, they will continue in their purpose.
What would have happened to Demosthenes had his father not died? Or if he didn’t have a speech impediment driving him to study and discipline himself in ways more rigorous than you or I would find tolerable? Or if his guardians hadn’t exploited him? We may not know the name today.
But those things did happen.
And Demosthenes made his choices.
Now it’s my turn.
And yours.
