I recently finished reading Jesse Itzler’s book Living with a SEAL, and I admit it will change the way you perceive difficulty in certain situations both personally and professionally. The book is about a successful entrepreneur and businessman who invites a former Navy SEAL to live with and train him for 31 days. Jesse felt like he needed to shake up his daily routine. It’s very easy for professionals to get hooked into a daily routine, almost to the point where it eliminates our ability to think outside of the box and be creative. There are many examples in the book that highlight our ability to be more effective in our day to day by pushing ourselves and accepting/welcoming change. As humans we are naturally resistant to change, but change is also what helps drive innovation. I feel it is important to add some element of change to our daily routines, as it keeps us fresh and “on our toes”. Being in the entrepreneurial space, this is especially important.
“Most of my successes in life have come from learning how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable”. This quote from the book reminded me of the commencement address that Bo Jackson gave our graduating class on May 9th, 2009 at Auburn University. Bo talked about stepping outside of your comfort zone and accepting change, then he touched on his experience in doing so while he was at Auburn. He had a speech impediment which led him to enroll in a public speaking class to help him overcome his speech deficiency. He forced himself to take the class knowing there would be short-term discomfort, only to produce a positive long-term outcome. In my opinion, it is much easier to recognize personal and professional gains if we find ways to challenge ourselves each day, and disrupt that “daily routine”.
We can all afford to push ourselves just a little bit harder each day, I promise, the long-term effects will pay off. “Enjoy the pain. It’s a reminder of all your hard work.” -Jesse Itzler