title: The Obstacle is the Way description: [AFW M.1.30] Michael's Epiphany #30 published: true date: 2026-06-30T08:08:44.746Z tags: editor: markdown dateCreated: 2021-05-10T23:19:31.510Z

Read Robert Greene's Use Resistance and Negative Spurs PDF

Read Ryan Holiday's Daily Stoic lesson DSM 06-30 - The Obstacle is the Way PDF

The simple idea is that there are hidden advantages in every problem, that businesses and teams and people can take seemingly impossible situations and triumph over them. “Hard times can be softened,” Seneca writes in one of his essays, “tight squeezes widened, and heavy loads made lighter for those who can apply the right pressure.” Every downside has an upside.

If Progress Stops, Retreat to the Previous Step¶

For example, when working the $50,000-Income Game-Plan and your progress has stalled, go the the previous step and work it harder. If your closing ratio is very low (step 5), then drastically increase the number of Proposal (step 4) you present.

Turn Every Negative into a Positive¶

"Professionals believe 'I create my my life." Amateurs believe 'Life happens to me."

"No one is coming." -Nathaniel Branden

"You are the cause of your success; and your failure. It's a blessing and a curse. Being responsible means being "able" to "respond" to events that happen to you."

Read Robert Greene's TDL 11-22 - Embrace Whatever Happens to You PDF

The world is constantly testing us. We set out to do something and it’s more trying than we expect. We face resistance. We get criticized. We run out of options. We experience technical difficulties. What will we do?

Marcus would say that the Stoic finds a way to turn every negative into a positive. In this famous line, what he’s suggesting is that—no matter how bad or seemingly undesirable a situation becomes—we always have the opportunity to practice virtue, to use the situation as an opportunity to be our best selves. We don’t control when things get hard, but we always control how we respond. We can show patience, courage, humility, resourcefulness, reason, justice, and creativity. The things that test us make us who we are.

The Stoic grows stronger and better with every obstacle they face. They rally to every challenge and thrive as a result. So can you.

As the Haitian proverb puts it: Behind mountains are more mountains. One does not overcome one obstacle only to enter the land of no obstacles. No matter how successful we are or will be, we’re going to find things that stand in our path.

Our hope is that when you encounter these obstacles you’ll feel the weight of the coin in your pocket and remember that each obstacle offers a chance to thrive not just in spite of whatever is in front of you, but because of it.

Resources¶

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday BOOK