I am by nature a positive guy with an inborn drive to achieve. However, I have personally witnessed that with achievement comes its powerful twin: setbacks.
Over time, I’ve learned that the tension between the two often gives birth to new and larger opportunities.
But before that happens, first I had to learn to manage the two. For me I had to manage the pain the tension creates when setbacks crash into achievements.
In management consulting I had a habit of storing away my profits like Scrooge. I was perfectly happy to sit on my money. But, I found that when I held on too tightly to the money, it created so much tension mentally that small setbacks in business became exaggerated in my mind. This money obsession finally led to painful anxiety.
Slowly, ever so slowly, I began to realize I had to ease up on this obsession, or the very thing I worked so hard to achieve could destroy my health when normal setbacks arose.
First, my wife encouraged me to visit our family doctor. I told the doctor every problem I might have had, which I really didn’t have. Finally, my wife said, “Tell him why you’re here.” Straight out I said “I have anxiety attacks that are leading to periods of depression.”
Without hesitation, he wrote a prescription for a temporary medication. “Take these pills as prescribed, and within hours you’re going to ease up. After you finish, I’ll put you on a long term antidepressant.” It worked.
Second, I did what was an odd thing for me. I let loose with some of the dough and shared it with others. I shared my money on others’ joy. The sharing broke it open for me. I was freely sharing my achievements with others. Money in and of itself is paper. It has no other value than what it allows you to do. As I loosened up, I realized I was playing peewee ball. I could do much more if I relaxed and shared. As I did I could see new opportunities that I wasn’t able to see when setbacks overwhelmed me.
I’m not absolutely sure this works in every human life, but I think it might, and it’s this: achievement comes in many forms. Any achievement has setbacks. Managing setbacks is as important as having achieved. Once done larger opportunities may arise.