Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSISTENCE AND
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Nell Watson29th July 2014
PART I - WHY FOUNDERS CREATE
“What is to give life must endure burning.” – Viktor Frankl
Founder: Someone who creates a new engine through which the world is shaped.
The urge to Found is born from pain.
Founders are outsiders.
Founders have something to prove.
Not worth it unless:
Not worth it unless:
Not worth it unless:
‘Extraordinary’ Doesn’t Just Happen
PART II - WHY FOUNDERS FAIL
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to
continue that counts.” – WINSTON CHURCHILL
“WE’RE FUCKED; IT’S OVER.”
BEN HOROWITZ – THE HARD THING ABOUT HARD
THINGS
Martin Seligman“Learned Helplessness”
PANIC & PAIN
FAILURE TOEXECUTE
PERCEPTUAL BIASES
DESPAIR &DREAD
GIVE UP & GIVE IN
VOLITIONALPARALYSIS
NOT A MATTER OF WILLPOWER
A BEAUTIFUL SERVANT
A DANGEROUS MASTER
“There is little that can withstand a man who can conquer himself” - Louis X1V
PART III – KEEP YOUR HEAD
PANIC & PAIN
PERCEPTUAL BIASES
DESPAIR &DREAD
GIVE UP & GIVE IN
VOLITIONALPARALYSIS
FAILURE TOEXECUTE
Our emotions are led
by our perceptions.
The sensation of having control is
everything.
LACK OF CHOICE IS AN ILLUSION
“Between stimulus and response there is a space.In that space is our power to choose our response.In our response lies our growth, and our freedom.”
– Viktor Frankl
MINDFULNESS & SELF KNOWLEDGE
“I SUCK AT ‘X”’
Only for now. Everyone is
on a growth curve.
“ENOUGH STRUGGLE ALREADY”
A comfortable life is one lacking in
learning
“EVERYTHING IS RUINED”
Plans usually go awry.
So you can plan for it.
“I FEEL HUMILIATED”
This only matters if you think it matters.
.
“I HAVE FAILED. I AM A FAILURE”
Failure, with learning, is the only
path to success.
“I FAILED TOO BIG THIS TIME”
You fail fatally when you stop
trying.
“IT’S JUST TOO HARD”
It usually does get better if you just
keep going.
• MISTREATED & IGNORED• ECONOMY SUCKS• NOT GETTING SUPPORT• NOT ENOUGH MONEY• STUCK IN A RUT
GOOD THINGS ABOUT TOUGH TIMES
CULTIVATE AN IMMUNITY TO BEING DEMORALIZED
When you are able to succeed at easy tasks, hard tasks feel possible to accomplish. When you are unable to succeed at small tasks, everything seems impossible.
RECOVERY FROM BURNOUT
Take small actions (like making your bed)
Taking action bolsters belief
in one’s ability to succeedRest!
Call it a success
Do a little more each day
COLLECT SMALL WINS
PART IV – A TALE OF PERSISTENCE
“Whoever, at any time has undertaken to build a new heaven, has found the strength for it in his own hell” – Friedrich Nietzsche
Frédéric Bartholdi
1856
Frédéric Bartholdi
1865
Frédéric Bartholdi
Frédéric BartholdiEdouard de Laboulaye
1865
“LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING
THE WORLD”
2 million francs / $10,000000
MOCKERY
CHAMPS ELYSÉE,PARIS
MADISONSQUARE
GARDENS,NYC
VIA PHILADELPIA?
1879
Eugene Violette-le-duc
Gustave Eiffel
Gustave Eiffel
18821880
HURRY UP AND WAIT
FURTHERMOCKERY
Joseph Pulitzer
1856 – 1865 – 1875 – 1880 – 1886
MANIFEST A DREAMSTRATEGIC DETERMINATION
CAPTURE & PROVE VALUE
INVOLVE OTHERS
SHIP ITKEEP YOUR COOL
CLOSING THOUGHTS
‘He knows the "why" for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any "how.”’
– VIKTOR FRANKL
WHAT: PEOPLE BOOST YOU THE MOST?
CLOSING THOUGHTSWHEN: MOST AT YOUR PERSONAL BEST?WHEN: LOWEST TIMES IN YOUR LIFE?WHAT: GIVES YOU ENERGY?
WHAT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO GIVE TO THE WORLD?
WHAT: PEOPLE DRAIN YOU THE MOST?WHAT VALUES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU?
