Facing Obstacles
One of the most exciting but heart wrenching races to watch is an obstacle course! As the racer gets the momentum going, there comes another obstacle to jump over, climb, or run around!
An obstacle course is not a smooth ride! The runner has to be prepared for surprises along the way.
So it is with our lives. As much as we wish that our life would be a smooth, event free, easy course, we often face hindrances, challenges or roadblocks along the way. We make great plans, set reachable goals, create vision boards and everything else recommended for success but achieving it is like an obstacle race!
What exactly is an obstacle?
It is a thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress. It can differ from person to person. For some it may be lack of resources, for others health issues, discouragement, and the list can go on.
So what should we do when we are faced with obstacles?
Well, I know what we should NOT do – we should not give up! It can be tempting to give up and throw in the towel when hindrances or roadblocks are in our path, but don’t! Be determined and persistent.
We can find several examples in our everyday reading of people who have faced challenges but didn’t give up. We can even find some examples among our own family members and friends.
For me, the person that comes to mind is a young man I saw on the hit TV show Shark Tank. I call him the “Scholly Kid” but his name is Christopher Gray. He is probably my favorite story on this show so far.
Christopher was a driven and smart high school student who wanted to go to college. However, he faced financial difficulties. College tuition fees did not seem reachable for him. Christopher faced a financial obstacle! He himself said that even though he was smart, his circumstances may have limited his achievements. But what did he do? Did he give up on his college goal?
Well, Christopher did what many of us may not have thought of doing. He spent several hours per day in the library (while in high school and working a part time job) over a period of seven months, researching and applying to scholarships. He eventually amassed a total of $1.3 million in private scholarships!
But it didn’t end there. Christopher found that the process of getting scholarships was unnecessarily difficult and saw an opportunity for change. He then developed the idea of Scholly – a mobile and web app that would help connect students to scholarships and grants that match their qualifications and abilities.
Not only did Christopher have more than enough money for college, he also become an app developer! And that app is still being used by students today to find financial assistance for college.
Isn’t that a great outcome?
Christopher could have simply given up on college because of his financial difficulties but instead, he was determined and persistent and in the process has created something that not only drastically changed his life but will also serve others.
Today I want to encourage you to be determined and persistent!
Don’t give up at the sight of an obstacle. How we deal with them is what makes the difference. Have the right attitude and keep your goal in mind. That obstacle can be the launching pad for your next great achievement!
Here is the link to Christopher’s story: https://youtu.be/tOYra-qtPwI
Until next blog,
Karlene.