A Concept to Challenge Your Status Quo
Like many of us, Alex grew up in a family in everytown USA, in a household that wasn't affluent by any means. However, he shares that he wanted for nothing as he knew which parent to go to when there was a desire for sporting equipment and which parent to go to when there was a desire for new back-to-school clothes. In short, he wanted for nothing. There were tough times and tough losses throughout his upbringing but he describes his childhood as "exceptionally average."
Fast forward 35-40 years and he finds himself as a leader in a difficult business climate for his organization causing stress to happen to him. However, his addiction to personal and professional growth fueled his determination to take advantage of the opportunities in the eye of each challenge. He knew these, consistent, tests were like nothing he'd experienced in his upbringing and in order to prevail in these moments he would have to "toughen up."
Empowered by this self-awareness he became intentional in exploring how he could proactively build his resilience... his grit... his toughness. In doing so, he found a lot of chatter in online forums, self development gurus discussing the benefits, and social media feeds praising cold plunges. He quickly had enough evidence to make the "plunge" and invest in a 'therapy pool.' Each morning, Alex would step into icy water, embracing the shock. This wasn't just a routine; it was a controlled 'stress test.' Unlike the unpredictable storms of business, this was a challenge Alex chose, a reminder that 'tough times don't last, but tough people do.'
The cold plunge taught Alex to manage stress, boosting mental clarity and emotional stability. It was like a workout for the mind, strengthening resolve just as lifting weights builds muscles. Alex realized that in business, as in life, resilience comes from balancing stress with recovery.
Inspired, Alex introduced this mindset to the team. They began viewing market fluctuations as opportunities for growth, not threats. By embracing controlled stress, they built a culture of adaptability and strength... one of "anti-fragility."
For, us, as entrepreneurs, Alex's story is a powerful lesson: we have control over our toughness. By choosing our challenges, we prepare for the unpredictable, emerging stronger and more resilient. What is YOUR cold plunge? What is the feared thing that you need to do first, today?
