#155: Mastering Pain: From Corporate Challenges to the Jiu-Jitsu Mat

Hey there, whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or building your empire as an entrepreneur, let’s talk about pain – not just as something to endure, but as a master teacher. It’s a bit like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where being crushed isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning of finding your next move, you just need to endure it long enough to think, then make a move, even if it frees you temporarily it could be the key to winning. In the Corporate World or Your Startup:

Just like in Jiu-Jitsu, where pain signals you’re in a bad spot, corporate or entrepreneurial pain shows where you need to pivot. Maybe it’s a project that’s not going as planned or a business strategy that’s hitting walls. These aren’t just obstacles; they’re signs pointing towards growth.

When the pressure’s on, and it feels like you’re being crushed by deadlines or market demands, think of it like being on the mat. You’ve got to find that small break, that moment to breathe and think. It’s in these moments of discomfort that innovation is born. You start looking for that leverage, just like finding an escape in Jiu-Jitsu, to turn the situation to your advantage. Embrace the Crush:

In Jiu-Jitsu, when you’re pinned down, the pain is a teacher showing you where to move next. Similarly, in business, pain isn’t just about suffering; it’s about learning where you need to develop new skills or adapt your approach. It’s about resilience, about not staying down but finding your way up.

Pain, whether from a challenging client or a cash flow crunch, teaches you to stay one step ahead. It’s about using that moment of being ‘under pressure’ to rethink, reassess, and re-strategize. Just like on the mat, where you might give a little to gain a lot, sometimes in business, you need to concede small losses for significant gains. Why This Matters:

Like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where every session is an opportunity to learn from being defeated, every business challenge is a chance to grow. Pain isn’t about defeat; it’s about discovering new strengths, strategies, and sometimes, entirely new paths.

So, when you’re feeling the corporate or entrepreneurial squeeze, remember, it’s not about how hard you get hit but how you move away from the pain to think, adapt, and overcome. That’s the Schooler way – finding wisdom in the struggle, turning every challenge into a stepping stone for success. Remember, in both Jiu-Jitsu and business, pain is temporary, but the lessons and growth? They’re for life.