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1-Page Summary of The Obstacle Is The Way

Overview

People often lack faith in their goals because they see obstacles. However, if you view the obstacles objectively and work against them, then they can become a source of inspiration and motivation for your success. It’s important to remember that people have been overcoming obstacles since the beginning of time; it’s not something new. You just need to find ways to overcome those struggles in order to achieve your goals.

Everyone encounters obstacles in life, whether it’s a boss who doesn’t like you or an economic climate that keeps you from getting a job. Instead of avoiding those things, the author says we should confront them head on and use them to our advantage. The book shows us how to do that.

Here are some interesting facts about famous people: One of them practiced speaking with pebbles in his mouth. Another one burned down a million-dollar lab, but he was able to bounce back. You’ll also learn how astronauts prepare for space missions.

Big Idea #1: The three keys to turning obstacles into opportunities are perception, action and will.

When faced with obstacles, most people get angry, fearful and frustrated. They think it will derail their plans and hinder their progress. But they can actually be used as advantages and lead to success.

How can we turn an obstacle into an advantage? First, we should focus on our perception of the obstacle. If we can see it in a different light, then hidden possibilities will become apparent and useful to us.

Rockefeller, a famous oil tycoon, was able to see the crisis of 1857 as an opportunity. He watched how people panicked and made mistakes during that time. By analyzing their failures, he saw what they did wrong and could then take advantage of the situation by starting his own business in oil.

However, perception is not enough. You also need to respond with the right action when you face an obstacle.

The right action comes from a combination of creativity and flexibility. For example, Amelia Earhart wanted to be an aviator but she faced some obstacles because women didn’t become pilots in those days. So she took a job that was unrelated to her dream but kept looking for creative ways to fulfill it.

A woman once received a call about funding the first female transatlantic flight. She was told that she could only be an unpaid passenger, which is far from what she wanted to do. However, this led her to pursue a career as an aviator.

After figuring out the best way to overcome an obstacle, we use our will power to do whatever it takes until the obstacle is overcome.

In the next few paragraphs, we will examine each of these topics more closely.

Big Idea #2: To perceive obstacles clearly, we must learn to view them objectively.

When you encounter an obstacle, how do you respond? Do you think that the world is against you and nothing goes your way? Instead, take a step back and look at it objectively. Think about what can be done to turn this into an advantage.

If we look at obstacles in a different way, they can help us. For example, boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter was falsely accused of murder and went to jail for life. However, he used his time to try and make the best of it by learning new skills and making connections with other inmates.

First, he decided to fight the injustice through legal means. Then, he used his time in jail to study history and law. He was eventually released after 19 years. Carter left jail as a free man who had also become more educated during his stay there.

The objective perspective allows you to see things as they are, not how you want them to be. You can achieve that by learning to detach yourself from your own subjective view of the situation and advising a friend on how they should approach it.