THE INNOVATOR LEADER’S EDGE
THRIVING WHERE OTHERS FALTER
3-Minute Read
What if the resistance you face could be your greatest ally? In a society driven by validation, your strength as The Innovator Leader lies in being indomitable—unbeatable, unbreakable, impossible to defeat or discourage, undeterred.
When you bring something new to the world, rather than being welcomed with validation, you are much more likely to encounter resistance: everything from indifference and disinterest to hostility and outrage from others. This new thing might be a professional product, service, or business. This new thing might be a personal change or aspiration dramatically departing from who you have been so far in life.
Initially, resistance shows up mostly as skeptics and scoffers:
Many people won't see the value; they’ll just ignore you.
Some will think you're nuts.
Some will try to dissuade or stop you—out of love, of course!
When you start gaining traction, another type of resistance shows up:
Some people will be jealous, spiteful, or angry.
Some will actively, or covertly, work against you.
Some might even steal from you.
How can you effectively handle the inevitable resistance? By tapping into your capacity to be indomitable. The best way we know to do this is to start seeing resistance as a resource to be used for you rather than against you. Don’t just overcome resistance, leverage it.
Not everyone is built for this; you are.
In this week’s issue of The Grip, we show you how to develop and benefit from this valuable edge you already possess.
DEVELOPING THE INNOVATOR LEADER’S EDGE
NEVER SQUANDER GREAT CRITICISM
While overcoming resistance is remarkable, leveraging resistance will profit your life exponentially. Use it, capitalize on it; especially the resistance from those you thought would be encouraging or supportive and, instead, have become your loudest critics. Utilize every drop of energy resistance brings you, and make it work for you.
The principle of what I’m proposing is demonstrated in martial arts. Appropriate your opponent's energy to your advantage: when they push, you pull; when they pull, you push.
You can decide how to handle, treat, or relate to any and all resistance in your life. For example, a professional roadblock: do you handle it as an impediment slowing you down or as traction speeding you up? The choice is yours.
I love how the founders of Dollar Shave Club leveraged criticism in the early days of their product. Dollar Shave Club disrupted the men’s grooming industry with their innovative business model: high quality razor blades delivered to your door at a low price. Rather than celebrating, the market initially resisted their offer. How could low-priced blades possibly be high quality?
The founders used that criticism to create one of the greatest commercials of all time—a YouTube video that ended up going viral, crashing their home website due to server overload, and generating over 12,000 new subscriptions for their product in the first day alone.
Witness what it looks like to leverage resistance:
As you gain skill at leveraging resistance, you’ll grow to get excited whenever it comes your way, because resistance is free fuel to advance your mission. Really.
REFRAIN FROM SEEKING PERMISSION & APPROVAL
You don’t need validation to bring something new into the world. In fact, in the early days of innovation, validation-seeking is a constraint on creativity. In the words of Henry Ford:
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said, faster horses.”
Waiting for permission or approval is a waste of precious time. Whatever it is you envision to create, you must get in motion with it before others will ever be inspired to join you. The implication is this: even when no one else is with you, start. Even when others think you’re nuts for attempting it, start. If I had waited until others agreed my aspirations were “good,” I’d probably be living in my parents’ basement today, still hoping and waiting for the one day someday I’d get confirmation to live my purpose. Start!
Remember, most people behave like crabs in a bucket: when one crab attempts to climb out of the bucket, the other crabs will latch onto the first crab and pull it back inside.
People often do the same to each other—out of love, jealousy, fear, who knows why. But the point is, we do it.
Don’t hand over the reins of your purpose to people ill-equipped to help you create something new.
“ If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses. ”
QUICKLY ACCESS YOUR LEVERAGING CAPACITY
One of the most profound truths I have ever come across was written by Jewish poet, Anais Nin:
“We don’t see the world as it is, we see it as we are.”
When you receive indifference, criticism, rejection, or hostility as you bring your new endeavor to life, realize that it says more about the source of that resistance than it does about you. To help you quickly leverage resistance to your advantage, use the following questions on yourself:
What must it be like to be in their head?
What are they seeing or not seeing that they would form such a view?
How will this benefit me?
What’s the gift in this that I wouldn’t have otherwise?
What is the opportunity?
How can I use this as fuel?
How will I use this to serve others more effectively?
In what way is this making me stronger, wiser, more capable?
What can I learn?
These questions focus your attention in a manner that makes leveraging resistance easily accessible. They train your subconscious to welcome resistance rather than reject it. With practice, this skill will leave you benefiting in any situation.
Keep creating!
There is so much opportunity in the world that even your Haters, Doubters, and Debbie-Downers can be used to your advantage. And you’d be very wise to do so. Don't ignore the people or circumstances that get in your way; leverage them as traction to advance your mission.
If you do, you will become masterful at utilizing everything life brings you. This is a powerful way to passionately build your contribution in the world, make it known, and connect with those you are called to serve.
what has me inspired this week?
Who I’m learning from and the experiences impacting my own development. I find great value in them—you may as well.
New Film: City Of Dreams
FILM SYNOPSIS FROM MOVIE WEBSITE:
“City of Dreams" is an inspiring story about a boy's courageous battle to free himself and others from the brutal grasp of slavery.
Inspired by true events, "City of Dreams" chronicles the journey of Jesús, a young Mexican boy whose dreams of becoming a soccer star are shattered when he’s kidnapped, trafficked across the border, and sold into slavery to a sweatshop in downtown Los Angeles.
City Of Dreams opens in movie theaters across the US Friday, August 30, 2024.
Human trafficking—slavery—is a historic scourge that continues to plague our society, including so-called “developed” nations. City Of Dreams powerfully demonstrates how this atrocity operates in the communities in which you and I live today. It is not limited to a particular zip code or corner of the world.
Take a moment to watch the extended promotional trailer we’ve linked to above. It includes perspectives on why this film is so greatly needed right now.
For more information, viewing locations, and practical ways you can help end human trafficking, please visit:
May you prosper in every way!
Becky & TPL Team
52 Maxims of Conscious Choosing To Create the Deeply Satisfying Life You Desire.