#13 - 3 Reasons Why Things Might Not Be Going Your Way

By Armaan Athwal

Today's Overview:

• When things aren’t going your way, these three common roadblocks are typically what’s stopping you: Lack of repetition, experimenting, and adapting

• Quote of the day

Three Common Roadblocks to Success

After reflecting on both my successes and failures, I have noticed a pattern that has came out of my failures. It has become evident that whenever things aren’t going my way, they can almost always be traced back to three primary reasons.

These fundamental reasons always have an impact, influencing how things can turn out. Let's take a look at these three reasons, analyzing their effects and considering countermeasures.

1. Haven’t done enough reps

Becoming good at anything always requires work to be put in. If you're struggling with a skill, it's perfectly fine to not be good at it right away. All you have to do is get more reps and practice in.

There's a fundamental principle called the 100-hour rule. Meaning that you need to put at least 100-hours into a skill to be remotely good at it or see meaningful progress. So, if you haven't reached that milestone, don't expect to be a master and don't be discouraged.

Consistency and repetition need to be in place to see any sorts of progress. Without it, it becomes challenging to make meaningful strides in skill development.

Just like any living thing, it needs to be fed to grow. A skill also needs to be fed to grow. Consistent practice and repetition feeds the skill. Without it, even for short periods of time, it becomes malnourished and faces setbacks. Continue to feed it and you will see growth.

2. Haven’t experimented with different approaches

Albert Einstein has a famous saying that, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

This quote sums this reason perfectly. If you do one thing over and over again and absolutely nothing is progressing, something needs to be changed.

If one path doesn't lead to progress, try another, and another, and keep going until you see progress.

Think about any successful business. They have to innovate and change to achieve progress. A prime example of this is how Steve Jobs revolutionized Apple by introducing groundbreaking products like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, constantly pushing the boundaries of technology and consumer expectations to drive the company forward. If these innovations were never introduced they would have been stuck on one product and most likely their business would have been stagnant.

3. Haven't adapted to changing circumstances

This reason is a part of all reasons, as adaptation is required for every problem and circumstance.

External factors will always exert their influence, beyond our control. To thrive despite these challenges, adaptation is essential. A principle rooted in Darwin's theory of evolution, where species that adapt to their changing environments are more likely to survive and prosper. It is the survival of the fittest, where you need to survive in any condition.

Sometimes, the reasons behind our struggles originate internally rather than from external sources. For example, we might realize that our skills or interests have evolved, leading to a disconnect in certain environments where we once did well in. In such cases, it becomes imperative to adapt and seek out new opportunities that align better with our current strengths and passions.

Not being able to adapt, will leave you behind.

Using Nintendo as an example, the company initially began as a card game company. However, as technology evolved and consumer preferences shifted towards video games, Nintendo had to adapt by transitioning to technological games. Failure to do so would have resulted in the company dying out, taking away the experiences many of us have had with the innovative products Nintendo has since released.

Quote of the Day

“Without the ability to end things, people stay stuck, never becoming who they are meant to be, never accomplishing all that their talents and abilities should afford them.” - Henry Cloud

Staying in the same spot can leave you to be stuck in an endless and vicious cycle of stagnation and missed opportunities.