3 ways to overcome adversity and succeed in life

I think we can all agree that one of the most universal experiences we face as human beings is distress. As leaders, team members, and entrepreneurs, we all have stories about it How we got through the hard timesincluding me.

I had just moved to China to take up the role of President Yum! China, at a time when the business was experiencing a sharp decline in sales. I had to change things, and quickly, but the context presented some challenges. The company was a $6 billion business with a level of complexity significantly different from his previous roles. Among the nearly 400,000 employees in China, I was one of five that don’t speak Mandarin. And every meeting, every email, and almost every communication was in Mandarin.

I was compressed for responsibility Both with the great team there, it is the negative impact of doing business in China on global operations. Sometimes I worried too about shameBut I couldn’t let anxiety paralyze me. I had to find ways to overcome the challenges. Fortunately, the upbringing journey has been over time Positive outlook on life and work. He has helped me overcome adversity at different times in my life and has also helped me well during this situation.

Studies show that At least two-thirds of adults have experienced some kind of adversityThe way we react to difficult situations has a lot to do with our upbringing, our personality, and our outlook on life. I always choose to see the brighter side in difficult circumstances: adopt a growth mindset and look for the positives in the form of learning opportunities.

Here are three ways in which entrepreneurs can: Overcoming negative thoughtsFace the tough times and use your strength and stamina to rise to the top.

Go to the sources

Back in China, it was very easy for me to be crippled by roadblocks. For example, to get information and learn, I took a different route from meetings and emails that I couldn’t understand. I left the office, went straight to the front lines, and spent time with the restaurant staff to see if I could figure out the root problem.

Despite the language barriers, I have visited our restaurants in more than 25 provinces in China. What I discovered there finally led me to the solution I needed. to me Build relationships With our employees and managers of our restaurants through the universal language of smiles and gestures (And thanks to the help of wonderful colleagues who also acted as interpreters), I was able to build trust and a network of people who helped me figure out what went wrong and what we needed to do to fix it.

It was a feat I could never achieve sitting in a conference room or reading emails at my desk. To this day, it serves as a powerful reminder of the Never be afraid of your letting go Comfort Zone Face a difficult situation head on.

Find your followers and ask them for help

It is true that entrepreneurs and business leaders often carry a great deal of pride. But it is very important Don’t let pride stand in the way of success. Asking for help and support is one of the most important things we can do when adversity brings us down.

Surrounding ourselves with allies is one of the best ways to succeed in life and work. Entrepreneurship can sometimes seem like an isolated road, but it doesn’t have to be. Run a company with a co-founder, network with a mentor, or Fitness Traineror creating a network of people who can work together to help raise our level of performance, through good times and bad, making the inevitable ups and downs of business more manageable.

I learned this firsthand: I was able to turn to the President and CEO of Yum! To make me happy and support me when I need it. His advice helped me feel less lonely as I struggled with the complexity of work and the weight of responsibility. He remains my mentor to this day and I will always be grateful for the support he has given me. In parallel, I sought to learn and build relationships with many of my peers. Many of these relationships are still strong today, including through WeChat.

First put on the oxygen mask

In the above examples, and throughout my career, there have been times when I didn’t sleep well and wasn’t at my best during the day. We need to be healthy to deal with constant stress. I can attest to the invaluable connection between a healthy body and a healthy mind, having gone through my own wellness journey in the past year. During the pandemic, I’ve doubled down on healthy habits that include a vegan diet, mindfulness, deep sleep, and regular exercise.

With the emphasis on health and wellness that recent years have brought about, there was no other reason for this our health in the first place. A UK government study showed that 80% of respondents were inspired to change their lifestyle in the past year thanks to the pandemic.

I’ve written before about other essential habits of healthy entrepreneurs, because I really believe it We cannot be productive if we do not put our well-being first.. And just as important as charging our positive battery, it’s also essential that we take the time to build our stamina and a deep well of resilience.

In both work and life, setbacks are inevitable. Long-term success requires the ability to freshen yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on. What did you say Rocky BalboaIt’s not about how many punches you throw, it’s about how many punches you can take and stay on your feet.