What would you do if you lost everything?

Today, we’re going back…back to 1914 when a massive fire raged through inventor Thomas Edison’s lab complex in downtown West Orange, New Jersey.

An eight-million-dollar building is burning down, insurance isn’t going to cover it, and owners are laughing it off.

Now, put yourself in Edision’s shoes as you stand there watching chemical-fueled flames shoot upwards of 100 feet, burning five city blocks and destroying almost all of your research.

What would you have done?

Well, what came as a shocker to me when I first heard this story was Edison’s reaction.

After receiving sympathies from a rival inventor, Edison said “I’ll start all over again tomorrow.”

Wait…WHAT?!?

You just watched your work go up in smoke (literally) and you respond all calm, cool, and collected? Major props, Mr. Edison, major props.

“Okay, Keril, cool story bro, but what’s the point?”

I’m glad you asked.

Responding to Setbacks

Your response to how you would react to setbacks, whether it’s a fire, a diagnosis, or losing your job, can say a lot about how you handle hard things…and more importantly, about you in general.

We even see this every day in the tech world, especially as AI becomes a larger threat and we’re constantly asked to work harder, faster, and achieve more with less.

So, what do most people do in these situations? Well, they fail, because they choose to see the forest for the trees. They focus on how bad their circumstances are and fall into a spiral of woe is me.

But that’s exactly where people screw up. They fail to see the challenges ahead of them for what they are.

They don’t stop and reflect long enough to see that these obstacles, problems, and circumstances — whatever you want to call them — in life are the path toward strength, growth, and opportunity.

Overcoming Setbacks

First things first, stop focusing on the obstacle itself. Yeah, whatever you are dealing with sucks, and I’m the first person to encourage you to feel your feelings…

But, if you want to get past this and be among the greats like Edison, you’ve got to change your mindset about your circumstances.

The obstacle is the way and these challenges will make you stronger, so it’s best to start embracing them and learning from them.

Consider these three takeaways on how to face a challenge head-on:

1. Challenges make you better
   Everybody faces challenges, no matter what level they are. That’s just the facts. But, everybody who meets their challenges head-on is better for it. Plus, you’re smarter, more equipped, and better prepared for the next challenge that comes your way.

2. Perspective is key in how you handle certain scenarios
   I can’t stress this one enough. It’s not the challenge that’s hard. It’s how you think about the challenge. Shift your mindset and perspective and that path forward will become clear. Stay positive, reach out to others for support, and choose a mantra that motivates and inspires you. My personal favorite is “Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don't wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.” - Jim Rohn.

3. You can skill stack and get better
   Challenges make you think outside the box and put your skills and resourcefulness to the test. Use this motivation to learn something new or try to solve the problem in a brand new way.
   
   Maybe you’re used to working on your own, but now you need the help of some experts to get you through this rough patch. Whatever the case may be, stack your skills, learn from others, and keep improving one day at a time.

I bet you’re wondering what Edison did next. Well, much like me, he’s a man of his word.

“There’s only one thing to do, and that is to jump right in and rebuild”

After three weeks, and a sizeable loan from his friend, Edison got his plant up and running again, his employees worked double shifts, and they were producing more than ever before. They even made almost $10 million in revenue the following year.

Talk about a comeback.

I’ll leave you with this — when it comes to loss or failure, don’t stay stuck in feelings of sadness or anger.

Instead, find how this new obstacle is an opportunity that will make you stronger.

You got this. I promise.

What’s Next?

Are you struggling with something right now? Do you want more guidance and support on how to handle it and be in a community with other like-minded tech professionals?

That’s why I have my Patreon.

And don’t you worry, I know that everyone doesn’t have the budget for another monthly membership —so y’all know I won’t leave you out to dry.

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