Why Embrace the Hard Stuff: A Personal Perspective

Every morning, I lace up my running shoes and hit the pavement. It’s my daily ritual—a test of endurance, a dose of mental grit. Each marathon isn’t just about crossing a finish line; it’s about defying my limits and the thrill of conquering what once seemed impossible. A few years ago, I took one of the boldest steps of my life: I left a stable, high-ranking corporate position to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. It was a leap of faith, a journey filled with unknowns. But just like running a marathon, building a startup from scratch has been about discovering new strengths, learning resilience, and finding joy in the pursuit of something bigger. 

At BRISKPE, we’re on a similar journey. We’re tackling the complexities of cross-border payments, removing obstacles, and opening new doors for MSMEs to thrive globally. It’s tough work, but the reward is knowing we’re making a real impact.   

So, Why Choose to Do the Hard Things? 

• Growth Beyond Comfort: Pushing past what’s familiar lets us tap into strengths we didn’t know we had. With every hurdle cleared, our self-confidence grows, setting us up to reach even bigger goals. 

• Fuelling Innovation: Challenges have a way of igniting creativity. When things get tough, we’re forced to think differently, to turn problems into opportunities, and to discover solutions we might never have considered. 

• Building Resilience: Each obstacle strengthens our ability to bounce back. Resilience is the foundation for enduring success, enabling us to keep going when the going gets tough. 

How to Harness the Power of Your Mind? 

Our brains are wired to seek ease over challenge, but there are ways to outsmart this tendency: 

• Reframe the Challenge: Instead of seeing challenges as roadblocks, view them as stepping stones. A shift in perspective can be incredibly motivating. 

• Prioritize Wisely: Tackle tough tasks when you’re most energized—whether that’s first thing in the morning or late at night. 

• Break It Down: Split big tasks into smaller steps. It reduces overwhelm and makes each step feel achievable. 

• Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize every bit of progress. Small victories keep your motivation alive. 

• Lean on Your Network: Share challenges with people who support you—friends, family, or mentors. Their perspective can be a game-changer.   

Bringing This to Your Life and Work   

As an entrepreneur or professional, embracing challenges can be transformative. Here’s how to make this mindset work for you: 

• Set Clear Goals: Define what success looks like. Break down your goal into smaller, manageable steps and celebrate each milestone. 

• Build a Supportive Network: Surround yourself with people who lift you up, bring fresh perspectives, and cheer you on. 

• Adopt a Growth Mindset: Treat challenges as opportunities to learn rather than setbacks. This perspective builds resilience and adaptability. 

• Stay Persistent: When things get rough, remember that persistence is often the bridge to success. Every setback is just a step closer to your goal. 

• Learn from Setbacks: Use setbacks as learning moments. Take time to understand what went wrong, then apply those insights as you move forward.   

The Road to Success 

Embracing challenges doesn’t just help us achieve our goals; it transforms us along the way. Each challenge we overcome unlocks our potential, revealing strengths we didn’t know we had and showing us just how far we can go. 

So, let’s lace up, dive into the hard stuff, and push ourselves past challenges—in work, in life, and beyond.