Nell watsonea retreatjuly14

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSISTENCE AND

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Nell Watson29th July 2014

PART I - WHY FOUNDERS CREATE

“What is to give life must endure burning.” – Viktor Frankl

Founder: Someone who creates a new engine through which the world is shaped.

The urge to Found is born from pain.

Founders are outsiders.

Founders have something to prove.

Not worth it unless:

Not worth it unless:

Not worth it unless:

‘Extraordinary’ Doesn’t Just Happen

PART II - WHY FOUNDERS FAIL

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to

continue that counts.” – WINSTON CHURCHILL

“WE’RE FUCKED; IT’S OVER.”

BEN HOROWITZ – THE HARD THING ABOUT HARD

THINGS

Martin Seligman“Learned Helplessness”

PANIC & PAIN

FAILURE TOEXECUTE

PERCEPTUAL BIASES

DESPAIR &DREAD

GIVE UP & GIVE IN

VOLITIONALPARALYSIS

NOT A MATTER OF WILLPOWER

A BEAUTIFUL SERVANT

A DANGEROUS MASTER

“There is little that can withstand a man who can conquer himself” - Louis X1V

PART III – KEEP YOUR HEAD

PANIC & PAIN

PERCEPTUAL BIASES

DESPAIR &DREAD

GIVE UP & GIVE IN

VOLITIONALPARALYSIS

FAILURE TOEXECUTE

Our emotions are led

by our perceptions.

The sensation of having control is

everything.

LACK OF CHOICE IS AN ILLUSION

“Between stimulus and response there is a space.In that space is our power to choose our response.In our response lies our growth, and our freedom.”

– Viktor Frankl

MINDFULNESS & SELF KNOWLEDGE

“I SUCK AT ‘X”’

Only for now. Everyone is

on a growth curve.

“ENOUGH STRUGGLE ALREADY”

A comfortable life is one lacking in

learning

“EVERYTHING IS RUINED”

Plans usually go awry.

So you can plan for it.

“I FEEL HUMILIATED”

This only matters if you think it matters.

.

“I HAVE FAILED. I AM A FAILURE”

Failure, with learning, is the only

path to success.

“I FAILED TOO BIG THIS TIME”

You fail fatally when you stop

trying.

“IT’S JUST TOO HARD”

It usually does get better if you just

keep going.

• MISTREATED & IGNORED• ECONOMY SUCKS• NOT GETTING SUPPORT• NOT ENOUGH MONEY• STUCK IN A RUT

GOOD THINGS ABOUT TOUGH TIMES

CULTIVATE AN IMMUNITY TO BEING DEMORALIZED

When you are able to succeed at easy tasks, hard tasks feel possible to accomplish. When you are unable to succeed at small tasks, everything seems impossible.

RECOVERY FROM BURNOUT

Take small actions (like making your bed)

Taking action bolsters belief

in one’s ability to succeedRest!

Call it a success

Do a little more each day

COLLECT SMALL WINS

PART IV – A TALE OF PERSISTENCE

“Whoever, at any time has undertaken to build a new heaven, has found the strength for it in his own hell” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Frédéric Bartholdi

1856

Frédéric Bartholdi

1865

Frédéric Bartholdi

Frédéric BartholdiEdouard de Laboulaye

1865

“LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING

THE WORLD”

2 million francs / $10,000000

MOCKERY

CHAMPS ELYSÉE,PARIS

MADISONSQUARE

GARDENS,NYC

VIA PHILADELPIA?

1879

Eugene Violette-le-duc

Gustave Eiffel

Gustave Eiffel

18821880

HURRY UP AND WAIT

FURTHERMOCKERY

Joseph Pulitzer

1856 – 1865 – 1875 – 1880 – 1886

MANIFEST A DREAMSTRATEGIC DETERMINATION

CAPTURE & PROVE VALUE

INVOLVE OTHERS

SHIP ITKEEP YOUR COOL

CLOSING THOUGHTS

‘He knows the "why" for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any "how.”’

– VIKTOR FRANKL

WHAT: PEOPLE BOOST YOU THE MOST?

CLOSING THOUGHTSWHEN: MOST AT YOUR PERSONAL BEST?WHEN: LOWEST TIMES IN YOUR LIFE?WHAT: GIVES YOU ENERGY?

WHAT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO GIVE TO THE WORLD?

WHAT: PEOPLE DRAIN YOU THE MOST?WHAT VALUES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

NELL@POIKOS.COMNell Watson, Founder & CEO, Poikos

Thanks for participating!

@FounderNell