“What separates people, Stockdale taught me, is not the presence or absence of difficulty, but how they deal with the inevitable difficulties of life.”
By James C. Collins in his book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't.
Imagine two friends, Bob and Joe, who decide to go on a quest to climb the tallest mountain in the land, Mount Absurdity, armed with determination and a questionable map.
Bob, the eternal optimist, is convinced that their ascent will be a breeze. "Piece of cake!" he declares, as they begin their trek.
When faced with the first obstacle- a gaping ravine- Bob suggests they simply jump over it.
Joe, on the other hand, eyes the gap nervously and recommends they find a safer route around. After much debate, they finally agree to take Joe's advice.
As they continue their journey, they encounter one absurd challenge after another—a band of mountain goats, a rogue squirrel, and what not!
Bob maintains his sunny disposition, cracking jokes and finding humor in every misadventure, while Joe can't help but grumble at each setback, cursing their luck and questioning their sanity.
In the end, despite their differing attitudes, Bob and Joe both reach the summit of Mount Absurdity.
As they stand triumphantly at the peak, Bob turns to Joe with a grin and says, "See, Joe? What did I tell you? Piece of cake!"
So, the next time life throws you a curveball, remember Bob and Joe's epic adventure up Mount Absurdity.
After all, it's not the presence of difficulty that defines us, but how we choose to face it—with a smile, a joke, and maybe a slightly questionable map.