Rise to the Occasion in Life and Business

I’m writing this to encourage you and to communicate a primal human truth. People tend to rise to the occasion when they’re told that they can’t accomplish certain things. There’s something about it.

It beefs up our resolve.

It motivates us in those deep, psychological mind-spaces. Sometimes a little naysaying is even more motivational and potent than money.

Maybe this whole idea is a little sick. But like it or not, it’s true.

In 1955, there was a 42 year-old African American seamstress on a Montgomery City bus who was told that she couldn’t sit in a certain seat. But Rosa Parks had the strength of her ancestors with her – a lineage of a people who were told what they couldn’t do. Her single spontaneous action led to a national movement of change.

One last thing.

Whatever you do, don’t let your naysayers in on this. It’s our little secret. I know it’s not easy to hear people spew negativity your way. I know we want to retaliate. But the best thing we can do is rise above it. Transcend.

Just quietly go on to achieve amazing things. People may be able to argue with your well-worded logic, but they can’t argue with your accomplishments. You can’t argue with integrity and a life well-lived.

Stay the course.

This article has been edited and condensed.

Mark Jay Scott is the founder of Love Your Edge. Mark has been a writer and speaker for nearly 20 years, formerly as a radio personality for a major market FM station in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan region where he produced and hosted two weekly programs, Real Life Matters and Essential Radio; and excelled in copywriting and voiceover production for a wide variety of commercial advertisers. Mark loves to help people succeed by motivating them and showing them simple and practical ways to love and keep their productive edge in life and business. Connect with @markjayscott on Twitter.