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Turn Adversity Into Your Advantage

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If you’d like to learn how to turn adversity into your advantage so you can come out on top in life, sign up for the free 90-Day Master Class hosted by the founder of Addicted2Success.com, Joel Brown.


It’s becoming more and more understood that adversity is the foundation of your success. Let’s take that one step further, adversity can be the platform to propel you to your success if you learn how to use it.

If you stay there, if you don’t learn from adversity, and use your struggle as a “stick to beat yourself up with,” you will always have a reason to not change, grow or simply do things differently. That’s the key, your ability to do things differently starts with your ability to think differently and here are the steps you can use to make the most of the adversity.

1. Recognize the lessons

This might make you think, “surely there aren’t any lessons in this.” When you’re struggling, the hardest thing ever is to think positive and you’ll tend to make life very difficult for yourself. By focusing on the lessons first, you acknowledge the fact that things aren’t going great now, but there may be some lessons here that you can learn from.

By doing this, you don’t try to completely flip your way of thinking, you simply meet yourself where you are in the moment, then change your perspective. Whether it gives you the opportunity to be patient or prove to yourself how strong and resilient you can be; looking for the lessons is the initial push to get the ball rolling.

2. Recognize the good

Feeling the momentum shift and helping yourself see more good in the situation you’re in encourages your mind to give you the “feeling good, acting good, loop.” This is how you begin to gradually make progress towards your goals and take your lessons you’ve learned to improve on your past.

You’ll start to let go of the struggle and realise that most of the pain was because of how you saw it. It likely won’t be dramatic, but it’s about shifting your way of thinking that causes you to improve because of the situation you’re facing. Rather than stay stuck because of it.

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson 

3. Be grateful

Positive feelings don’t typically last long; spending some time with them, long enough for them to sink in, will help cement in the progress you’ve made. It’s all too easy to brush over this but feeling grateful is something that would come easier to you after the previous steps. It’s easier to think positive about things if you’re already in a “good place” mentally.

The actions that you take when you’re tired, anxious, and/or stressed are very different to when you’re happy, excited or grateful. One you’ve shifted away feeling like a victim of your circumstances, you can start to see different paths you can take.

4. Change direction

“What direction do I go down?” is very common for you if you’re in this position. Very often it’s getting clear on this that stops most from ever really changing. It’s not the desire to change, it’s not the will to change, it’s being able to answer the direction question.

If you’re wanting ideas for what you can do, listening to how others do things is fine as long as you understand that what makes you happy will be slightly different. If you start to stray from your own path, you might find yourself feeling disconnected and possibly even “lost.” You will need to make some difficult decisions, possibly even make some people unhappy, to be able to go back to living your own life.

“Make your vision so clear that your fears become irrelevant.”

5. Take the simple steps and build on it

You’re likely feeling more ready than ever to attack this new direction full steam ahead; but, you start to worry, wondering if you’ll make this work. That’s completely natural because it’s unknown, uncertain and not knowing can cause you to be on the edge of action. 

Wanting to know all the steps, being in the research and planning stages can overwhelm you and make it far more complicated than it could be. As you can probably tell, this is more of a mental game than simply taking action. You can be caught making things complicated, adding things in that you don’t need to confuse you, and make you feel like it’s an impossible task.

These are things you do to make sense of what’s going on, but they do slow you down. The way to think about this is doing “what you can, with what you have” given how clear you are right now. Very often, it’s taking action that helps you get clearer on the next steps, throwing bits of new information in as needed.

It’s about progress, moving forwards, and the biggest waves are started with the smallest ripples. But as long as you stay in the adversity or let it keep you stuck and struggling, that is where you’ll stay. You’ll make much faster progress than you think once you get moving with these steps.

How have you used adversity to your advantage in the past? Share your stories with us below!

Michael Brian is an entrepreneur, speaker & podcaster with cystic fibrosis and diabetes; that hasn't let that stop him from following his dreams! Doing the work on himself enabled him to overcome his own fears and low self-worth to be more confident when showing up in his brand and business. Now, he helps other change makers and service-based entrepreneurs do the same.

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Before chasing success, every young man needs to face these 9 brutal realities shaping masculinity in the modern world.

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Many young men today quietly battle depression, loneliness, and a sense of confusion about who they’re meant to be.

Some blame the lack of deep friendships or romantic relationships. Others feel lost in a digital world that often labels traditional masculinity as “toxic.”

But the truth is this: becoming a man in the modern age takes more than just surviving. It takes resilience, direction, and a willingness to grow even when no one’s watching.

Success doesn’t arrive by accident or luck. It’s built on discipline, sacrifice, and consistency.

Here are 9 harsh truths every young man should know if he wants to thrive, not just survive, in the digital age.

1. Never Use Your Illness as an Excuse

As Dr. Jordan B. Peterson often says, successful people don’t complain; they act.

Your illness, hardship, or struggle shouldn’t define your limits; it should define your motivation. Rest when you must, but always get back up and keep building your dreams. Motivation doesn’t appear magically. It comes after you take action.

Here are five key lessons I’ve learned from Dr. Peterson:

  • Learn to write clearly; clarity of thought makes you dangerous.

  • Read quality literature in your free time.

  • Nurture a strong relationship with your family.

  • Share your ideas publicly; your voice matters.

  • Become a “monster”, powerful, but disciplined enough to control it.

The best leaders and thinkers are grounded. They welcome criticism, adapt quickly, and keep moving forward no matter what.

2. You Can’t Please Everyone And That’s Okay

You don’t need a crowd of people to feel fulfilled. You need a few friends who genuinely accept you for who you are.

If your circle doesn’t bring out your best, it’s okay to walk away. Solitude can be a powerful teacher. It gives you space to understand what you truly want from life. Remember, successful men aren’t people-pleasers; they’re purpose-driven.

3. You Can Control the Process, Not the Outcome

Especially in creative work, writing, business, or content creation, you control effort, not results.

You might publish two articles a day, but you can’t dictate which one will go viral. Focus on mastery, not metrics. Many great writers toiled for years in obscurity before anyone noticed them. Rejection, criticism, and indifference are all part of the path.

The best creators focus on storytelling, not applause.

4. Rejection Is Never Personal

Rejection doesn’t mean you’re unworthy. It simply means your offer, idea, or timing didn’t align.

Every successful person has faced rejection repeatedly. What separates them is persistence and perspective. They see rejection as feedback, not failure. The faster you learn that truth, the faster you’ll grow.

5. Women Value Comfort and Security

Understanding women requires maturity and empathy.

Through books, lectures, and personal growth, I’ve learned that most women desire a man who is grounded, intelligent, confident, emotionally stable, and consistent. Some want humor, others intellect, but nearly all want to feel safe and supported.

Instead of chasing attention, work on self-improvement. Build competence and confidence, and the rest will follow naturally.

6. There’s No Such Thing as Failure, Only Lessons

A powerful lesson from Neuro-Linguistic Programming: failure only exists when you stop trying.

Every mistake brings data. Every setback builds wisdom. The most successful men aren’t fearless. They’ve simply learned to act despite fear.

Be proud of your scars. They’re proof you were brave enough to try.

7. Public Speaking Is an Art Form

Public speaking is one of the most valuable and underrated skills a man can master.

It’s not about perfection; it’s about connection. The best speakers tell stories, inspire confidence, and make people feel seen. They research deeply, speak honestly, and practice relentlessly.

If you can speak well, you can lead, sell, teach, and inspire. Start small, practice at work, in class, or even in front of a mirror, and watch your confidence skyrocket.

8. Teaching Is Leadership in Disguise

Great teachers are not just knowledgeable. They’re brave, compassionate, and disciplined.

Teaching forces you to articulate what you know, and in doing so, you master it at a deeper level. Whether you’re mentoring a peer, leading a team, or sharing insights online, teaching refines your purpose.

Lifelong learners become lifelong leaders.

9. Study Human Nature to Achieve Your Dreams

One of the toughest lessons to accept: most people are self-interested.

That’s not cynicism, it’s human nature. Understanding this helps you navigate relationships, business, and communication more effectively.

Everyone has a darker side, but successful people learn to channel theirs productively into discipline, creativity, and drive.

Psychology isn’t just theory; it’s a toolkit. Learn how people think, act, and decide, and you’ll know how to lead them, influence them, and even understand yourself better.

Final Thoughts

The digital age offers endless opportunities, but only to those who are willing to take responsibility, confront discomfort, and keep improving.

Becoming a man today means embracing the hard truths most avoid.

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t about luck. It’s about who you become when life tests you the most.

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