Win Today

#177 | The Return On Inconvenience (ROI) In Life: My Latest Mindset Re-Frame

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Imagine investing just a fraction of your life in facing challenges and reaping significant long-term rewards. 

As we navigate through the emotional and mental rigors of such grueling experiences, we highlight the ripple effect of perseverance—how enduring personal trials can not only lead to profound self-improvement but also inspire those around us. The idea is simple yet powerful: by viewing life's difficulties as investments, we foster a mindset that sees challenges as gateways to building a more fulfilling life. Drawing insights from Ryan Holiday's "The Obstacle is the Way," we discuss how these moments of inconvenience can lead to extraordinary returns, both for your personal journey and for the community.

We'll also explore how adversity has shaped my life—from growing up in an alcoholic household to pushing physical limits—and how these experiences have equipped me with the tools to thrive. Introducing the Unshakable Discipline Mastermind Group, we connect like-minded individuals to empower each other with insights and strategies for excellence. This episode encourages a perspective shift, urging listeners to see difficult moments as fleeting yet transformative, ultimately paving the way for personal development and the best version of oneself. Join us as we uncover how even the smallest challenges can create disproportionately positive impacts on your future.

Thank you for tuning in! If you feel led, please subscribe & share the show to others who you believe would benefit from it.
Keep in touch below!

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Win Today podcast, a weekly resource thoughtfully crafted to equip people with tools to build and refine discipline, accomplish your goals, fortify your mindset and be of service to somebody in this world. My name is Ryan Cass and I am your host, and every week you will learn from either myself or a renowned expert in their field, where we will educate and inspire you and give away pieces of our winning playbooks for you to incorporate into your life. If you love the show, please hit the subscribe button, share with somebody who you believe will benefit from it and leave a rating interview so we can continue to grow and inspire more people in this world. We believe that everybody in this world is meant to do something great with their lives and we're here to play a role in that. Thank you for tuning in and let's win today To make a deal here.

Speaker 1:

Let's say that you have $100 right now $100 cash. You're going to give me $1, and a period of time is going to go by and I'm going to give me $1, and a period of time is going to go by and I'm going to give you $40. You take that deal a small period of time, by the way. Imagine that you're shaking your head. Of course, that's an amazing deal 1% for a 3,900% return. $1 for $40. Sounds amazing. 100% return $1 for $40. Sounds amazing. Now what if I say you need to give me 1% of your life, assuming that you live to be 100 and that we live to be 100 years old. You're going to give me 1% of your life one year and we are going to produce returns that are going to benefit you for 40 years of your life. So 1% is going to benefit 40% of your life. Is 1% of your life worth producing returns positive returns that will benefit you, your family, your loved ones, your community for 40 years? 40% I hope that you're still shaking your head, yes and absolutely, and maybe even scratching your head. Where the hell are you going with this Ryan hack and reframe that I've developed and have been exploring for the last few weeks, to what it means to me and how it can be packaged for you, and something that I wish that you put into your arsenal? Or at least this plants a seed for you to develop a different relationship with time and convenience.

Speaker 1:

So this is all about the return on inconvenience, roi Different way to look at it. The ROI is most commonly associated with return on investment when we're speaking about finances. But what if we looked at it from a return on investment of our time spent in difficulty in our life? And what's on the other side of that? Because often on the other side of difficult moments or strenuous pursuits resides the better version of ourselves, the best version of our lives. So many things, but it comes down to being willing to push past those difficult moments, those strenuous moments. Whether we created them by choice or not, there's always something good on the other side. Other side, I've found that many people can be hesitant to go on the pursuit because in the moment it seems like a long amount of time or it's inconvenient to take on, even though they may not be cognizant of the benefits that are on the other side. So this is intended to educate people on the return on inconvenience, how to our greater timeline in life is an advantage to conquer smaller periods of time that we may deem as eternity in the moment, not realizing the benefits that they can give us. The opportunity that I see here for people is that we build a better relationship with our entire timeline of life, recognizing that there will be many moments that deliver inconveniences. Are those inconveniences really inconveniences? I'm not saying that there's no such thing as inconveniences in the world. I believe that we can look at these things as opportunities, though.

Speaker 1:

So here's where all of this came about. So here's where all of this came about. I'm going to share how this came to be and share a reference from one of my favorite books by Ryan Holiday the Obstacle is the Way and an asset and a resource. So a few weeks ago I ran a 150-mile ultramarathon back and forth on the Ravenel Bridge here in Charleston, south Carolina, and I won't dive into all the specifics. You can go back to episode 175. And you can learn all about the specifics and the trials and tribulations in that. But it was to raise money for families that currently have somebody battling cancer right now. And 150 miles that's, to date, the furthest distance that I've ever ran. It was a 43-hour period of time going back and forth across a bridge, 30 times five-mile round trip. On one side of the bridge is a 6% grade incline for one mile straight and then a 1.5-mile gradual decline. And then, coming back, you have a 1.5 mile gradual incline and a 6% grade decline. Over those 43 hours we gained over 11,000 feet of climbing, earned over 19,000 calories and body and mind experienced entirely new set of highs and entirely new set of lows.

Speaker 1:

When you're going through these things, especially when you choose to put your body through these difficult efforts, these long efforts, learn much about yourself beyond the physical realm. I believe it helps you learn a lot about life and help you discover more of what you're made of, what you're meant to do in this world. I find running to really be a reflective exercise where I think I was at this point about 22 hours in, about to take my first nap, and I'm drenched in sweat. I've gone about 100 miles. At this point, though I'm drenched in sweat, my body doesn't really know what's going on and how to regulate, so I'm shivering as if I'm not in 85 degree weather. It had been very warm during the day and I need to rest for a little bit and I'm completely chafing all over my body. My nipples are chafed. My butt is chafed, like walking feels like moving sandpaper. My body it feels like I'm grinding sandpaper. With every step that I take, I'm thinking about how can I justify not completing this entire distance. I won't quit. I refuse to quit, but if something else happens, then it's out of my control and I can go home and be done with this thing.

Speaker 1:

And I was really my own feelings at that point in time and starting to feel a little sorry for myself. This occasionally occurs during these types of efforts. Then I had some thoughts enter my mind. I was really zooming out and using my typical tactics to dig out of the pain cave. I thought to myself for a moment All this time that I've been out here so far over 20 hours and not knowing how long I was going to be out there at the time. But I was originally shooting for around 36 and then ideally under 40. And then, if I didn't hit either of those that I didn't see third calendar day and just survived. So he hit the seagull in 43 hours, but at 20 something hours I'm thinking okay, most this will be two days of my entire life.

Speaker 1:

The actual math 43 hours. Assuming that the big man allows me to be here for 100 years, just assuming 100-year life, that represents 0.000049% of a 100-year timeline 43 hours. So I think to myself 0.000049% of my life. What's on the other side? Or rather, a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percentage of my life. What is that going to produce on the other side? What's on the other side of that, on the other side of that story, that I get to use and tell for the next, let's just say, 30 years professionally as I do? Professional speaking and engagements and speaking to schools and groups I often share personal stories. So let's say that I get to share that on stages for the next 30 years, 30% of my life.

Speaker 1:

What about the impact that this is going to create for families and what it's going to do for them? We raised $7,000. So a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percentage of my life is going to provide families that really need it comfort and solace and resources that they otherwise or they're praying for right now that they wouldn't have if it wasn't for this. And what's that going to do for them in that moment? What's it going to do for them when perhaps one of these families realizes, oh, wow, there's somebody that went through something really difficult. To help us. Right now we can do something that will help somebody else. Doesn't need to be going and running an ultra marathon, but maybe this is what helps inspire them to give back in the community and that creates generations worth of that family giving back because of this one particular instance. What if the other side of this a fraction of a fraction percentage of my life is not just a story that can be told for 30 years, but now generations of people that are going and starting their own running adventure and pushing their body and minds to limits that they've never reached? And what if this inspires at least one person to do something similar and do a running fundraiser, an ultra marathon and out and help other people? So it helped get me back into shape and really build a lot of strength to the later half of the day thinking holy smokes.

Speaker 1:

Look at the return inconvenience here, the ROI inexplicable. You can't even produce a return like that in the market Less than a percentage of your life and then benefit you for the next 30, 40, 50, 60%. You realize that's over a 1 million percent return. So what if I and rather what if you, these moments of your life that maybe it's a tough week or a tough month, or you know it's going to be a tough year, going after this really big thing that you've always wanted, really big thing, you've got to study a lot, gain a lot of knowledge that maybe you didn't have before, and the other side of that is a dream that you get to live out for five years, 10 years, 20 years. It sets your family up.

Speaker 1:

Could you turn that deal down? Couldn't even put dollar into the stock market right now. Invest in the next, say Microsoft or Google or Facebook. Pick whichever stock you want. Let's just say you found the next Microsoft stock. How about that? Everybody wishes that they could have invested in Microsoft when it first started, or Bitcoin or Tesla because of the extreme returns that it has produced. I don't believe there's hardly any investment out there financial investment that can produce the returns that you can on your own life, pushing past inconvenience Over 1 million percent return because a lot of these things that we may stay away from because they seem really hard or inconvenient less than 1% of your life do you be willing to give? In many cases, less than 1% of your life, knowing that it is going to push you forward for the next 20 to 30, 40, 50%. How amazing is that Pushing through inconvenient moments can be a little simpler thanks to one of my favorite supplements Magic Mind.

Speaker 1:

If you're like me and need the extra mental boost to power through your tasks, then Magic Mind really is a game changer. What is it? It's a mental performance shot that is packed with ingredients that boost focus, reduce stress and support your immune system. So whether you're facing a big project or just need to get through a busy day, like many of us do, then Magic Mind really helps you zero in on what matters and helps you stay productive. I love using it in the mornings before I dive into my toughest task of the day. It really does help get me in this focused, zen-like state and push through moments when I otherwise might hit a mental wall. Plus, it's super convenient. Just because it's a small shot you take in the morning, you're good to go. No hassle and no mess.

Speaker 1:

Right now, magic Mind is running an amazing Black Friday deal. Through December 6th 50% off when you use my code. You go to magicmindcom slash winbf that is, magicmindcom slash winbf and you will get 50% off. You really don't want to miss this. I highly recommend testing out this product. As we're about to enter the new year, this is right about the time when people start doing a lot of homework on how they can reach their goals in 2025, stay more focused, stay more productive, and Magic Mind can help be a part of your winning solution as we go into the new year. It really does make a difference in my day today and I don't want you to miss out on this amazing discount. Magicmindcom slash winbf also in the show notes.

Speaker 1:

I could circle around on this so many times and keep coming back. It's just fascinating. So we can actually utilize our timelines big timelines, when we zoom out and look at our entire life timeline. We can use that as a weapon, as a resource. It's going to get us to push past things that we otherwise may have thought. I don't know about that. I don't know if that's worth six months of waking up at 4 am and going to work and then doing my workout, et cetera. But if you knew there was a 50,000% return on the other side of that, it'd be silly not to put yourself in the arena and go. All of those things are tended to help you grow, help us grow, and we should embrace those things. Check this out.

Speaker 1:

This is an excerpt from the Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. In this chapter it's called Finding the Opportunity. One thing that I love about Ryan Holiday in this work of stoicism is that it views problems, or rather it gets people to think about the opportunities that exist everywhere in life. When we think about the word problem then we think about like bad thing, it doesn't really get us too excited. But what if we just change that to opportunity, because there's something better on the other side of that? So just something that I really loved in the book. I love to highlight books and quotes and things that I can go and reflect back on in the future. So, as I was looking at my notes, here's the piece that I really loved Sport psychologists recently did a study of elite athletes who were struck with some adversity.

Speaker 1:

Or here's a piece that I really loved gaining a desire to help others' additional perspective and realization of their own strengths. In other words, every fear and doubt they felt during the injury turned into greater abilities in those exact areas. It's a beautiful idea. Psychologists call it adversarial growth and post-traumatic growth. That which doesn't kill me makes me stronger is not a cliche, but fact.

Speaker 1:

Struggle against an obstacle inevitably propels the fighter to a new level of functioning. Extent of the struggle determines the extent of the growth. The obstacle is an advantage, not adversity. The enemy is any perception that prevents us from seeing this, all of the strategies we've talked about, this is one you can always use. Everything can be flipped With this kind of gaze, a piercing look that ignores the package and sees only gift. We can fight it the entire way. Result is the same the obstacle still exists, one just hurts. Less Benefit is there's still there below the surface. What kind of idiot decides not to take it? Now, the things that other people avoid or flinch away from. We're thankful for that. So think about, okay, this moment, in this particular long effort, any inconveniences.

Speaker 1:

Many times where my body was in tons of pain, feet are burning for 135 miles. Again it felt like sandpaper with every step because my nipples are chafed, my ass is chafed. I didn't even know your ass can chafe, it can trust me. It's not fun, it feels like sandpaper is grinding. But in that adversity is an opportunity to grow. It's an opportunity to maybe help someone else and show them here's what to do so your ass and nipples don't chafe as much. It's an opportunity to present an example to people that hey, you can push further, you can push harder than you could ever possibly imagine.

Speaker 1:

I'm thrilled to talk about the Unshakable Discipline Mastermind Group. This has been my baby that I've been working on for the last couple years, and it is now out and available and perfectly timed as we enter the new year. If you are looking to level up in 2025 and be surrounded with more like-minded and ambitious individuals and grow in multiple areas of your life that you deem is most important to you, then this is exactly who we want to have in the Unshakable Discipline Mastermind. This mastermind is all about surrounding yourself with driven individuals who are committed to personal and professional growth, success and excellence, and every week, we have a mastermind session where we learn from some of the best thought leaders, authors and CEOs in the world, many who have been on this podcast before. They're going to provide actionable and invaluable insights and strategies and tools to help you achieve your biggest goals, refine your mindset, be more present with your family, excel personally and professionally and everything in between. Also, on a monthly basis, we host challenges designed to push you out of your comfort zone, help you grow and, ultimately, give back more in the community and be a vessel of service. You also get the Unshakable Discipline course, which is something that I've created over 13 years of practice and research in the domain of personal development and goals and discipline, pushing your body and mind to greater heights than you believed possible. This is my exact playbook that I've been working on since 2011 that you get in a self-paced course. Right now, we're offering membership at 30% off for the first 20 founding members. Go to unshakabledisciplinecom that is unshake as in milkshake, disciplinecom and you can experience the course, be around amazing people, all for a very small investment $67 a month right now and you'll get that locked in for life and have access to the course and any future courses that are developed Unshakabledisciplinecom. I wish to have the opportunity to work with you in the new year. Let's go.

Speaker 1:

If you recognize that the obstacle is the way and it's the gift, if you recognize that this really represents a blip in your entire timeline that will produce dividends across the major portion of your timeline, or personally I think about. I was running with some friends this morning. We're talking about growth and things we've overcome. Talked about how greatest gift I've ever received in this life is growing up in an alcoholic household and a family that has a longstanding trend of alcoholism. Growing up, I was often the middleman with my parents, as my dad struggled with alcohol and all I wanted to do is make sure that everything at home was in order, that my mom and sister were safe and that we could avoid conflicts. And what that's done throughout my life and something I still work on to this day is at times it has created anxiety for me, especially with relationships.

Speaker 1:

Being hypervigilant, I finally gave in and forgave 15% of my life. 15% of my entire timeline was represented by these adversities. That has now given me this amazing platform and message that I've been delivering intentionally for 6% of my life so far, because I really started going all in on this in 2018, and really going into 7% of my life and again granted that the good Lord keeps me here till I'm 100, then 15% of my life gave me the tools to inspire people for the next 85% of my life. You can't beat that with a stick. So what I want you to gain from this is that your timeline is to be used to your advantage.

Speaker 1:

Zoom out when you're in a difficult moment and even ask yourself would I even be able to see this particular moment on my entire lifetime line? Probably not, because it's just this little tiny blip, but will you be able to experience the benefits of it for the majority of your timeline and see what that creates on your timeline. I'm willing to bet that the answer to that is yes. So the other side of difficult moments, on the other side of difficult periods of time whether it's intentionally or unintentionally, difficult periods of time, whether it's intentionally or unintentionally is the best version of you. It is your ideal life, and recognize the return on inconvenience. Roi of a given moment is far greater than you likely can ever imagine.

Speaker 1:

What I want each of you to do is take a look at your timeline, zoom out and look at your big life timeline and what portion of your life, what percentage, represented difficult moments? And is that or has that, given you something that you're using today that will help shape the next percent, 20 percent, 30%, probably something that's far greater than the percentage of the inconvenience. Do you have at least one? The wish is yes and my bet for you is yes. Remember your timelines, recognize the ROI when you're going through something tough and remember that you have all the tools that you need to succeed and win today. Thanks so much for tuning in. Thank you.

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Ryan Cass

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