While most people would never wish negative experiences for themselves or their loved ones, there is no denying that overcoming challenges comes with the silver lining of lessons learned and stronger resolve. Regardless of one’s profession or life circumstances, learning how to keep composed under stress and persevere through hardships are essential life lessons. Famous neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author, and holocaust survivor, Victor Frankl , drawing on his academic training and personal experiences, wrote extensively on how to extract value out of unfortunate, traumatic, and even evil situations. Undoubtedly, it’s a skill we all must master - and that is especially true for those wishing to blaze their own path in the entrepreneurial world.
While learning how to turn traumatic experiences into positive context and motivation is part of the maturation process of adulthood, it is also a part of a holistic understanding of a happy life. To this point, Muhammad Ali has famously recounted a story of how a traumatic event that he experienced as a 12-year-old positively shaped his future as the world-renowned boxer history will remember him as, his ‘ red bike moment .’ When Ali was 12, and still going by the name of Cassius Clay, his new red bike was unfortunately stolen. Angry and upset, the young Clay reported the crime to the nearest police officer while expressing how he wanted to ‘whup’ the thief. Interestingly enough, the police officer advised Clay to learn how to defend himself properly before issuing threats of violence. As luck would have it this officer was a man named Sargent Joe Martin who owned a small boxing gym in the basement of the building where he met Clay. The very next day, Clay returned to the building to learn boxing for the very first time, and the rest was history. While nobody wishes for 12-year-old children to get their bikes stolen, clearly this traumatic event was a part of a larger path that Cassius Clay had to take to become Muhammad Ali.
This is precisely why learning how to tolerate uncomfortable moments and overcome challenges is a necessary skill if one is to achieve their goals and life’s mission.
Brian Underwood, founder of keto powerhouse Prüvit, scaled the startup to over $1 billion in sales in just 6 short years. While Underwood has grown Prüvit to great heights due to his emphasis on innovative keto technology and the power of community, his journey is not without struggle.
As a Louisville native with a father who admired Ali deeply, Underwood grew up hearing the red bike story as his father wanted to attune his mind to these lessons as early as possible. This holistic and nuanced understanding of perseverance has been at the forefront of Underwood’s ever since and has helped him overcome adversity in his own life.
Underwood attributes much of his success to decades of past failures, what he calls “learning experiences.” As Underwood was willing to examine these failures and distill lessons from them, he was able to realize his business goals as a result. Yet Underwood freely admits that these early failures were traumatic. This is why he believes it is necessary to learn how to incorporate the best aspects of these traumatic experiences without getting drowned by the negative aspects.
Underwood draws on his own experience to educate and inspire the up-and-coming entrepreneurs under his tutelage. To this point, Underwood believes, “Trauma causes suffering, but it’s also a powerful force for positive change.” Expanding on the subject, Underwood goes on to say, “Trauma is a big word that most people are scared of. But trauma is our teacher. We have to heal from the traumas and realize that they become the melodies of our lives. They give us strength to be even stronger moving forward.”
To learn more about Brian’s thoughts on life and entrepreneurship, please visit his Podcast and Instagram . To learn more about Prüvit, please visit Prüvit’s website and Instagram as well.
