After sitting down and chatting with ultra-athlete and aspiring record breaker, Adam Valastro discussed with us the ten things that will help anyone overcome adversity in their lives.

SELF-AWARENESS

• Deloping a sense of self-awareness is integral to overcoming adversity.
• You must know who you are to get through the hard times.
• Surround yourself with people who make you a better person, who are not “yes men,” who will be truthful with you and put you in your place when you need to be.
• Don’t think or make long term decisions based on emotions or feelings.

HARD WORK

• No matter what it is that you are doing, work harder than everyone else.
• When you give 100% in what you do, eventually you will see rewards.

CONSISTENCY AND PERSISTENCE

• Nothing fights against something that never stops.
• Be relentless.
• If you get knocked down 10 times, stand up 11.
• Make the choice every day to work hard.
• Chip away at goals. Benchmark. Many goals are “woodchippers.”

BE MENTALLY TOUGH

• Mind over matter. If you don’t mind – it doesn’t matter.
• It is easy to be great today because everyone is so weak.
• You’re only a victim when you allow yourself to be a victim.
• You have to be able to take the punches.
• It’s not how hard you hit. It’s how hard you can take a hit.

SELF DISCIPLINE

• Motivation is garbage. You must be disciplined.
• The only way to get through what is hard in life is to be disciplined and face what is hard head on.
• Motivation is kindling and it burns up fast. Discipline burns forever.
• Discipline is keeping a promise you have made to yourself.

SEE MORE